Our first SOTA hike of 2021 is this Saturday. It’s looking like we may get some rain for our 2021 Mt. Kearsarge activation but I’m holding out to at least get some decent propagation  I will get together with Fred Thursday or Friday evening to make the final call If Saturday is a total washout then Sunday is the rain date.  You can follow the comments on this story for the word on whether the hike is a go or no go. Bring a sweater or fleece and a rain jacket just in case it can get pretty breezy and cool in the mountains even if we manage to get bright sunny skies. I will be monitoring the Henniker 147.195 machine as well as 147.555 simplex on the ride up.

The plan for our 2021 Mt. Kearsarge activation is to meet at the base of the auto road at Rollins State park 1066 Kearsarge Mountain Road Warner, NH 03278. I just went to their website here and they recommend a reservation so plan on calling them at this number  Phone: 603-456-3808 as walk-in parking spaces are limited.

Anyone that wants to hike up from the other side and meet us here is the physical address of Winslow State park 475 Kearsarge Mountain Rd, Wilmot, NH 03287. Check The nhstateparks.org website you may need a parking reservation on this side of the mountain as well.

We will most likely be operating from the picnic area at the end of the auto road. If anyone wants to operate from the actual summit it is only .5 miles away. I’m not sure how long a hike it is from Winslow State Park.

As far as radios an HT with an upgraded rubber duck can get you surprising performance from even a modest rise in altitude so if that’s all you have bring it and try it out.  Fred will have his 6-meter station with him and I’ll have my  6-meter QRP rig and a new homebrew Moxon antenna ( I haven’t even had a chance to check it on an analyzer) I’m itching to try this antenna out. If we’re lucky and get some e-skip on 6 it could be an interesting day.

Here’s the rest of the 2021 schedule:

• August 14  – Pitcher Mtn.
• September 25 – Mt. Kearsarge
• October 9 – Pack Monadnock
• November 6 – Kidder Mtn.

Hope to see you on Saturday! If the club breakfast was any indicator we can expect a good-sized crowd.

73′

Jim, K1BRM