2. Ham Radio

Verdi Peak (W6/NS-146) SOTA Activation 8/3/2012

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Babbitt Peak (right) and Sardine Peak (left) are both visible along the skyline, with Ladybug Peak in the foreground. Verdi, Sardine and Babbitt peaks are what I like to call my "Three Lookout Loop". It is a 67-ish mile ATV ride that I've done many times.
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Babbitt Peak (right) and Sardine Peak (left) are both visible along the skyline, with Ladybug Peak in the foreground. Verdi, Sardine and Babbitt peaks are what I like to call my "Three Lookout Loop". It is a 67-ish mile ATV ride that I've done many times.

  • Turning a bit more to the west provides a view of <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-812012-Sardine">Sardine Peak (W6/NS-160, I activated it a few days earlier)</a> with Sardine Valley down below it.
  • A closer view of Sardine Peak (W6/NS-160) and Sardine Valley.
  • Babbitt Peak (right) and Sardine Peak (left) are both visible along the skyline, with Ladybug Peak in the foreground. Verdi, Sardine and Babbitt peaks are what I like to call my "Three Lookout Loop". It is a 67-ish mile ATV ride that I've done many times.
  • Continuing left past Sardine Peak to the northwest, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-9202012-Sierra">Sierra Buttes (W6/NS-139)</a> along Highway 49 is visible on the skyline in the center of the shot. Stampede Reservoir is down below.
  • To the south, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-MtPluto">Mt. Pluto (W6/NS-138, part of the Northstar ski resort)</a> is to the right in this shot. The mountains in the distance on the skyline near the center are on the other (southwest) side of Lake Tahoe and include the many SOTA summits within Desolation Wilderness.
  • To the southeast, Mt. Rose (W7/WC-001) is the peak on the skyline in the center of the shot. The Truckee River canyon with I-80 winding up it from Nevada is to the right.
  • A closer view of Mt. Rose (W7/WC-001) with the Truckee River canyon shrouded in smoke down below.
  • To the west, Mt. Lola (W6/NS-111) still has snow visible on it.
  • To the southwest, Boca Reservoir is visible on the left and Prosser Reservoir on the right. The Pacific Crest Trail runs along the Sierra crest (essentially the skyline). SOTA peaks in that area include <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-MtLincoln-0313">Mt. Lincoln (W6/NS-149)</a>, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-TinkerKnob-W6NS121-2013">Tinker Knob (W6/NS-121)</a>, Granite Chief (W6/NS-115) and <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-1222013-Scott">Scott Peak (W6/NS-153)</a>. Scott Peak is within the Alpine Meadows ski resort and since I also have a season ski pass for Alpine Meadows... I'll probably activate it this winter. Mt. Lincoln is within the Sugar Bowl ski resort. I don't have a pass there, but maybe I'll buy a lift ticket.
  • Looking down the main (and improved) stairs that get you to the ridge that the lookout sits on. The parking area and an enclosed toilet are visible. I don't know the condition of the toilet since I've never had to use it.
  • The logbook (just one page this time) and my HB-1B transceiver with BullDog Mini Key magnetically attached. I made a total of nine QSOs total including three summit-to-summit QSOs: Steve WG0AT, Fred WS0TA (a.k.a. KT5X) and Phil NS7P. Thank you to everyone who worked me!
  • Another view of the logbook page.
  • The HFTA (High Frequency Terrain Analysis) terrain profile graph for my actual operating position on Verdi Peak looking ENE at a heading of 60 degrees.
  • The HFTA plot for my actual 20m dipole up 25 feet at this actual location (red line) as compared to a 20m dipole up a half wavelength but over flat ground (blue line) for a heading of 60 degrees. My actual antenna clearly outperforms the theoretical higher dipole over flat ground due to the downsloping terrain at my location. Or at least the HFTA modelling algorithms think it will.
  • The HFTA (High Frequency Terrain Analysis) terrain profile graph for my actual operating position on Verdi Peak looking east at a heading of 90 degrees.
  • At a heading of 90 degrees, HFTA again predicts that my dipole will generally outperform a higher dipole sitting above flat ground.
  • The HFTA (High Frequency Terrain Analysis) terrain profile graph for my actual operating position on Verdi Peak looking SE at a heading of 120 degrees.
  • At a heading of 120 degrees, HFTA again predicts that my dipole will generally outperform a higher dipole sitting above flat ground for low takeoff angles, but is slightly worse than a higher dipole for higher takeoff angles.
  • The HFTA plot for my actual 40m dipole up 25 feet at this actual location (red line) as compared to a 40m dipole up a half wavelength but over flat ground (blue line) for a heading of 60 degrees. My actual antenna clearly outperforms the theoretical higher dipole over flat ground due to the downsloping terrain at my location. Or at least the HFTA modelling algorithms think it will.
  • At a heading of 90 degrees, HFTA again predicts that my 40m dipole will generally outperform a higher 40m dipole sitting above flat ground.
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