Amateur Radio · VHF/UHF · Summits On The Air · Colorado Mountains · Adventure
In 2024, Joyce/K0JJW and I activated South Monarch Ridge (W0C/SP-058) on the Friday of the Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event. South Monarch Ridge (also known as Monarch Crest) is a fun summit, easy to access via a trail or via the tram (during the summer). Kevin/KD0VHD and Lynaire/K0LPR joined us on top. Kevin took this … Read more
During the Colorado 14er & Mountaintop Event, amateur radio operators from around Colorado will be activating Summits On The Air (SOTA) peaks and communicating with other radio amateurs across the state and around the world. Join in on the fun during the annual event by activating a summit or contacting (chasing) the mountaintop stations. Be … Read more
Big news — I’m proud to announce that the Second Edition of my book VHF, Summits, and More is now available. I’ve received tons of positive feedback on the first edition, published in 2019, and I decided it was time for an update. This new version is printed in color, which greatly enhances the photos … Read more
On December 1, most SOTA summits in Colorado gain an additional 3 points due to the Seasonal (Winter) Bonus. Joyce/K0JJW and I were looking for a summit not too far away that was still accessible for us to activate. This time of year, many US Forest Service roads are gated shut. Other roads remain open … Read more
Here’s an update on the most activated SOTA summits in Colorado. See my previous report here. Mount Herman (W0C/FR-063) still leads the pack by a wide margin, with many activations by Steve/WG0AT. Genesee Mountain has passed up Pikes Peak to take second place in the running. Genessee is in a park just outside of greater … Read more
When I get asked why I only use VHF/UHF frequencies for my Summits On The Air (SOTA) activations, I usually reply with: Height Above Average Terrain More specifically, I mean that using VHF for SOTA is fun because Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) has a dramatic effect on the propagation of my radio signal. HAAT … Read more