2. Ham Radio

Signal Peak (W6/NS-179) SOTA Activation 10/18/2013

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Across I-80 to the east-southeast is Devil's Peak W6/NS-197, the dark formation below the skyline.
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Across I-80 to the east-southeast is Devil's Peak W6/NS-197, the dark formation below the skyline.

  • 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.
  • Signal Peak is on Red Mountain, in Tahoe National Forest near Interstate 80 and north of Cisco Grove, CA. It is accessed via the rough Rattlesnake Road (4WD strongly recommended), and the first 5.5 miles of the drive are the same as for Sand Ridge W6/NS-155 (<a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-SandRidge-W6NS155-2013">see my activation album from a few weeks ago</a>).
  • Tahoe National Forest road 85 (Rattlesnake Road) begins just west of Cisco Grove at the TNF85_RattlesnakeRd point (39.312N, 120.5442W). This road runs all the way to Fordyce Lake. Drive approximately 5 miles on Rattlesnake Road until you reach the FDYCEMAGONIGAL intersection at 39.33916N, 120.49805W. Bear left and continue past the turnoff for Lake Sterling (the green road heading right) until you reach the FDYCESIGNAL point at 39.34461N, 120.5066W. Turn left onto the blue road that runs to Signal Peak. The total driving distance from the beginning of Rattlesnake Road to the peak is about 7.3 miles. <br /> <br /> If you would rather do the long hike up from Cisco Grove, hike up Rattlesnake Road and then take a left onto the Switchback Trail shown in red (the SWITCHBACK2 point is at 39.32489N, 120.53918W). This was an exceptionally fun ATV trail, but unfortunately the Forest Service decided to close it last year.
  • 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.
  • Signal Peak as seen from the access road shown in blue on the previous topo map. This photo shows one of the rare smooth spots on this road, it is generally pretty rough. I actually put my ATV in 4WD for part of it.
  • When I got up to the top I discovered a crew replacing one of the microwave dishes on the largest tower. I wasn't planning on operating from the towers anyway, so after a short hike down the west side and back up to the top, I moved down the east slope so as to take advantage of the steep downslopes in that direction.
  • Zoomed in topo map showing my operating position east of the summit but well within the activation zone.
  • I bungeed the base of my 28' Jackite pole to a small pine and raised my 88' doublet antenna. The antenna wires are running north-south for maximum radiation to the east-west.
  • The small pine provided a bit of shade, which was handy for keeping my KX3 and iPhone from overheating.
  • I tied the south end of my doublet to a larger pine tree. I used that same pine tree to hold up my Buddipole mast and linked dipole <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-842012-Signal">when I activated the summit for the first time last year</a> using my HB1B.
  • I used one of my hiking poles to support the north end.
  • I ran the antenna's 300-ohm TV twinlead through the wrist strap of my other hiking pole so as to keep the extra twinlead up and off the ground.
  • All setup and ready to operate. That's Old Man Mountain W6/NS-184 behind me to the north.
  • Cranking out the QSOs on a day with great conditions. The solar flux index was up above 130.
  • My view while operating.
  • Another shot of nearby Old Man Mountain W6/NS-184 to the north.
  • One more shot, zoomed in. I have a rough plan for getting up to the top of that roadless monster, but the days are too short now, so I'll have to see if I feel courageous enough to attempt it next year.
  • To the north-northwest is Black Buttes W6/NS-170. <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-BlackButtes-W6NS270-2013">Activating that one wasn't exactly easy, but worth it</a>.
  • To the east is the Sierra crest with Castle Peak W6/SN-038 on the right and Basin Peak on the left.
  • Across I-80 to the east-southeast is Devil's Peak W6/NS-197, the dark formation below the skyline.
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