2. Ham Radio

Sand Ridge (W6/NS-155) SOTA Activation 10/10/2013

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Snow Mountain W6/NS-171 is the big mountain along the skyline right of center in this shot looking SSW, and Devil's Peak W6/NS-197 is the dark thing that looks like a Mohawk haircut down in front of it.
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Snow Mountain W6/NS-171 is the big mountain along the skyline right of center in this shot looking SSW, and Devil's Peak W6/NS-197 is the dark thing that looks like a Mohawk haircut down in front of it.

  • 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.
  • Sand Ridge is in Tahoe National Forest, a few miles north of Interstate 80 and west of Pacific Crest Trail (shown in pink).
  • One way to get there would be to start at Pacific Crest Trail's trailhead on I-80 near Donner Summit, hike northward up to near the Sierra Club's Peter Grubb Hut, then make your way westward up to the top of Sand Ridge. I don't know if there is a trail heading west from PCT because I've never gone that way. The old USGS topo map above indicates that there may be one.
  • Since I have a 700cc Yamaha Grizzly 4x4 ATV, I took a much longer road route that begins at Cisco Grove. If you have a rugged 4x4 vehicle and don't mind driving more than 15 miles on very rough dirt roads, this route is for you. It begins on Tahoe National Forest road 85, more commonly called Rattlesnake Road by locals. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-SignalPeak-W6NS179-2013">Signal Peak W6/NS-179 is up the same road</a>, and is a good opportunity for a 2-summit day. The TNF85_RattlesnakeRd point is at 39.312N, 120.5442W. I've seen stock pick-up trucks and SUV's along this route, but a lifted 4x4 vehicle, ATV or dirt bike would be better choices.
  • Here is an old photo of the point where you turn onto Rattlesnake Road. The sign showing that passenger cars aren't recommended is no joke. This was once a decent road, but it has gotten worse and worse over the years.
  • Begin your drive by climbing for approximately 5 miles on Rattlesnake Road until you reach the FDYCEMAGONIGAL intersection at 39.33916N, 120.49805W. Turn right towards Magonigal Summit. Just on the other side of Magonigal Summit, at the MAGONIGAL point (39.35934N, 120.46209W), bear right towards Upper and Lower Lola Montez Lakes. Continue past a road that runs to Lily Pond (and has a sign at that turn that you won't take). At LOLABUZZARD (39.36305N, 120.4319W) turn left onto the road shown in blue. Follow it as it meanders up, down and around the south side of Sand Ridge, then climbs up to the SANDCLIMB point at 39.37214N 120.39118W. Park here, follow a logging road that runs part way up to the summit, then hike cross-country all the way to the top. The hike is easy: only about 0.6 miles one-way with an elevation gain of around 330 feet.
  • Up on top there are plenty of trees that could be used for supporting an antenna. I opted to use my 28' Jackite pole to hold up the center of my 88' doublet.
  • I bungeed the bottom of the pole to this small fir tree. I ran the twinlead down to my 4:1 balun next to the KX3, and draped my extra twinlead over the little tree to keep it off the ground.
  • My operating position with Castle Peak W6/SN-038 behind it to the east. I used <a href="http://betterfamilyphotos.blogspot.com/2010/10/techniques-for-getting-large-moon-in.html">the "big moon" photographic technique</a> to make Castle Peak look larger and nearer than it really is (moved way back, zoomed camera all the way in).
  • I'm happily cranking out the Q's on CW.
  • Black Buttes W6/NS-170 to the WNW. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-BlackButtes-W6NS270-2013">I activated that one back in August and it wasn't exactly easy.</a>
  • English Mountain W6/NS-151 to the northwest. Great views from up there, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-EnglishMtn-W6NS151-2013">I activated it a few weeks ago</a>.
  • To the north is Pt. 8740 W6/NS-134 on the other side of White Rock Lake. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Pt8740-W6NS134-2013">I activated that one last month</a>.
  • Zoomed in on Pt. 8740.
  • To the NNE is Mt. Lola W6/NS-111 on the skyline in the center of the shot, and to the right and closer to the camera is Pt. 8812 W6/NS-130 on the near side of White Rock Lake. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Pt8812-W6NS130-2013">I activated Pt. 8812 back in July</a>.
  • Snow Mountain W6/NS-171 is the big mountain along the skyline right of center in this shot looking SSW, and Devil's Peak W6/NS-197 is the dark thing that looks like a Mohawk haircut down in front of it.
  • My SOTAWatch spots.
  • My spots from Reverse Beacon Network.
  • Logbook page 1. I started out with a nice run on 12m CW, then moved to 30m CW.
  • Logbook page 2. 30m was in nice shape, I don't think I've ever had an activation with more QSOs on the band.
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