Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 265 – Custer Peak & Peak 6600 (2-3-21)

8:28 AM, 41ºF, start of USFS Road No. 216.1, 0.5 mile SE of Custer Peak – Bright and breezy when Lupe hopped out of the G6.  Such a long time since she’d been here!  Snow!  Only yesterday, deadfall had been her bane on the way to Peak 5316 in the southern Black Hills.  Snow was much more to the American Dingo’s liking.

Cool, clear, and breezy at the start of USFS Road No. 216.1. Photo looks WSW.

To what do I owe this great honor, SPHP?

What honor is that, Loop?

2 Black Hills Expeditions in a row.  Been forever since we’ve done that!

Ahh!  Easily explained.  This is the last warm day before a long cold snap moves in.  We’ve been spoiled!  Real winter is on the way.  Subzero every night!  A few more days until it gets that bad, but the deterioration is supposed to start this evening with a chilly wind out of the NW.  Sort of surprised at how breezy it is already.

Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad we’re here!  C’mon, SPHP, I’ll race you to the top!

Heh.  Might as well chalk another one up for the Carolina Dog right now.  SPHP started the trudge WNW, snow crunching underpaw.

C’mon, slowpoke! Loopster with her usual early lead. Photo looks WNW.

This was familiar territory.  Looper’s 7th ascent of Custer Peak, in fact.  Want the best views in the N central Black Hills?  The under 2 mile road trek up to the fire lookout tower on Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) is where to go.  Dominant views of the entire region!  Judging by how breezy it was down here, though, might be a gale up there today.

For nearly a mile, USFS Road No. 216.1 gradually steepened as it curved NW on the way to the saddle between Peak 6600 and Custer Peak.  The E face of Peak 6600 came into sight less than halfway there.  It wasn’t until Lupe got to the saddle region that she had her first really good look at Custer Peak.

Peak 6600 comes into view early on. Photo looks WNW.
Custer Peak from a knoll near the saddle leading to Peak 6600. Photo looks ENE.

USFS Road No. 216.1 curved sharply SSE shortly before Lupe got to the saddle.  However, No. 216.2A continued right on up to the saddle, where SPHP was surprised to see a new outhouse.  New in the 4.5 years since Lupe had last been here, that is.  At the saddle, No. 216.2A turned toward Custer Peak.  The road would go nearly all the way to the top.

At SPHP’s insistence, Lupe paused early on the No. 216.2A trek for a good look at the NE face of Peak 6600.

Peak 6600 from USFS Road No. 216.2A. Photo looks SW.

Didn’t take Loopster long to get to where No. 216.2A approached the base of Custer Peak.  From here, the road climbed steadily, ultimately completing a clockwise circuit of the entire mountain.  The views were fabulous where unobstructed, as they were most of the way up.

Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) to the NW was the most impressive sight, but the Carolina Dog was happier on the E and S sides of the mountain, where she was protected from the gusty wind which continually strengthened as she gained elevation.

Approaching Custer Peak on USFS Road No. 216.2A. Photo looks NE.
On the much calmer E side of the mountain. Photo looks N.
Getting close to the end of the road. Terry Peak (L). Photo looks NW.

No. 216.2A dead-ended 100 feet below the summit.  Exposed to the wind, Lupe did not enjoy the path that switchbacked the rest of the way to the top.  SPHP paused to examine a new plaque near the fire lookout tower, but the Carolina Dog was anxious to get out of the breeze.

Start of the short path that switchbacks to the summit. Photo looks SSW.
The new information plaque near the lookout tower.
Come on, SPHP! Let’s get out of the wind!

The wind wasn’t all that terrible, but SPHP had to agree that life was more pleasant on the sunny E side of the lookout tower.  To Loopster’s joy, this time SPHP hadn’t forgotten to bring the chocolate coconut bars.  She curled up on SPHP’s lap, inhaling her share, then munched some Taste of the Wild.

After a pleasant 10 or 15 minutes peacefully enjoying the views, it was time to brave the wind and take a few photos between major gusts.

The sunny E side of the lookout tower, where Loop and SPHP hung out for a bit. Photo looks W.
Peak 6380 (L) in the foreground, and Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) (far L) in the distance. Photo looks ENE.

Terry Peak (7,064 ft.), framed between Deer Mountain (6,652 ft.) and Bald Mountain (6,617 ft.), was the big view, but Lupe could also see all the way S to Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), and W to the limestone plateau country.

Deer Mountain (L), Terry Peak (Center), and Bald Mountain (R). Photo looks NW.
Peak 6600 (L of Center) in the foreground. Photo looks SW.

One or two laps around the lookout tower was about all the American Dingo was willing to put up with.  She didn’t get any respite from the wind yet, though.  After descending the tower steps, SPHP searched for the Custer survey benchmarks near the N side of the foundation.

Benchmark No. 2 near the NW corner of the lookout tower points E toward another marker 10 feet away.
“Custer” survey benchmark dated 1925.

Lupe’s Custer Peak tour concluded with a look at the views from a short ridge SW of the tower.

Black Elk Peak (far L) on the horizon. Photo looks S.
Looking SSW.
Peak 6600 (Center) in the foreground. Photo looks SW.

40 minutes!  After a 4.5+ year absence, hardly seemed enough to do justice to Custer Peak, but the wind wouldn’t let up, and the Carolina Dog was anxious to go.  Plenty more to do today, anyway, down where the breeze wouldn’t be so stiff.  Lupe started her descent leaving the summit as she’d found it, bathed in sunshine and battered by the wind.

About to head down. Photo looks NE.

Once back to the road, SPHP paused briefly for another look at Peak 6600, then it was on down around to the leeward side of the mountain.

Peak 6600 (Center) in the foreground. Photo looks SW.

You sure seem interested in Peak 6600 today, SPHP!

That’s because that’s where we’re going next!

We are?  I thought we might be done with the wind and all.

The wind’s not that bad, Loop, especially down below.  More adventures in store!  We’re going to climb Peak 6600, since it’s got such a fabulous view of Custer Peak, then head NW a few miles to climb Peak 6480.

Peak 6480?

Yes, another 300+ foot prominence peak from Lists of John.  Sort of been thinking maybe we ought to start working the 300+ foot prominence lists this year, since you’ve been to just about every named peak in the Black Hills that we can legally climb.  Quite a few of them more than once.  Gives us new places to explore!

I’m all for exploring, SPHP!  Sounds good!

By the time Lupe got back around to the windy N side of Custer Peak, a line of gray clouds could be seen approaching from the NW.

Wonder if that’s the lead edge of the front coming in, Loop?  Didn’t think it was supposed to get here until this evening.  Hope the wind doesn’t get too much stronger.

Started out OK, but sure hasn’t warmed up any today, either, SPHP.

Reaching the saddle leading to Peak 6600, Lupe left the road, plunging right into the dense, snowy forest.  A 260 foot climb almost due S would get her up to the 6600 foot contour at the NW end of the summit ridge.

In the snowy forest, beginning the trek up Peak 6600.

As expected, the route steadily steepened.  Some rocks, some deadfall, but mostly just trees and snow.  Lupe had done this once before, nearly 6 years ago, and been rewarded with a fantastic view of Custer Peak.  Best one possible, in fact, since Peak 6600 was the easily the highest point anywhere close to Custer Peak, and the summit ridge had a nice rocky spot where an unobstructed view could be obtained.

Any idea how much deeper this snow is going to get, SPHP?

Lupe wasn’t far from the top when the forest darkened.  Overhead, the sky was now a soft gray.  What happened to all the sunshine?  Loop was right!  Felt colder out, too.

C’mon, Looper!  The front must be here early!  Let’s get up to where we can get a couple of nice shots of Custer Peak before the weather deteriorates any further.

Didn’t take long.  A few more minutes, and Loopster was there, standing in the cold wind on the rocky viewpoint at the NW end of Peak 6600.

An hour had gone by since Lupe had left Custer Peak.  What a change!  Not only had all hint of sunshine utterly vanished, but a massive soft gray cloud hung low over everything.  Only on the far horizon did a brighter line indicate the already distant edge of the monstrous cloud.

The rocky viewpoint at the NW end of Peak 6600’s summit ridge. Photo looks S.

Custer Peak was still in view, except for the top 50 or 100 feet, where fog was now streaming by.  All in shadow now, instead of lovely sunshine, but nothing to be done about that.

Be ready, Loopster!  As soon as the fog clears from the summit, we’ll grab a quick photo of Custer Peak before things get any worse.

Bad decision!  Should have snapped one right away.  The Carolina Dog was ready, but the summit didn’t clear even for an instant.  Instead, the cloud suddenly swallowed the entire mountain.  Moments later, even Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.), far to the S, was gone.

Black Elk Peak (Center) dimly on the horizon, moments before it vanished, too. Photo looks SSE.

Oh, come on!  Really?  It’ll clear, if we have a bit of patience, Loop.  Got to be a little break before too long.

Lupe seemed unconvinced, but was willing to curl up on SPHP’s lap for the warmth, if nothing else.  Another chocolate coconut bar didn’t hurt a thing, either.

No break in the cloud.  Peak 6600 became an island in a gray oblivion, the only place left standing in the whole world.  15 minutes ticked away.  Tiny snowflakes filled the air.

OooooK!  Even I can take a hint, if ya knock me over the head with a 2 x 4!  Custer Peak photo isn’t happening, Loop.  Wha’dya say we go in search of the true summit of Peak 6600?  After that we can see about Peak 6480.

Best idea you’ve had in the last hour, SPHP!  Let’s do it!

Final moments at the NW high point of Peak 6600. Photo looks N.

The summit ridge dipped a bit as Lupe traveled SE along it.  Pines and fog hid whatever was ahead until she was almost upon it.  After going several hundred feet or more, a sizable rock formation appeared.  Possibly the true summit, although no telling in this fog.

Circling around to the SE, Loop found a spot where she could scramble to the top, which proved to be kind of a weird jagged area.

At the jagged-topped true summit candidate. Photo looks N.

Nope!  Not the true summit.  Continuing SE only a little farther, Lupe went up a slope to definitely higher terrain.  The American Dingo was almost at the SE end of the summit ridge.  Congratulations were in order!  SPHP was almost certain the elevated line of rock Lupe had reached was the true summit of Peak 6600.

True summit of Peak 6600. Photo looks N.

There didn’t seem to be any reason to linger on Peak 6600, especially if Loop still hoped to get to Peak 6480 when the forecast was for steadily deteriorating conditions.  A couple of minutes at the top, and Lupe was on her way down the S ridge.

Starting down Peak 6600’s S ridge. Photo looks S.

Not too far to USFS Road No. 216.1!  The descent went well, and in less than 0.25 mile, Lupe picked the road up again a little SE of a high point.  (Point 6427 on the topo map)  Looper headed for it, reaching an open gate at the top in a thin fog and light snow.

At Point 6427 on USFS Road No. 216.1. Photo looks NW.

Continuing NW on the snowy road, Lupe soon came to an intersection at a low spot.  A map was posted here.  SPHP took a look.

Snowmobile trail map posted along USFS Road No. 216.1.

What’s it say, SPHP?

Nothing helpful to us, Looper.  It’s a large scale snowmobile trail map.

The way things are going, we’ll be needing a snowmobile before this is over.

That had a ring of truth to it.  SPHP looked down at the American Dingo standing patiently on the snowy road, earnestly returning SPHP’s gaze.  All around, the forest was a mystery of fog and tiny swirling flakes.  Treetops swayed in the wind, releasing occasional cascades of fresh accumulations.  Snowing harder.  Even Loop was starting to turn white.

Not really that bad out.  Barely cold enough for snow, but the temp was supposed to drop, the winds increase.  Would it even be possible to find Peak 6480 in the fog?  Suppose Lupe did, what then?  Not going to see a thing.

What do you think, Loop?

About?

Call it, or go on?  We can come back, and do Peak 6480 another time.

Awesome out here in the snowy woods, isn’t it, SPHP?

Absolutely!  But possibly pointless, too.  Not sure it’s worth trying to go all the way to Peak 6480.  Might not recognize it, even if we find it.

Whatever you want to do, SPHP!  You know I’ll be there!

Truer words never spoken.  Not spoken now either, only conveyed by those completely trusting eyes.  No sense in letting a friend like that catch pneumonia!

So, Expedition No. 265 came to an early end.  Part success, part failure.  1.5 miles back to the G6.  A beautiful time in fog and snow, enjoying winter’s silence and solitude together.  (End 1:07 PM, 31ºF)

USFS Road No. 216.1A near Peak 6600, Black Hills of South Dakota 2-3-21

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

Lupe returned from her grand adventures in the Laramie Mountains of Wyoming on June 1, 2016.  Naturally, she expected to resume her explorations of the Black Hills in short order, but it didn’t happen.

May and June are normally the wettest months of the year in the Black Hills, but May had been very dry with temperatures running much above normal.  By early June, the sun was blazing day after day in cloudless skies.  Temperatures frequently soared to near record-breaking levels.  Almost no rain fell.  SPHP may as well have planted saguaros in the garden.  For Lupe, climbing mountains in a fur coat would have been miserable.  The Black Hills just aren’t high enough.

So Lupe’s adventures in June were mostly along the line of adventures in watering the lawn.  She fought with the old garden hose, converting it into a sprinkler hose in the process.  She chewed foot-long pieces off the end.  She played tug-of-war with SPHP, won most of the time, and became a very soggy (and cool!) doggie in the process, as the leaky hose sprayed water in every direction.

When she wasn’t a soggy doggie, Lupe licked ice cream from the freezer and consumed cold Alpo from the refrigerator.  A whole lot of panting and dozing went on the rest of the time.  Whenever the temperature got close to 100°F, SPHP would finally break down and turn on the AC in the bedroom, so Lupe could hide from the heat.

Nothing really changed until July 1st.  That morning, Lupe and SPHP woke up to rain!  It wasn’t raining hard, but at least the air was much cooler and clouds covered the sky.  Within a couple of hours, Lupe had another surprise.  Andrea called!  She was in town with Joe and Dusty!  Did Lupe want to come over to grandma’s house and play?

When she heard the news, Lupe was ecstatic!  She barked and leaped to hurry SPHP along.  Soon she was racing up the steps into grandma’s house to welcome everyone to South Dakota in her most enthusiastic Carolina Dog style.  Grandma had Beggin’ Strips for Lupe and Dusty.  The two dogs got to play ball and Frisbee with Joe and SPHP in the yard, go for walks, and lay on the deck with a view of the canyon.  There was ice cream, too.  July was off to a good start!

Joe is a ham radio operator.  He started telling SPHP about Summits on the Air, “an awards scheme for radio amateurs that encourages portable operation in mountainous areas”.  Peaks are assigned a point value.  Ham radio operators can earn points toward the SOTA “Mountain Goat” award by meeting certain criteria while operating from a peak, or points toward the “Shack Sloth” award for contacting those operating on a peak from home.

The home page for Summits on the Air (SOTA).
The home page for Summits on the Air (SOTA).

Joe had never tried the SOTA system before, but wondered if Lupe and SPHP would like to serve as guides to a suitable peak in the Black Hills?  Since Summits on the Air combines Lupe’s peakbagging interests with Joe’s amateur radio hobby, it sounded like fun!  Following the rain, the next day’s weather was supposed to be good, too, with highs only in the 70’s.  The question was, where to go?

Joe and SPHP looked over the SOTA website.  All of the Black Hills in South Dakota is included in two SOTA regions with a total of 181 listed peaks.  Most of these peaks have never been officially “activated” in the Summits on the Air system by anyone operating a portable radio from the peak.  After considerable discussion, Joe and SPHP selected Custer Peak (6,804 ft.) for Joe’s first SOTA attempt.  Joe created a free Summits on the Air account for himself.

The next morning, Joe posted a notification (called an “alert”) on the SOTA website that Joe (call sign AA0Q) would be operating his portable radio from Custer Peak.  The alert included the frequencies he would be using, and an estimated start time.  Once the alert was posted, Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP dashed off to Custer Peak!

At 10:58 AM (72°F), Joe parked the G6 at Lupe’s usual starting point at the junction of USFS Road No. 216 (Custer Peak Road) and USFS Road No. 216.2A.  Although Lupe was only a little over 0.5 mile SE of the summit, the road to Custer Peak was nearly 2 miles long.  Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP started the trek to the top along No. 216.2A.

Looking S from No. 216.2A near the start of the trek up Custer Peak (not shown).
Looking S from No. 216.2A near the start of the trek up Custer Peak (not shown).

Although Joe and Dusty had never been to Custer Peak before, this was Lupe’s 6th ascent.  Based on prior experience, SPHP had been telling Joe not to expect to see anyone at all on Custer Peak.  SPHP couldn’t have been more wrong!  SPHP’s pronouncement quickly became a joke.  First, Lupe and Dusty started coming to vehicles parked along the road.  Then dozens of people began to appear, most of them arriving in caravans of 4 or 5 ATV’s.

ATV’s roared up and down the dusty road.  As Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP got higher on the mountain, Lupe also encountered groups of people coming down on foot.  SPHP was totally amazed!  What SPHP had failed to consider was that Lupe normally goes on very few expeditions in the Black Hills during the hot summer months, when everyone else is out and about.  Apparently, Custer Peak is a far more popular summer destination than SPHP ever realized.

Another surprise was in store at the top of the mountain.  The ranger station was manned!  The hatch door to the balcony around the station was unlocked and open.  Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP went up on the balcony for a look around.

Lupe and Dusty on the ranger station's balcony. Although this was Lupe's 6th ascent of Custer Peak, she'd never been up on the balcony before.
Lupe and Dusty on the ranger station’s balcony. Although this was Lupe’s 6th ascent of Custer Peak, she’d never been up on the balcony before.

Joe found the ranger on duty to tell him that he would be operating a portable ham radio using 4 watts from the summit for an hour or so.  He just wanted to make certain it wouldn’t interfere with the ranger’s equipment.

The ranger didn’t think there was any equipment the radio would interfere with.  However, that didn’t mean there wasn’t a problem.  The American people declared independence and proclaimed freedom nearly 240 years ago, but times have changed.  The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave is now the Land of the Over-Regulated and Home of the Bureaucracy.  The ranger was cordial, but insisted that Joe contact the headquarters of the Spearfish district of the Black Hills National Forest to get official permission to operate the ham radio.

Neither Joe nor SPHP had a phone along, but the ranger allowed Joe to use his phone.  Naturally, since it was Saturday on the 4th of July holiday weekend, all Joe got was a recording.  The headquarters of the Spearfish district of the Black Hills National Forest wouldn’t be open until Tuesday.  Joe reasoned with the ranger inside the station.  Meanwhile, SPHP stayed out of it with Lupe and Dusty on the balcony.

It turned out the ranger’s concerns had to do with the ranger station being part of a designated historical site of some sort.  The ranger thought operating a ham radio might somehow break the historical site regulations.  Fortunately, the ranger had a map of the historical site area.  It covered only a relatively small part of the summit area surrounding the ranger station.

Joe and the ranger finally agreed that the NE side of a jagged rock outcropping a little way NW of the ranger station was outside the boundary of the historical site delineated on the map.  The ranger was OK with Joe setting up the ham radio operation over there.  That was a relief!  Lupe, Dusty, Joe and SPHP left the ranger station to go set up the antenna and other equipment.

Joe made a perfect toss of a large metal nut tied to fishing line up over the very top of a tall tree situated near the spine of the jagged rock outcropping.  The fishing line was then used to pull up a thin antenna wire.  Joe instructed SPHP on how to help deploy 4 lateral wires at the base of the antenna.

The ground on the NE side of the ridge was quite steep and rocky, so it took a little time to maneuver around and get set up.  Lupe and Dusty supervised operations from the most comfortable vantage points they could find.

Joe makes a perfect toss of a metal nut tied to fishing line over the top of the tall thin tree near the ridgeline. The fishing line was then tied to a very thin antenna wire, and pulled up to the top of the tree. Photo looks NW.
Joe makes a perfect toss of a metal nut tied to fishing line over the top of the tall thin tree near the ridgeline. The fishing line was then tied to a very thin antenna wire, and pulled up to the top of the tree. Photo looks NW.
Lupe supervises from the shade while Joe sets up his portable ham radio NE of a jagged rock outcropping NW of the ranger station.
Joe and Lupe continue working on the portable ham radio setup. Dusty sneaks off to check out SPHP's backpack on the chance there might be something good in it. One of the lateral wires can be seen in front of Dusty. Photo looks SW.
Joe and Lupe continue working on the portable ham radio setup. Dusty sneaks off to check out SPHP’s backpack on the chance there might be something good in it. One of the lateral wires can be seen in front of Dusty. Photo looks S.
Joe nearing completion of the portable ham radio setup. Joe's call sign is AA0Q.
Joe nearing completion of the portable ham radio setup. Joe’s call sign is AA0Q.
Dusty finds a shady spot to rest near some of the lateral wires. Photo looks E.
Dusty finds a shady spot to rest near some of the lateral wires. Photo looks E.

The ranger’s concerns, and the rough ground where Joe was forced to set up the radio, slowed things down.  By the time Joe was ready to try his very first Summits on the Air peak activation, it was more than half an hour after the time Joe had posted on the SOTA website.  Would any other ham radio operators still be listening for AA0Q on Custer Peak?  Joe had no idea what to expect.

Joe turned on his radio.  AA0Q was on the air on Custer Peak!  Almost immediately, another ham radio operator made contact with Joe.  (A contact is apparently referred to as a QSO.)  The contact told Joe that he would “Spot” him on the SOTA website.  Although Joe has many years of experience with ham radio, he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

Almost instantly, there was a “pileup”.  Joe shouted out to SPHP that it sounded like 20 people were trying to contact him all at once!

While Lupe looks on, Joe is instantly swamped by the response to his Summits on the Air activation of Custer Peak! Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) (R of Center) is the highest mountain in the distance. Photo looks NW.
While Lupe looks on, Joe is instantly swamped by the response to his Summits on the Air activation of Custer Peak! Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) (R of Center) is the highest mountain in the distance. Photo looks NW.
Dusty, surrounded by wires, looks happy with all the success Joe is having with his very first ever activation of a peak using Summits on the Air.
Dusty, surrounded by wires, looks happy with all the success Joe is having with his very first ever activation of a peak using Summits on the Air.
AA0Q's portable ham radio during use on Custer Peak.
AA0Q’s portable ham radio during use on Custer Peak.

Joe had a frantic time trying to respond to the enormous demand.  Mostly he was quiet, busy listening intently through the headphones while using Morse Code to reply to as many of the radio operators seeking him as possible.  At the same time, he was trying to log the call signs, time of contact, location and a few other details of each successful contact.  Just to keep Lupe, Dusty and SPHP informed, now and then he called out where the operators he was “working” were from.

The pileup eventually ended as those trying to contact Joe either got through, or gave up on reaching him.  After half an hour, new contacts were sporadic.  Joe kept his radio active another 15 minutes, switching to a voice frequency toward the end.  After one or two voice contacts, Joe was satisfied.  He’d managed to make and log 15 different QSO’s (contacts) from ham radio operators scattered all over the USA.

Joe was pretty happy with his first SOTA experience.  AA0Q had never been so popular and in demand before!  He’d made mistakes that kept him from “working” many of those who had tried to contact him, but Joe had learned a lot.  In the future, it would be easy to correct the worst errors.  Keeping the contacts short was vitally important.  People wanted their “Shack Sloth” points awarded for a successful QSO fast!  No dilly-dallying around allowed in this business.  Next time, Joe would have SPHP do the logging.

After taking down the antenna and putting the radio equipment away, it was time to return to the summit for a few pictures.  Joe also wanted to chat with the ranger to let him know his SOTA radio operation was over.

Up on the jagged ridge before returning to the summit. Photo looks SE from a point not too far from Joe’s SOTA activation of Custer Peak.
Joe, Dusty & Lupe below the ranger station. Photo looks SE.
At the summit.
AA0Q was the first to ever use Lupe's "Radio-Active" American Dingo guide services to a Black Hills peak for a Summits on the Air purpose. Joe earned 8 points toward SOTA's Mountain Goat designation for "activating" Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)! Photo looks NW toward Terry Peak.
AA0Q was the first to ever use Lupe’s “Radio-Active” American Dingo guide services in the Black Hills for a Summits on the Air peak activation. AA0Q earned 8 points toward SOTA’s Mountain Goat designation for “activating” Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)! Photo looks NW toward Terry Peak.
Looking NE.
Looking SSW.

Joe’s operating point on the NE side of the jagged NW ridge hadn’t been the easiest place to work from (or the most comfortable), but it did have a couple things going for it.  The NE side of the ridge was hidden from the trail to the ranger station, so Joe hadn’t been bothered by all the people coming and going.  The site had also been close enough to the top of the mountain to meet SOTA’s standards for a “peak activation”.

Joe and Dusty start down the trail. Joe had conducted his SOTA activation of Custer Peak from the opposite side of the jagged NW ridge seen here. Photo looks N.
Joe and Dusty start down the trail. Joe had conducted his SOTA activation of Custer Peak from the opposite side of the jagged NW ridge seen here. Photo looks N.
Lupe on the jagged NW ridge. Photo looks N.
Lupe on the jagged NW ridge. Photo looks N.

When Joe, Dusty, Lupe and SPHP got back to grandma’s house, Joe logged all 15 contacts (QSO’s) he’d made into the Summits on the Air website.  Joe was awarded his first 8 of 1,000 points required to earn the “Mountain Goat” designation.  The 15 QSO’s each earned points toward the 1,000 points required for the “Shack Sloth” designation.

The SOTA map showing the activation of Custer Peak by AA0Q earlier in the day.
The SOTA map showing the activation of Custer Peak by AA0Q earlier in the day.

Joe was happy.  Lupe and Dusty were happy, too.  They had earned extra ice cream and Beggin’ Strips for becoming “Radio-Active”!

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