Month: November 2025

W3/PW-031 2190

This unnamed peak is just outside of the ring of five other SOTA peaks surrounding DuBois, PA (#duboisquintet), midway between Punxsutawney and State College. Hot off of a visit to Gobbler’s Knob and activating W3/PW-020 2266 in the surprisingly scenic SGL 87, I added this roadside SOTA activation. The activation zone extends along where Hartman Road meets Drane Highway.

There’s a gravel pullover spot west of this intersection where I parked at and set up behind my car. Somebody disposed of a sofa chair here that is visible on Google Maps (last updated April 2025), and it’s still sitting there as of November 2025. I set my wire up in the trees and brush alongside the road and worked this one fairly quickly, only lingering for about a half hour. Notable contacts were two S2S on 20m: Nick WN2G on W9/WI-015 Happy Hill and George KX0R on his frequent haunt W0C/FR-085.

  • Trailhead: 40.93516, -78.33191: Parked in pullover west of the intersection between Hartman Road and Drane Highway
  • Route: Drive-on
  • POTA: None

W3/PW-020 2266 – Introducing the DuBois Quintet

Over the course of several trips this year, I had activated 4 of 5 of a ring of SOTA peaks surrounding DuBois, PA in a 15 mile radius.

This was the last remaining of the DuBois Quintet (yep, I’m trying to make that a thing) I had yet to activate. For various reasons, I haven’t written up any of these post-hike trip reports. I suppose I’ll document my return to these peaks in 2026! Consider it a New Year’s Resolution.

On the way to State Game Land 87, I passed through Punxsutawney, PA, home of the famous season prognosticator-rodent Punxsutawney Phil. I couldn’t resist pulling over at Gobbler’s Knob, where there was a small visitor’s center. I was able to climb up onto the stage where the groundhog is presented to the public on a stone pedestal to hear his prediction on February 2. There’s even a SOTA badge awarded for activating/chasing a summit on Groundhog Day. Fun stuff! I didn’t have a chance to check out Phil in his glass enclosure in the town’s public library, but you’ve always got to leave something to see on the next visit!

The short hike I took into SGL 87 from the parking area was surprisingly scenic, and the views were nice. The AZ is large and encompasses many trails and roads (including where I parked), so there are plenty of options. My hike actually took me out of the AZ, then back into it again, just for fun.

This was my first SOTA activation in three weeks, so I just vibed out, working 56 QSOs while enjoying the fall propagation. I was lucky to grab a transatlantic 10m SSB S2S with EA8/DG0JMB/P on EA8/GC-001 in the Canary Islands! Fall propagation indeed! Going to keep bringing my mic to these activations from now on…

  • Trailhead: 40.95385, -78.76486 : SGL 87 parking area off of McGees Mills Road
  • Map:  [AA3TZ SOTA]
  • Route: 0.5 mile RT optional hike, since the parking area is in the AZ.
  • POTA: US-8786 PA 087 State Game Land