2. Ham Radio

Verdi Peak (W6/NS-146) SOTA Activation 9/27/2013

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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.
  • Verdi Peak is in Tahoe National Forest a few miles west of the CA/NV border. To get to it from the west, take the Hirschdale Road exit from I-80 and follow the signs towards Boca Reservoir (north). As you get near the north end of the reservoir, at the BocaSpringsVerdiPk point (39.41898N, 120.08615W), you will see a sign for Verdi Peak pointing right. Unless you will be traveling to the peak on an ATV, dirt bike or rugged 4x4 vehicle, IGNORE THIS SIGN and do not travel on the road shown in blue (although the short segment of the road that goes to Boca Springs Campground is fine). Instead of turning right, continue on the paved road until the pavement ends several miles later at a T intersection with the dirt Henness Pass Road. This point is shown as Sierra270HennessPass (39.50664N, 120.09215W) on the map above. <br /> <br /> Turn right on Henness Pass Road and climb up this well maintained dirt road to the signed border with Toiyabe National Forest. Just past the forest border at HennessPassVerdi (39.526N, 120.0701W) you will see yet another sign for Verdi Peak pointing right. Turn onto this road (Tahoe National Forest road 72) shown in green in the map above. If the road is dry and free of snow, a rugged 2WD vehicle should be able to make it up to at least the intersection with the blue road from Boca Reservoir/Springs at VerdiBoca (39.49123N, 120.05346W). <br /> <br /> The road shown in blue that runs from this intersection up to the abandoned lookout tower on the peak is rough and rocky, so much so that it isn't even enjoyable on an ATV (but the view is worth it). A rugged 4WD vehicle is required. A stock 4WD vehicle like an SUV might be able to make it if driven carefully, but I personally wouldn't try it, unless the SUV is an old beater. If you don't have a suitable vehicle and need to hike from this point, it is approximately 3.1 miles to the summit with an elevation gain of about 1200 feet.<br /> <br /> Verdi Peak can also be reached from the east by taking the dirt Henness Pass Road up out of Verdi, CA, bearing left at the Y intersection at DogValleyHennessPass (39.54909N, 120.03989W) so as to continue climbing on Henness Pass Road up to the HennessPassVerdi point.
  • Up on top, with Reno, NV splayed out behind me to the east.
  • When I activated this summit last year, I barely had room for my 20/40m link dipole and it took me quite a while stringing it up above the lookout tower so I could anchor it on each side. This year I took the easy way out and brought along the Alexloop. My report from last year is <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-832012-Verdi">here</a>.
  • My operating spot on the summit ridge near the lookout tower.
  • Unlike last year, it was a clear day. This shot is looking northwest. Sierra Valley is visible in the distance behind the lower right quadrant of the loop, and the left side of the loop cuts through Land Peak W6/NS-169 with Sardine Peak W6/NS-160 just a bit further to the left. My activation albums with more info on those: <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-LandPeak-W6NS169-2013">Land Peak</a>, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-SardinePeak-Apr2013">Sardine Peak</a>
  • To the southwest is Boca Reservoir, Boca Hill W6/NS-264 (<a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-812012-Boca">activation report</a>) on the other side of it, Truckee, Mt. Pluto W6/NS-138 at the Northstar ski resort (<a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-MtPluto">activation report</a>), etc.
  • Kicked back and operating. The peak in the foreground above my head is Ladybug Peak (not a SOTA summit but actually has a better view than Verdi Peak) and the one behind it on the skyline is Babbitt Peak W6/NS-132. See my <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-852012-Babbitt">activation report from last year</a> for more information on that one.
  • My view while operating, with my feet pointed directly at downtown Reno.
  • A storm came through a few days ago and there is still plenty of snow on Mt. Rose W7N/WC-001.
  • Zoomed in shot of Ladybug Peak and Babbitt Peak behind it.
  • To the west is Mt. Lola W6/NS-111 on the right, and Carpenter Ridge W6/NS-123 is peak across the "gap" to the left of Mt. Lola. For more info on that one, see <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-CarpenterRidge-NS123-2013">my activation report from earlier in the year</a>.
  • To the southwest is Castle Peak W6/SN-038 up on the Sierra Crest with Basin Peak to the right of it.
  • Looking south-southeast down into the Truckee River canyon. I-80 follows it up to Truckee (or down to Reno depending on your point of view).
  • SOTAWatch spots page 1.
  • SOTAWatch spots page 2.
  • Logbook page 1. 12m was wide open, and I made my very first summit-to-summit QSO with an activator in Europe: EA2EA/P on Belkoain (EA2/SS-051) in Spain.
  • Logbook page 2. After a nice run on 12m that included 5 DX countries (Germany, Spain, Hungary, Italy and Belize) I moved to 20m and started off by calling Fred WS0TA for my second summit-to-summit QSO of the day.
  • Logbook page 3, including my 3rd summit-to-summit QSO of the day with Alan NM5S.
  • Logbook page 4. 33 QSOs overall including 3 summit-to-summit QSOs. Thanks for everyone who gave me a call!
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