Yesterday, July 9, I went back to Vollmer Peak (W6/NC-298) to watch the sunset and work some HF. The fog and sunset made for a memorable hike!
The IARU contest was happening this weekend so there was a lot of activity! I just stuck with the mic this time, connected with some big gun contest stations before the sun set and it became chilly and dark. Notably, I was able to work NP2X on the Virgin Islands with 2.5W SSB… not bad!
On March 14 (Pi day!) I went up to Vollmer Peak in Berkeley (named for the city’s first police chief), which is its tallest point at 1905′. This was my first attempt at a summit activation for Summits on the Air, an amateur radio activity that consists of hiking up the top of a peak and setting up a mobile station to make contacts with other amateurs.
This was a clear Saturday morning so there were some spectacular views of the bay. I started in Tilden Park, near the steam trains.
I look the Seaview Trail, a paved trail that winds around some phenomenal views before a short climb (1000′ climb over 0.2 miles) to the peak. The hike was about 0.7 miles in total.
The summit is well-developed with plenty of radio equipment taking advantage of the peak’s prominence.
Briones Reservoir off to the northeast.
Mount Diablo looming over in the east.
After enjoying the view, I grabbed my 2m Yagi-Uda and called CQ with a Yaesu FT-60R on 5W. I got an immediate reply from K6EL in San Francisco and the rest followed quickly. Despite my shaky arms (I really need to get a mount!) I was able to make 11 contacts before stopping.
2m QSOs: K6EL, AI6BH, N6HBJ, WA6UHA, KA4VBF, KO6PS, KE5RS, N6NCX, KG6CSE, KI6SZK, KR6BB.
Tom Zajdel 