Tag: Joe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 201 – Summits on the Air! (Silver Mountain, 4-22-17)

Start 9:16 AM, 48°F, Boulder Hill Road (USFS Road No. 358) 0.5 mile N of Hwy 16.

Note: Summits on the Air is an awards scheme for radio amateurs that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas.  A point system awards points for both transmitting (“activating”) from a mountain or picking up the signal (“chasing”).

Joe & cousin Dusty were in town!  That meant one thing – time for some Summits on the Air action!  Lupe was all for it.  She and Dusty arrived at the top of Silver Mountain around 10 AM.  It was a beautiful day to be on the mountain.

Lupe hadn’t been on Silver Mountain in more than 2 years. Although the views are excellent, Silver Mountain is not one of Lupe’s favorites. Target practice gunfire can usually be heard off to the W, which makes her nervous. To Lupe’s dismay, the guns were blazing away again today. Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) is in view on the L. Photo looks NE.
Cousin Dusty just below the summit. The distant gunfire didn’t bother Dusty at all. She paid not the slightest attention to it.
Dusty lives in Arvada, Colorado, but was up in South Dakota for a weekend visit. Dusty really likes exploring the Black Hills with Lupe.

Joe had posted notification on the Summits on the Air website that AA0Q (his call letters) would “activate” (start transmitting from) Silver Mountain at 11:00 AM.  With an hour to go, he had plenty of time to set up his antenna and portable Ham radio.

Preparations to start transmitting from Silver Mountain included setting up this 16 or 17′ long antenna with four lateral wires at the very summit. Photo looks NE.

Joe said he liked the layout on Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.).  The forest had burned years ago, so there were no big trees around to obstruct the views in any direction.  The mountain sloped away fairly steeply on most sides with nothing any higher for at least a couple of miles in any direction.

Although Silver Mountain was a good physical setup for Ham radio transmissions, Joe wasn’t at all certain how well things were going to work out.  The 11 year sunspot cycle hits its low in just a couple more years, and atmospheric conditions are usually best for amateur radio band transmissions when sunspot activity is high, not low.

As it got close to 11 AM, everything was ready to go.  The antenna and portable radio were all set up.  SPHP was trained to keep a simple log of Joe’s contacts.  Lupe and Dusty were prepared to ward off any intruders.

At 10:55 AM, Joe started transmitting in Morse code, receiving a first response almost instantly.  That contact “spotted” AA0Q on SOTA’s website confirming contact with Joe.  Silver Mountain was on the air!

An immediate explosion of activity came from dozens of “chasers” all trying to make contact at the same time.  AA0Q was overwhelmed by the response, as usual.  Joe did his best to make rapid contact with as many of the chasers as possible, but it was impossible to respond to more than a fraction.

AA0Q hard at it shortly after “activating” Silver Mountain. Photo looks SE.
Dusty relaxes nearby while Joe works the Ham radio. Response from the chasers, as usual, was initially overwhelming.

Atmospheric conditions were changing rapidly.  Joe and the chasers often exchanged signal strength information, which varied wildly over the span of only a few minutes.  Of course, part of the variation was due to the different locations of the chasers.  Successful contacts were made with operators in Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and several other states.

With chasers lined up in droves trying to get through, each contact had to be brief.

So, Uncle Joe, how is it going? Heard anything from anyone on Squirrel Mountain, yet? Lupe checks on AA0Q’s SOTA progress. Photo looks E.
This photo shows the overall setup. The rocky summit ridge wasn’t the best for comfort, but AA0Q managed pretty well. Photo looks NNE.
AA0Q’s portable radio in use on Silver Mountain.

For the first 10 or 15 minutes, conditions gradually improved.  Signals were getting a little stronger on average, despite bouncing around.  Later on, conditions deteriorated.  At times the “bands” were down for a minute or two.  AA0Q got a chance to shift to a more comfortable position.

As time went by, the bands went down intermittently, giving Joe a chance to shift to a more comfortable position. Photo looks SSW.

By 11:30 AM, 35 minutes after Joe started transmitting, it was over.  The bands were consistently weak.  The chasers had either made contact with AA0Q, or given up by now.  Even when conditions improved momentarily, no one was left still trying to make contact.  Evidently it was time to take down the antenna and put the radio away.

Joe at the top of Silver Mountain shortly before taking the antenna down. Photo looks NNE.
Silver Mountain was the 3rd Black Hills peak AA0Q has activated. In July, 2016, Lupe and SPHP had accompanied Joe & Dusty to Custer Peak and Boulder Hill.

AA0Q had made 27 contacts in 35 minutes, so Joe was pleased with the overall results.  Despite spotty atmospheric conditions, Silver Mountain had been a successful Summits on the Air outing.  There always seem to be way more chasers than it’s possible to make contact with right after activating a peak, but Joe had done all he could.

Lupe got a pat from AA0Q for her guide services.

Lupe earns a pat from AA0Q for her Black Hills peak guide services. Photo looks NE.

Once the radio equipment was put away, it was time for a final look around at the views, followed by a short exploration of Silver Mountain’s summit area.  Of course, the most impressive view was toward Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), the highest mountain in South Dakota.

Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.) (R of Center) from Silver Mountain. Hwy 16 is seen below. Photo looks SW.

Silver Mountain’s summit area features two ridges running roughly N/S.  The E ridge where Joe had set up the radio equipment is the highest.  However, only a short distance to the W is an even rockier and more interesting ridge.  The W ridge is only slightly lower than the E one.

The slightly lower, but more dramatic W ridge. Photo looks NW.

Between the two ridges, at the base of the E one, is one of many Dingo outposts Lupe has discovered scattered throughout the Black Hills.

Joe inspects Lupe’s Silver Mountain Dingo outpost. Joe was pretty certain it didn’t meet current building codes, but adventurous American Dingoes don’t give two hoots about that. Boulder Hill is in view beyond it. Photo looks NNE.

Joe was intrigued by the W ridge.  He got up on top for a few minutes for a look around.  Lupe and Dusty stayed below.

Joe got up on the W ridge for a look around. Slightly lower, Lupe is partially hidden among the small trees on the L, while Dusty sniffs around in the foreground. Photo looks W.

With Silver Mountain’s summit area explored, everyone headed back to the G6.  There was still tons of time left in the day.  Joe wanted to go climb Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.) again.  Everyone piled into the G6.  Joe drove 0.5 mile N to the start of the access road only 0.25 mile SW of the summit.

An easy trek along the access road led to a scenic path that winds up the large rock formation at the top of the mountain.  Soon Lupe was at the summit with a great view looking back at Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.).

Silver Mountain (Center) from Boulder Hill. Photo looks SSW.

Joe has liked Boulder Hill ever since first climbing it with Lupe, Dusty and SPHP exactly one year ago on 4-22-16.  In fact, he liked it so much that first time, everyone had come back to make a second ascent the very next day!  On the 4th of July, Joe had even done a Summits on the Air activation of Boulder Hill.

Today’s Expedition No. 201 was Joe and Dusty’s 4th time up on Boulder Hill with Lupe and SPHP.  Good times!

Joe on Boulder Hill near the area where he’d done a Summits on the Air activation of the peak on 7-4-16. Back then his antenna had been propped up in the big pine tree seen directly beyond him. Photo looks NW.
Joe & Dusty together with Lupe on top of Boulder Hill for the 4th time. The first time up for Joe and Dusty had been exactly one year ago! Photo looks SE.

No Summits on the Air activation of Boulder Hill was planned for today.  This was a pleasure excursion, just to see the views.

Silver Mountain (L). Photo looks SSW.
Silver Mountain with a little help from the telephoto lens. The more dramatic, rocky W ridge is seen to the R of the true summit. Photo looks SSW.

After lingering at the top of the mountain for 15 minutes, everyone started back down.  Time to head back to Lupe’s grandma’s house for food, fun and games.  Lupe and Dusty looked forward to an afternoon of squeaker ball, tennis ball and flying disc action in grandma’s front yard.  (End 2:00 PM, 62°F)

Joe (lower R) starts the trek down. Photo looks S.
Lupe’s cousin Dusty on Boulder Hill. Photo looks E.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition                   Prior Black Hills Expedition

Summits on the Air official website

Expedition No. 174(a) – Summits on the Air!  (Custer Peak, 7-2-16)

Expedition No. 174(b) – Summits on the Air!  (Boulder Hill, 7-4-16)

Want more Lupe adventures?  Check out her Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 174(b) – Summits on the Air! (Boulder Hill, 7-4-16)

By the time Lupe and SPHP arrived at grandma’s house, Joe and Dusty were ready and waiting.  Joe had already entered an alert on Summits on the Air!  Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP lost no time leaving for Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.).

Boulder Hill from USFS Road No. 358 (Boulder Hill Road) where Flume Trail No. 50 crosses the road. Photo looks S.

At 8:19 AM (71°F), Joe parked the G6 at the high point of the saddle on USFS Road No. 358 near the Boulder Hill access road.  A cool N breeze could be heard in the pines.  Lupe and Dusty were soon racing through the shady forest.  Joe and SPHP took the access road.

Rain had finally arrived the day before – the real deal with thunder, lightning, small hail and at least an inch of moisture.  Lupe found big tan mud puddles on the access road.  She plunked herself down in several of them.  She emerged with cool, tan mineral water streaming from her fur.

The access road was only 0.375 mile long.  It ended at the base of the big rock outcropping at the top of Boulder Hill (5,331 ft.).  A spur of Flume Trail No. 50 wound up among the rocks to a small, shallow saddle between the N and S high points at the summit of Boulder Hill.  Good!  No one was around.  Joe would have his choice of sites to set up his ham radio equipment.

Two days earlier, Joe had had such a good time with his first Summits on the Air (SOTA) experience “activating” Custer Peak (6,804 ft.), that he wanted to try activating another peak in the Black Hills before he and Dusty had to head home to Arvada, Colorado.  SOTA is “an award scheme for radio amateurs that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas”.  Naturally, Lupe, Dusty, and SPHP had all wanted to come along again, too!

Joe decided to set up the radio equipment at the N end of the N high point.  He taped a 12 foot fishing pole supporting an antenna wire as high up in a pine tree as he could.  SPHP then helped Joe set up 4 lateral wires near the base of the antenna.  Lupe and Dusty supervised, while guarding against intruders.

Joe and Dusty during setup of the portable ham radio. The 12' fishing pole supporting the antenna can be see up in the tree toward the L. Several of the lateral wires can be seen, too.
Joe and Dusty during setup of the portable ham radio. The 12′ fishing pole supporting the antenna can be see up in the tree toward the L. Several of the lateral wires can be seen, too.
Lupe supervises while Joe finishes setting the radio up. Photo looks NW.
Lupe supervises while Joe finishes setting the radio up. Photo looks NW.

Pretty soon, the radio was ready.  This time, Joe had a much better idea of what to expect once the radio was on.  Before “activating” Boulder Hill, Joe gave SPHP the log book and a pen.  SPHP received a 5 minute crash course on how to log the contact call signs, and other data Joe would call out while operating the radio.

AA0Q (Joe's radio call sign) ready to get Boulder Hill on the air!
AA0Q (Joe’s radio call sign) ready to get Boulder Hill on the air!

Set up had gone smoothly.  AA0Q was ready to go on the air 5 minutes before the alert time Joe had posted on the SOTA website.  As soon as Joe started transmitting, the same thing happened as at Custer Peak two days earlier.  Within seconds of turning the radio on, a contact “spotted” AA0Q on Boulder Hill on the SOTA website.  Moments later, Joe told SPHP that it was another “pileup”.  Joe said it sounded like 30 hams were trying to contact him at once.

It was impossible to respond to them all, but Joe was better prepared than last time.  SPHP logged the contacts, while AA0Q “worked” them using Morse Code.  Joe recognized some of the contacts as repeats from his SOTA activation of Custer Peak.  Others were new.  The most distant contact was in Great Britain, which Joe said was very good for transmitting only 4 watts.

AA0Q on the air on Boulder Hill, with Dusty looking on. Photo looks NW.
AA0Q on the air on Boulder Hill, with Dusty looking on. Photo looks NW.

Lupe and Dusty helped, too.  At one point, three hikers arrived up on Boulder Hill while AA0Q was still transmitting.  Both Lupe and Dusty barked a warning.  SPHP stopped logging long enough to point out the lateral antenna wires, so they wouldn’t trip on them.  SPHP also took a couple of group photos for the hikers using their camera.

Once again, Joe was rather amazed at the terrific response.  His Summits on the Air activation of Boulder Hill was a big success.  In roughly an hour, AA0Q worked 33 contacts by Morse Code, and one by voice.  By activating Boulder Hill, AA0Q had earned 6 more points toward the SOTA “Mountain Goat” award.  Including the 8 points earned on Custer Peak, he was now up to 14 points.  SOTA was fun and added a whole new dimension to AA0Q’s amateur radio hobby!

When Joe was done transmitting, it was time to take down the antenna and pack up all the radio gear.  When that was complete, Joe, Dusty, Lupe & SPHP went to explore a slightly lower high point a short distance to the N.

Joe and Dusty on the slightly lower high point to the N. Harney Peak (L of Center) is the highest point in the distance. Photo looks SW.
Joe and Dusty on the slightly lower high point to the N. Harney Peak (L of Center) is the highest point in the distance. Photo looks SW.
Silver Mountain's summit is in view just above Joe. Cliffs at the edge of the N summit area close to where AA0Q had been transmitting are seen on the L. Photo looks SSW.
Silver Mountain’s summit is in view just above Joe. Cliffs at the edge of the N summit area close to where AA0Q had been transmitting are seen on the L. Photo looks SSW.
Joe stands near the spot where he had been transmitting from on the N summit. Photo looks S.

Of course, the peakbagger in Lupe wasn’t about to leave Boulder Hill without a visit to the S summit area, too!

Lupe on the S summit. Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) is the grassy peak on the L. Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) is on the horizon on the R.
Lupe on the S summit. Silver Mountain (5,405 ft.) is the grassy peak on the L. Harney Peak (7,242 ft.) is on the horizon on the R.
AA0Q and Dusty at the S summit. Photo looks SW.
AA0Q and Dusty at the S summit. Photo looks SW.
Harney Peak using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.
Harney Peak using the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.
Part of Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) is seen on the L. Hwy 16 is visible on the R. Photo looks E.
Part of Storm Hill (5,192 ft.) is seen on the L. Hwy 16 is visible on the R. Photo looks E.
Joe and Dusty on the trail on the way down. Photo looks S.
Joe and Dusty on the trail on the way down. Photo looks S.

By noon, Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP were back at grandma’s house.  Joe logged in all the QSO’s (contacts) he had made on the Summits on the Air website.  All the contacts earned points toward the SOTA “Shack Sloth” award.

After lunch, Joe & SPHP went with other family members off into the hills again.  SPHP wound up at Rushmore Cave, and Joe wound up at an antique shop in Keystone.

Lupe, Dusty and Maya (another dog in the family) were left behind with grandma.  SPHP had given all three dogs water and a Beggin’ Strip before leaving.  Grandma later reported that all the dogs spent the entire afternoon snoozing on the soft carpet in front of the fan.  Being a “Radio-Active” Carolina Dog can be a tough life, but someone’s got to do it!

Summits on the Air map showing AA0Q's activation of Boulder Hill.
Summits on the Air map showing AA0Q’s activation of Boulder Hill.

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition               Prior Black Hills Expedition

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