2. Ham Radio

Land Peak (W6/NS-169) SOTA Activation 8/10/2013

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The sign for Tahoe National Forest road 860-33-30.
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The sign for Tahoe National Forest road 860-33-30.

  • 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.
  • Land Peak in Tahoe National Forest as seen from the large meadow to its southwest along Trosi Canyon Road. There is no trail, reaching the summit requires is a cross-country hike up through the logging slash on its slopes. Brush is either a non-issue or a real big issue depending on the route you choose. Read on for more info on that.
  • There are a number of ways to get to Land Peak and other nearby SOTA summits, plan for around 10 miles of driving on 2WD dirt roads no matter which route you choose. Rather than try to give you a detailed turn-by-turn description of all of them, the map above should be sufficient for you to plot out a driving route yourself. Stick to the roads shown in black (paved) or purple/green (good dirt roads) and avoid the ones shown in blue unless you have a rugged 2WD vehicle. A key point to target in your drive planning is the unsigned intersection at the east end of Trosi Canyon Road (C860TROSI at 39.55207N, 120.15062W) where it runs into Smithneck Road. Head up (west on) Trossi Canyon Road from there.
  • When you get near the top of Trosi Canyon Road, you will pass one of the largest western juniper trees in existence at 39.54771N, 120.1966W. The tree is right next to the road with a sign that provides info on it, but the sign is easy to miss as you drive past. See my <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-8282012-LandPk">activation album from last year</a> for more info. Approximately 500 feet further, TNF road 860-33-30 intersects from the right (north) at 39.54754N, 120.19957W. Turn onto it, park in the trees near the intersection, or park further up it in the sagebrush meadow if you prefer. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-812012-Sardine">Sardine Peak (W6/NS-160)</a> is just across the canyon from Land Peak and would be an easy second summit if you're interested in a multi-summit day.
  • The sign for Tahoe National Forest road 860-33-30.
  • Part of the vast Snowbrush Sea on Land Peak. During <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-8282012-LandPk">my first activation of the summit last year</a>, my route placed me on the wrong side of it and I had to fight my way through it. This year, I chose a route that skirted the Snowbrush Sea. It was SO much easier, and unlike last year, I didn't even lose any blood.
  • The green line is the GPS track of my hike up on this activation, while the red line is last year's hike up. The key to missing the Snowbrush Sea is to assure that you end up at or east of the EdgeOfSnowbrush point at 39.55547N, 120.19408W. If you begin hiking up into the forest from near my HeadUp point (39.55144N, 120.19614W) and follow the path of least resistance, you'll likely be fine. If you somehow still run into the Snowbrush Sea, then traverse to the right (east) to get around it.
  • A view from Google Earth that shows how large the Snowbrush Sea is.
  • A broader view of the same area so as to also show Trosi Canyon Road (purple line), the large meadow and Tahoe National Forest road 860-33-30 that runs across the meadow (blue line).
  • Topo map. The one-way hike distance is around a mile, give or take depending on where you decide to park. Elevation gain is approximately 560 feet.
  • I found a shady spot to operate from that is about 100 feet northeast of the summit.
  • Unlike <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-BlackButtes-W6NS270-2013">Black Buttes from a few days earlier</a>, there are no space constraints on the Land Peak summit. This allowed me to go back to my favorite antenna: an 88' doublet fed with 300-ohm twinlead and supported by my 28' Jackite pole.
  • The doublet towering over the summit.
  • I bungeed the mast to a downed tree.
  • Standing next to a bush and pile of rocks that could be the summit. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-8282012-LandPk">Last year</a> I thought the summit was a different pile of rocks that was surrounded by Snowbrush. Who knows which is the correct one, they look to be practically identical in elevation. Feel free to declare your own summit on the broad top of this mountain.
  • Page 1 of my SOTAWatch spots.
  • Page 2 of my SOTAWatch spots.
  • RBN spots page 1. I spent a lot of time calling CQ on 30m and 40m but for the first time that I can remember... made ZERO QSOs on those bands. The usual group of close-in chasers that I work must have all been out on the golf course. ;-)
  • RBN spots page 2. These are actually my first spots chronologically.
  • Logbook page 1. I started off by chasing Etienne K7ATN for a summit-to-summit QSO, Tommy W7RV heard me and asked me to move up from Etienne's frequency, so I did and started my own run after working Tommy up there.
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