2020-09-28 Escudilla Fall Colors

Sometimes I do summits on the air SOTA just for the hike and today was one of them.  I’ve done Escudilla this year so I don’t get any more SOTA points but I did get some awesome views.  I just got back from Flagstaff, doing three summits with Charlie, NJ7V and was planning on relaxing today.  When I saw the fall colors as I walked the dog in the forest behind the villa, I decided I really needed to take advantage of the Sunday and do something fall color related so up to Escudilla it was.

I took my usual radio loadout but the trek was really to look at the fall colors and WOW, WOW, WOW, it didn’t disappoint.  Fall came a bit early this year and it’s a good thing because I’m leaving this weekend.  It’s almost like they popped overnight.  The first two miles of the trail are lined with oak and aspen that are changing color.  I snapped a lot of pictures and I’ll put the best in here.
<Click on image for larger>

To make things even better, a crew must have come through and done some trail maintenance because I think I had to step over a total of two very small fallen trees.  It was a massive improvement over my hike up here in May where it was a pain in the ass and a struggle near the top. 

On the radio side, it was Sunday afternoon so only 10 CW contacts.  I tried calling CQ on SSB but got nothing.

I’m still working on past blog entries but I thought I’d get this out out.

Fall colors, a clear trail..... It was like falling in love all over again.

The burned out area is sad but that life.

Expedition Summary

SOTA summit:W7A/AE-006 Escudilla Mountain, AZ
Points:0 (already activated this year
Activation Date: 2020-Sep-27
Unique: No
Activation No: 208
Call sign used: N1CLC
Radios: KX2
Antennas: LNR Endfedz MTR
Band/Modes used: 20m, 40m, CW (morse) SSB (voice)
Cell Data: Verizon
Miles Hiked: 6.17 mi
Hiked Elevation Gain: 1,205

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Contacts:

Date:27/09/2020 | Summit:W7A/AE-006 (Escudilla Mountain) | Call Used:N1CLC | Points: 0

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode
22:18	K6RK	7MHz	CW
22:23	NW7E	7MHz	CW
22:23	K9VD	7MHz	CW
22:24	N0DNF	7MHz	CW
22:25	KB9ENS	7MHz	CW
22:32	WB7BWZ	14MHz	CW
22:33	WD8KDB	14MHz	CW
22:39	`KI4SVM	14MHz	CW
22:40	K2JB	14MHz	CW
22:42	K6HPX	14MHz	CW

 

Loadout:

●      GoPro Hero8

●      Gregory Zulu 40 backpack

●      First aid kit.  Make sure it’s a good one... like ability to patch up an impalement wound. 

●      Elecraft KX2 10 watt HF Radio

●      The K6ARK Spider Thread Antenna

●   30’ of coax feed line (not needed

●      Slim Jim dual band antenna for my HT.

●      3 L of water (8 lb)

●      iPhone with All Trails, MotionX GPS and sota goat

●      Trekking poles (not today)

●     LNR End Fed multi-band antenna

●   SOTAbeams Tactical 7000hds Compact Heavy-Duty Telescopic Mast TAC7000HDS

●    MFJ MFJ-1714 144 MHz 1/2 Wavelength Antenna for my HT

●   AnyTone AT-868UV DMR radio for testing.

●   Custom wine bottle cork paddles for CW (crafted by K6ARK)

●   American Morse Ultra Porta Paddle for CW

●   Delorme Inreach satellite tracker and communicator.

●      Jetboil MicroMo cooking system (left at the car this trip)

●      Yaesu FT-2DR HT (backup left in the car)

●     Packtenna. (did not take)

●     CHA MPAS with spike and additional MIL mast (and version 2 of the top section) (left in car)

●      Yaesu FT-891D HF Radio at 100 watts  (left this in the car :) )

●    Extra LiFePO Battery (not needed)

●     Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Compact Camping Chair.

 

73,

N1CLC

Christian Claborne

(aka chris claborne)