I did not a lot of activation’s this year, but my main target has been to reach 250 point, still far away from a GOAT, but a milestone. As two friends asked if a join them for a hike to Hohgant/ Furggengütsch, i said immediately yes. This summit is located in the Emmental Alps and the summit is called Hoghant. We went by car and left the Car at the Parkinglot called Schwarzbach (46.762969, 7.901317), Details for this hike can be found here. For this activation i toke only a 2m Handheld with me, to be as light as possible for this heavy hike. I worked 5 swiss Stations, even two S2S. I was happy, i got my needed 8 points.

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

I finally got some spare time to activate a summit and get some Bonus Points. Rinderberg is located in Zweisimmen and easy reachable by public transport. After a short walk you get to the Gondola Lift up to Rinderhorn. From the restaurant there is a short hike to the top. Get good boots, the snow was already frozen. After work i put my Crampons to get down this steep hill. Once down i got a hot coffee on the Restaurant and went back down by the Gondola Lift.

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

The forecast looked to get out for an activation. My XYL joined me, therefore an easy one. Just a ride with a Gondola Lift. We went to Gstaad by Public Traffic. This place is well known to host some VIPS. Check out on Wikipedia. The Gondola brought us to HB/BE-105 Wispile / Stand. After a short walk you’re in the activation Zone.

First i tried 40m and within 3 minutes i had my first 5 QSO. Later after some CQ’s, i switched to 20m. My first QSO was a S2s with SV2RUJ, this was a surprise. In 20 minutes i made another 11 QSO. Check the map below to see where my waves were going.

73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

As last year i wanted to activate this Summit. As i didn’t used the Snowshoes last year, i asked Bruno (hb9cbr) about. As a lot of people going to this summit, the path is hard and you may walk up with no problem. In the shadow there have been some iced spots.

I setup my gear and was looking for a free frequency on 40m, no way, it was very busy. I tried 20m and got some QSO, most with QSB. I got enough to get 6 points. Since the public transport has only two course back home, i had to leave, or wait another 4h on the cold. On the way down, i got my crampon for a save descent.

GPX Track is here.

73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Today we went to the local mountain of Bern, named Gurten. Wx was like autumn, a sunny day with light wind from east. As tried to setup the antenna they started to mow the grass, rigth where i wanted to install my antenna.  I called him to mow first here, what he did, so i gave him a tip for this. After a short time i was ready to work. The band was quite busy, but i found a space and started calling.  After the lunch we walked down.

On our way down, we had some luck to see a young falcon trying to hover above the ground, later he sat on a tree and i toke a picture from far away, may be you can  see him.

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Finally the wx was good enough for a snowshoe trail. The travel by public transport brouth me in a little more than one and a half hour to the start point of this hike. At the bus station is a center of Nordic sport cross-country skiing. The parking was very busy.

A short but steep trail gets you in 30 minutes to the summit. At the top, table and bancs are still covered with snow. The sun was shining, so i was ready for a nice activation. I installed my antenna and started checking who is on the air. It was too early, nobody there. I started with 40m and had after little time 10 qso. All of a sudden the sun was away and it was getting colder with a cool wind.  I checked the bus timetable and decided to leave. Due to Covid-19 there are no open restaurant where you can warm up your self.

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Time for the First activation 2020. My xyl wanted to join, but only if there is a fireplace at the top. After some research, i found this summit to be the best with fireplace.

Unfortunately the hike starts really steep, something she doesn’t like. Anyway we got to the top. After the fire was burning i installed the Antenna AX1 with 40m Extension (first time) and started checking for S2S, i got one. started calling myself on 40m. i took some time til i had a couple of qso. I had to check the fire again and to start the barbecue. Usually Swiss people have their Cervelat with them, b.t.w. very Tasty.

After the Lunch there was no time left for more qso. We walked back to Guggisberg and by bus back home.

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

During this week, there was the Heitere Open Air, the fact, that we did’nt got tickets for sunday, we left for an activation. In the Berner Oberland are may popular summits, i selected HB/BE-138 above the Thunersee. CHeck the pictures.

By train you get to Thun, later by Bus to Beatenbucht. With a Funiculair up to Beatenberg, here you may visit the Beatus Caves. The Funiculair connects with a Gondola Lift to Niederhorn our starting point for a short hike to Burgfeldstand. At the Top, there are no supports at all, therefore i used my minimum antenna system. Tripod with homebrew copperplate, Coax plug both-sided and a plug for the counterpoise, see pictures.The Antenna is a MFJ-1840T (Monoband 40m). For 1 hour at the top, the outcome was not great, but 5 QSO is god enough.

During this time i worked 40m, Spain, England, Germany and Switzerland, thereof 2 S2S.

Thanks for the QSO’s

73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

During my Vacation i wanted a least one activation, as usual my wife wanted to join me, she likes to walk downhill and hates walking uphill, therefore we selected HB/BE-104 Chasseral. After some planning, we started early to get to the Top by Bus from St.Imier. At first we had a coffe at the fine restaurant. From the Top of Chasseral, you have a nice view to the three lake area, (Wiki only in German, sorry) this is also the language border swiss german to french. The other side shows the Jura Mountains with some wind engine.

After i went to install my equipment to have some QSO. i worked 5 s2s in Switzerland, Austria and Croatia, i worked some more from Croatia, UK and Germany.

Once i collected all my stuff, we started the hike downhill to Lignieres, There is a race course, mostly motorbikes. From here we toke the Post Bus to Le Landeron and then back home.