Blue Mountain, SOTA W4V/SH-030
Summit Information: Summit Name: Blue Mountain, W4V/SH-030 Location: Thompson Wildlife Management Area Latitude: 38.9565 , Longitude: -78.0239 Date: December 8th, 2018 Points: 4 County: Fauquier Grid: FM08XW Wx: 20°F; 5mph; Partly Sunny On a Scale of 1 to 5Hiking:...
2018 Radio Summer Road Trip
The dog days of summer are here. My wife and I are heading up to the family summer house in downeast Maine for the next three weeks to escape the Mid Atlantic heat and humidity. On the way, I’m stopping in New Hampshire (and Maine) to activate several SOTA, POTA, US...
SOTA: Dickey Hill, W4V/SH-027
Summit Information: Summit Name: Dickey Hill, W4V/SH-027 Location: Shenandoah NP, Virginia (USA) Latitude: 38.8547 , Longitude: -78.2055 Date: June 24th, 2018 Number of times activated: 2 Summit Information: Points: 4 ...
SOTA: Compton Peak, W4V/SH-016
Summit Information: Summit Name: Compton Peak, W4V/SH-016 Location: Shenandoah NP, Virginia (USA) Latitude: 38.8192 Longitude: -78.1754 Date: June 24th, 2018 Number of times activated: 2 Summit Information: Points: 6 ...
2018 Field Day Plans
Field Day 2018 is here! I plan on activating SOTA summits and POTA park (POTA K-64) in Shenandoah NP, VA. 6/24/18.....Sunday 1130z Dickey Hill W4V/SH-027 (4pts) 1400z Compton Peak W4V/SH-016 (6pts) Freq: HF (CW) and VHF Live tracking via my InReach:...
SOTA/POTA Report: Mt Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine
Summit Information: Summit Name: Mount Katahdin, (W1/AM-001) Location: Baxter State Park, Maine, USA Latitude/Longitude: 45° 54' 15" N; 68° 55' 17" W Date: August 15th, 2017 Summit Information: Points: 10 ...
Parks on the Air Demo Follow up Report
I was recently asked by the President of the Washington, DC radio club (W3HAC) to give a brief presentation/demo on the popular Parks on the Air (POTA) program and some tips on portable radio operating. We met up at Rock Creek Park, which is very beautiful and hidden...
Special Event: Summits on the Air (SOTA) Activation DEMO!
What is Summits on the Air? Summits On The Air (SOTA) is an amateur radio operating program that started in the UK in the early 2000's and now can be found throughout the world including the USA. Activators, those who operate temporarily from mountain summits combine...
Special Event: Parks on the Air Demo in Washington, DC
Please join the HacDC Amateur Radio Club for a SPECIAL EVENT PRESENTATION occurring on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 2:00 PM in Rock Creek Park, in Washington, DC. Stuart Thomas / KB1HQS will be our very special guest. During the 2016 ARRL National Parks on the Air...
SOTA: 9 North Carolina Activations in 4 days
My article published in the May 2017 QST Magazine:
Shenandoah SOTA Summits and Xrays
Once again, I decided to visit Shenandoah National Park (SNP) in Virginia and activate summits south of Thornton's Gap. When I arrived early Sunday morning, the entrance park toll booth had a sign that read, “Pay when you leave”. Well, thanks to my awesome...
Valley Forge NP
Valley Forge National Historical Park Valley Forge Nation Historical Park (HP46) is located in southern Pennsylvania and an easy park to access. Activation Date: January 19th 2016 When I arrived it was empty and I had the whole parking lot to myself. I stopped by the...
Star Spangled Banner NHT
The Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (TR22) that I activated was located in Virginia at Jones Point near the Potomac River. I did a double activation with the George Washington Memorial Parkway (PK02). I also activated from Riverside park, which is located...
Appalachian Trail (TR01)
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (TR01), or “AT” as it is commonly known, starts in Georgia ends at the summit of Mt. Khatadin, Maine. With a route of over 2,200 miles it is one of most hiked trails in America. The AT is a popular long distance trail for “thru”...
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historic Park
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historic Park (HP06) is located at the end of Interstate 66 near Meadow Mills. The park was closed so I operated in the parking lot and made 11 contacts on 20m with 10 Watts (mobile operation). This was one of three parks I was...
Eisenhower National Historic Site
Eisenhower National Historic Site Location: Pennsylvania Activation Date: January 17th, 2016 Contacts: 14 contacts on 20M Phone; 10W *Mobile operation This site, NPOTA #NS13 is kind of an unusual one as you can’t visit the buildings unless you buy a pass from the...
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park (MP03) is in southern PA and is an incredible park both in history and size. It seems to dwarf the town of Gettysburg. There is something surreal about standing in the middle of a historical battlefield and seeing a drugstore and fast...
Manassas National Battlefield
Manassas National Battlefield Park (BP02) is located in Manassas, Virginia and is the site of two major Civil War battles: First Battle of Bull Run and Second Battle of Bull Run. This park was one of three that I was activating on the same day. Activation date:...
Thomas Stone National Historic Site
Thomas Stone National Historic Site was the third of my activations in the area (see Fort Washington & Piscataway Park for the other two). When I arrived, the gates said closed for the season. I parked in front of the gate (and according to the maps I was on NP...
Catocitin Mountain Park
So an opportunity came where to go visit an old friend in PA, and on the way where several parks to activate. Activation date: 1/17/2016 The first was Catoctin Mountain Park (DZ01) is located in Torment, Maryland. I left Virginia at the crack of dawn and headed...