2. Ham Radio

Pt. 8166 (W6/NS-159) SOTA Activation 6/14/2013

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The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.
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The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.

SOTANorthernSierra

  • The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.
  • To get to Pt. 8166, take Hwy 89 north from Truckee toward Sierraville. At Little Truckee Summit, turn left onto the paved road that eventually ends at Jackson Meadows Reservoir (the sign on Hwy 89 says Jackson Meadows Reservoir). Near Henness Pass, turn left onto the dirt Meadow Lake Road (Tahoe National Forest road 86). This is a smooth graveled road that virtually any vehicle can safely travel on. After approximately 3.1 miles, turn right onto TNF road 86-40. Continue on this rough 2WD road to the top of the ridge and the intersection with Pacific Crest Trail. There are no PCT signs at this trail crossing, but this spot is obvious as there is a large dirt parking area along the left side of the road, and the road begins to descend past this point. Hike up PCT (pink line in lower left corner of map) to the north, then leave the trail for a short cross-country hike up to the summit.
  • There is a small sign next to the 86-40 road at the turnoff. The coordinates of this point are 39.45263N, 120.44102W. Take it easy going up this road as there are some wicked water bars in place.
  • Closeup of the Tahoe National Forest road 86-40 sign.
  • Fortunately, someone had already been up the 86-40 road this season and cut this large fallen tree out of it. The sawdust appeared to be fresh, so I'm glad I didn't try for this summit a few weeks ago. Detouring around via Meadow Lake and coming up the other side would have taken significantly more time.
  • Another shot of the tree.
  • Parked at the point where Pacific Crest Trail crosses the 86-40 road. The road comes up from Meadow Lake Road on the right and continues down the other side of the ridge to the left. Pt. 8166 is just right of center, but blocked from view by the fir trees. The coordinates of this point are 39.44726N, 120.46207W.
  • Another shot of the parking area.
  • Pt. 8166 on the horizon, as seen from the west side of the parking area. The road along the left side of this shot is just a stub road.
  • Pacific Crest Trail climbs and switchbacks up the southwest side of the ridge. The yellow flowers are Wooly Mule Ears and the blue ones are lupines.
  • The Pt. 8166 summit marker, properly adorned with my SOTA hat that Etienne K7ATN kindly gave me.
  • The GPS altimeter is surprisingly accurate at 8180 ft vs. the official elevation of 8166 feet. Ignore the average speeds, they include the ATV ride. The distance from the parking area to the summit is approximately 1.1 miles with an elevation gain of 560 feet, and it took me about 35 minutes to reach the summit. That time includes an aborted attempt in which I was a few hundred yards up the trail and realized that I had left my ATV's key in the ignition. Oops, had to jog back down, retrieve the key and start all over again.
  • Another shot of the summit marker.
  • My GPS tracklog highlighted in yellow. The pink line is PCT and the turquoise and white dashed line is my estimation of the activation zone. After reaching the summit, I moved down a bit to operate at the top of the steep, east-facing bowl. I oriented my 88' doublet antenna N-S for maximum signal to the east (and west) directions.
  • Same area in satellite photo view. The photo obviously wasn't taken today, but it sure could have been. I had a similar section of snow below me lining the bowl.
  • I bungeed my 28' Jackite pole to a small tree on the edge of the bowl and used it to support the center of my 88' doublet. I tied the ends off to other small trees.
  • My operating position just 10 or so feet from the snow line.
  • My view while operating. Lacey Valley and Webber Lake are visible below to the northeast.
  • Looking southeast from near my operating position.
  • CW zen amongst the Wooly Mule Ears.
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