All posts by Jim Lajoie

Activities, Featured, General

Next SOTA/POTA October 23rd Pack Monadnock

Our next SOTA/POTA will be October 23rd. Pack Monadnock is another destination in the series that gives you the choice to either hike up or drive up via the auto road making it an easy choice to add to the list. Pack also gives really good views of the surrounding countryside which only increases the appeal of this mountain particularly at this time of year.

I’m planning on being on the summit at 11:00 am but you can get there earlier or show up later. There is a scattering of picnic tables so don’t forget to pack a lunch.  It is advised to get a parking permit online for the auto road. Here is a link to get a permit.   

If you’ve never been to Pack Monadnock travel west on 101 towards Peterborough. Miller State Park is on the right-hand side of the road across the street from the old Temple Mountain  Ski area.

I haven’t been to Pack Monadnock for quite a while so I’m looking forward to it. I hope to see you there!

Please leave a comment on the story so I have an idea of how many people are planning on attending.

73 ‘

Jim K1BRM

General, On The Air

Next SOTA/POTA Kearsage Mtn. September 25th

Our next  SOTA hike of 2021 is Saturday, September 25th.  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.

Kearsage
John KB1EEU’s operating position on Mt. Kearsarge

 

The plan for our  Mt. Kearsarge activation is to meet at the picnic grounds at 11:00 am. Navigate to  Rollins State park 1066 Kearsarge Mountain Road Warner, NH 03278 and take the auto road up to the picnic grounds  You can get a parking permit at their website here. It is highly recommended to get a permit as there is limited parking available.

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.

You can choose to operate at the picnic grounds or from the actual summit which is only .5 miles away.

As far as radios an HT with an upgraded rubber duck can get you surprising performance from even a modest gain in altitude so if that’s all you have bring it and try it out.   I’ll have my  6-meter QRP rig and a homebrew Moxon antenna. I haven’t had good propagation to give this antenna much of a try so I’m hoping for decent propagation.

Please leave a comment on this story or the updates in the forums that will follow as we get closer to the hike date with an idea of what bands you plan to operate so that club members that are unable to come will be looking for us on the bands.

I hope to see you on September 25th on Kearsarge!

73′

Jim Lajoie K1BRM

 

 

 

Activities, General, On The Air

August 14th SOTA Hike Pitcher Mtn.

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Our next SOTA hike is this Saturday, August 14th. We will be activating Pitcher Mtn. A  very short hike (less than 20 min) will lead us to the open summit of this diminutive mountain. The summit is festooned with blueberry bushes so bring a suitable container if ham radio isn’t the only thing bringing you here.

John KB1EEU’s operating position on Mt. Kearsarge

The parking lot is off of route 123 in Stoddard and is a little over an hour’s drive from the Nashua area. My plan is to meet at the parking lot at 10:30 am. We will take the Pitcher Mountain trail (blazed white). If you want a bit more challenge you can take the blue-blazed trail which is a bit steeper. We had a great time activating Mount Kearsarge last month come on out and give SOTA a try. If you have any questions you can email me at [email protected]. I hope to see you there!

73′

Jim K1BRM

 

Radio Amateurs Developing Skills Worldwide