Grand Som Martel HB/NE-003 12.06.2022

Today is National Summit Activation Day. As last year i decided to activate a french speaking Canton. By Public Transport i got to “Le Locle, Haut-du-Quartier”, from there the hike started. In less than a hour i got into the Activation zone as seen on sotl.as. The is no track at the end, at the destination is a Radio TV Tower. It was a realy hot day and i was sitting in the shadow of the tower. The direction of the Antenna was not perfekt, there was a big fir tree just next to my QTH. Later i walked back to the bus station. This place is a remote place and the Public Traffic runs only every two hours on Sunday. Therefore i had to wait some time until i got a bus. During that time i watched some swallows, they had their nest underneath the farmhouse opposite the bus station. It was fun watching them.

Total distance: 2743 m
Total climbing: 224 m
Download file: ne003.gpx

 

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Mont Vully HB/FR-036 28.04.2022

As my XYL wanted to have a trip, i decided to got for an easy one. By public transport we got to Sugiez, the starting point of our hike today. The summit to reach today is Mont Vully. Along the lower hillside, there is every inch reserved for wine grapes. They cultivate the grapes called Chasselas, a white wine well known in Switzerland.

The propagation was not very good this morning, i worked half a hour , to get some QSO.  Fortunately a bunch of S2S.

Later we had a glass of white wine in Murten, before we left to get back home.

 

Total distance: 2815 m
Total climbing: 230 m
Download file: Fr-036.gpx

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Wannebärg HB/SH-002 12.04.2022

It’s time for a next activation, got all gear together and right to the train. During the travel to Osterfingen, (starting point for the hike), the train passed the famous “Rhine Falls“. This region is well known for Wine. After one hour i was in the activation zone and started the setup as usual. All of a sudden i missed the Banana plug to BNC Adapter. A disaster, i checked for my knife also missing, this is a man-made disaster. After some head scratching i tried my best and got a handicraft work solution, that got me at least the needed QSO.

 

Thank you again for coming back to me.

 

Total distance: 1265 m
Total climbing: 120 m
Download file: HB_SH-002_955.gpx

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Calmut HB/GR-292 01.03.2022

The wx forecast was excellent, therefore i got my gear together and went by Public transport to the Oberalppass, wich belongs to  Skiarena Andermatt-Sedrun. The summit Calmut is the first after the Oberalp Pass, that connects Swiss Cantons Uri with Graubünden. Calmut is an easy 1 hour snow shoe hike with flat beginning and a step finish. As i got to the top, it was really windy, cold and strong wind.

I installed my antenna, the mast tied to the bench. I could protect myself behind the backpack from the wind. It was my first try with 60m and it locks promising, i got 9 QSO in only 7 minutes.  On 20m i worked OM’s from all over Europe. As the wind got stronger i had to leave. Over all, a successful activation, i will do again next winter.

 

Total distance: 2340 m
Total climbing: 288 m
Download file: Gr-292.gpx

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

 

Wispile/Stand HB/BE-105 10.02.2022

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)

Selibüel HB/BE-151 19.01.2022

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)

Rigi Kulm HB/SZ-021

my plan for today was to activate Calmut, with a nice Snowshoe Track. Due to a problem in Main Station Lucerne, they blow up an ATM . I had to change my plan. I went over Zurich to Arth-Goldau, from there to Rigi-Kulm.
That means no walking, no Snowshoe, just 9 easy points. At the top i found a nice windy bench for my activation. By time, the time seemed to get colder every minute. Anyway i’am here to do a Job.

Once installed, i check the 40m, but this was to busy to find a free frequency. After checking 20m i foudn a free spot for me. my fingers started freezing as i got the first QSO, even a S2S. After a quarter hour i had 10 QSO and frozen finders. Time to get a Hot Swiss coffee.

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Handalm OE/ST-348 18.09.2021

Last year we planned a vacation in Vienna, that was postponed due to Covid-19 Situation. We planed to go Vienna and later visit friends living in Wundschuh, outside from Graz. Since travelling allows, we decided to go this September, checking on Sotlas, what summit could be near Graz, i found a good place on Handalm. I called my friend about this place, he said might be fun going there. On Saturday 2021.09.18 my friend and me started around 8am UTC, a one our drive and a short hike i started installing my antenna just below a Windpower Station  on Handalm.  40m was to busy to find a free frequency, on 20m i got some nice QSO as well as some S2S with Austrian Stations.

 

 

Total distance: 1833 m
Total climbing: 201 m
Download file: OE-ST-348-Handalm-01.gpx

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Bürgenstock HB/NW-019 09.09.2021

First time this year i went with Junior to an easy one, we decided to drive up to Bürgenstock, instead the public transport. After a short hike, i started installing my antenna, as it started to rain, well all in a bag and a raincoat as cover. When the pants were wet, the rain stopped. I took my gear and checked for a S2S, none so far. Around 9:30h i started calling cq and in no time i had 15 QSO.  Since all was wet, we went down over the so called Felsenweg. Its a cliff  path with a fabulous view to Lake Lucerne and Rigi. On the way down to the Bürgenstock Resort you walk by the Hammetschwand Elevator.

From this place you may see more than 10 Sota Summits.

 

 

 

Total distance: 6839 m
Total climbing: 300 m
Download file: burgenstockhbnw019.gpx

 

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)

Gurten HB/BE-111 26.08.2021

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.

 

 

Total distance: 2781 m
Total climbing: 6 m
Download file: gurtenbe111.gpx

 

thank you for QSO, 73 de hb9fvk (ruedi)