W4C/WM-001 - Clingmans Dome

Activation date - November 20, 2018.   This is typically a very scenic spot for a 360 degree panorama of the Carolina Mountains - not so today.   The clouds were upon us and visibility was perhaps 100 feet.  It was also very cold - below freezing.  It made set up with gloveless hands a bit more difficult.

Above is the concrete observation deck.  The trail spirals up to it.

The path leading up to the top of the deck.

Here I am just below the deck.

Within the activation zone - there was a convenient bench and a convenient tree to fasten a mast to.  I made a summit to summit contact with K7DJL in Washington State on 20m.  I forgot the power cord - so had to rely on the NiMH internal batteries - thank you Elecraft - it was a lifesaver.

W4C/WM-092 Mount Noble

Activation Date - November 15, 2018

Mount Noble is accessed via this long 5 mile gravel road which turns into a dirt road near the summit.  The summit may be accessed by a high ground clearance Jeep.  We had a Honda Civic - so needless to say - we hiked the 1/2 mile with a 400 foot elevation gain.

Trail profile and heart rate trace (red)

Here I am in the steep section - facing backwards to the summit

Scott KW4JM headed up the trail.

The view at the top.  It was late in the day and we still needed to head back down.   I made a summit to summit contact.   Martha W0ERI and Gary W0MNA from Kansas helped make this a valid summit with them both calling us.   I needed 4 minimum and they were #4 and #5.

W4C/WM-027 - Nettle Creek Bald

Activation Date - November 15, 2018

The start of the trail to Nettle Creek Bald.  The trail head is about 20 minutes drive from the Clingmans Dome access road on US441.  The parking area is at the edge of the hair pin.

This is at the fork in the trail about 1/2 mile from the summit.   The summit is on the trail to Newton Bald.

I set up my gear on a tarp and leaned conveniently against the log.  The mast is fastened to a tree stump about 5 yards away.

My hiking companion Scott KW4JM logging his contacts.  He is making a summit to summit contact at the moment.  I made to summit to summit contacts from this summit.

My heart rate as recorded on my GPS watch.  See how it correlates with the slope of the trail (grey).  The first rise was an average of 4% grade.

This photo was taken on an overlook near the Clingmans Dome access road.  It was surreal reminiscent of the glaciers in Alaska.

SOTA Chaser 100 Points Earned

Most of these were from a single day - 03Nov2018 when propagation into Europe was great.  Also reached 3 "completes"  with the activation and chase of Mt. Pisgah, Mt. Sassafras, and Mt. Mitchell.  Also made 2 Summit-to-Summit QSOs - to KW4JM on Mt. Mitchell while I was on Mt. Pisgah on 2 meter FM and to KX0R on Green Mountain in Colorado while I was on Waterrock Knob on 30m CW

SOTA Statistics:

Completes:
Mt. Mitchell W4C/CM-001 Activated 29OCT18 Chased KW4JM 18OCT18
Mt. Sassafras W4C/US-001 Activated 25OCT18 Chased KI4SVM 03Nov18
Mt. Pisgah W4C/CM-011 Activated 18OCT18 Chased KW4JM 31OCT18

Activator Points: 44
Mt. Mitchell W4C/CM-001 10 Points
Mt. Pisgah W4C/CM-011 10 Points
Mt. Sassafras W4C/US-001 4 Points
Richland Balsam W4C/WM-003 10 Points
Waterrock Knob W4C/WM-004 10 Points

W4C/WM-003 Richland Balsam and W4C/WM-004 Waterrock Knob

Activation date  November 5, 2018


The view from Waterrock Knob

At the summit operating position

The descent of Waterrock with companion Scott Carter KW4JM

Overlook before the paved section

They call it Waterrock knob because spring water is seeping out of the rock

The view of the mountains near Richard Balsam.  Below us is the section of the highest paved road on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 6084 feet.   The summit was shrouded in trees as shown below.
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W4C/CM-001 Mt. Mitchell

Nice 2 hour drive to Mt. Mitchell on a clear, balmy day in the valley around 60F.  Upon reaching the visitor center some 10 miles away, the temperature was 34F with a brisk wind.  I put another layer of clothes and a hat

I came with KE4EA   We set up near the entrance of the concrete observation deck.   There was a convenient rock that served as an operating table.  Another ham visited with - forgot his call.   Here below is a photo of Dave KE4EA.

The views were fantastic

Our antenna mast was fastened to a short pine tree to the right of the rock.  Here Dave is making SSB contacts.

VP6D Worked on 80m

At 1124 UTC on 30Oct2018 on 80m CW at 3.523 MHz

W4C/US-001 - Sassafras Mountain

This was an impromptu activation.   It was cloudy and threatening rain but I still had the rest of the afternoon.  So I quickly drove out to Rocky Bottom and headed up the mountain.

At the summit is an observation deck under construction.   I was at the overlook just below the summit.   

Just worked VP6D QRP for #182 at 5 Watts

At 1101 UTC- worked VP6D Ducie Island DXpedition with a dipole at 5 watts for my #182 (or 182nd)  unique QRP DXCC entity contact made.

Just worked #313 VP6D Ducie Island

Worked them 08:59 UTC on 40m CW working up 2.1 KHz from 7010.1

W4C/CM-011 - Mt. Pisgah

I successfully activated a summit - Mt. Pisgah - a 10 pointer on Thursday - October 18th.

Getting there was quite an adventure - approaching the mountain from the backside (noth side) on Cruso Rd.   That mountain road was very steep with 25% grade in many places and very twisty.  Thanks to KW4JM for helping me navigate the driving.

The trail itself was pretty challenging - carrying a 23 pound pack as it ascended 700 feet over 1.1 mile.   I recorded the hike on my smartwatch and uploaded the track and all the data to Strava (heart rate, elevation gain, elapsed time).  It took me close to 1 hour (maybe 50 minutes) to ascend and 1 hour to descend.   I could have been quicker on the descent but with tired legs I had to be careful not to twist an ankle.

Upon reaching the top, I found a wooden observation deck.  It had a convenient rail to which I fastened my SOTABeams 30 foot long fiberglass mast and to the mast I fastened my LNR precision EFHW into an inverted V configuration.   The other side of the inverted V was fastened via a guy rope to a place about 50 feet away.

The rig I used was a KX3 and the mode I was able to use was CW.  I made 9 QSO's in quick order on 20m at 14.065 MHz.

KW4JM was activating a peak Mt. Mitchell at the same time and I was able to talk to him on the 2 meter HT on 146.52 MHz.

ATNO Status for 2018 - Baker Island Confirmed in LOTW

#309 3B7A Agalega and Saint Brandon Islands April 5 to April 17- QSO April 06 - LOTW
#310 VK9X/N1YC Christmas Island  April 14 to April 21 - QSO April 19 1156 40m CW - LOTW
#311 KH1/KH7Z Baker Island June 1 to June 30 - confirmed in LOTW
#312 4B4B Revillagigedo March 1 to March 15 QSO made - confirmed Clublog
#313 VP6D Ducie Island Oct 20 to Nov 3 - confirmed through online log
#314 4U1UN due to activate soon

ATNO #312 Baker Island KH1/KH7Z worked

Finally worked him on 20m CW

at 0326 UTC on July 1st - came back to my call - I responded but QRM came and I was not sure
at 0335 UTC - made a clean exchange

310 DXCC Overall and 300 DXCC Milestone on CW

Highlights from the above chart:

• 7.85 years from 0-312 DXCC
• 6.2 years to the major milestone of 300 DXCC
• 125 DXCC to 225 DXCC in less than a year - thanks to an amplifier and the peak of solar cycle 24 in 2014
• 250 DXCC to 300 DXCC took close to 2 years
• 301 DXCC to 312 DXCC took another 2 years as Cycle 24 comes to a minimum and with fewer ATNO available to be activated
• It will be a slow slog to Honor Roll - if I even get there

I would have to say that I am quite content to having reached 310 DXCC with my "little pistol" station with wire 2 element beam and two vertical wires and a wire dipole.

It may be  while before I see another sticker. Next stop is 315.

2017 DX Marathon Effort Results

160 METERS

1st Place   NO3M*

198

2nd Place  K7ZV

164

3rd Place  W1TC

150

4th Place AA6YQ

148

5th Place N8PR

146

6th Place VO1HP

133

7th Place NY4G

130

8th Place K4IQJ

123

9th Place IK2WXQ

93

*Certificate Winner