Remote Backcountry Ham Radio SOTA Activation - Pilot Knob

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Name your toughest hike done or that you plan on doing and why it earned that spot for you.

[@K6ARK]

On a SOTA adventure, I think probably this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omeZkmx6l5Vgbqc. Next year I'm hoping to also link up My Baldy and Pine for 6 peaks in a day, and some extended suffering.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

@@K6ARK six peaks in one day! ok, i'll chase you on that one. And I thought I'd try the 4 peaks in one day as shown in your video, but that was way too much for me especially with the lack of available water most of the time without dropping down to the spring and my dog and I need water

[@MikeWood]

Pretty flat in Southern Ontario, but a few years back I hiked in a few spots in the Canadian Rockies between Jasper and Banff, Alberta. Amazing glacier carved scenery and peaks. But in terms of toughest short hike, that was hiking in and out of the Grand Canyon 15 years ago or so. That was a good zig zag trail back and forth hiking up to the rim. 3/4 of the way up I came across a woman who had just turned 50 and was heading up and running out of energy. I kept pace with her till she could see the end in sight. Given I am now older than her age back then, I have more respect for her doing that - and you and W6RIP. Not sure if I could do it now :)

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Smith mountain busted me up. Scramble at the end there.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Switchbacks are better than going straight uphill, but still grueling for me because you can see how much trail you have left. I’m amazed how many trail runners I see on some peaks... makes me feel woefully out of shape lol. Btw, glacier carved mountains make me feel like I’m on Mars.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Another fantastic video from Jerry 73 my friend from kb2uew

[@cwguy8960]

Nice! Congrats, and great scenery! Thanks!!

[@W6RIPRadioAdventures]

5 SOTA Completes on Pilot Knob that day!!! Great Video! I am starting on mine today. Getting the time-lapses done now.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

So much fun, and pushed my personal limits too.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

good morning Jerry you no here now but you are the new Angel I never forget my friend have a good dx whit the celestial universe

[@TechGearJunkie]

Wow. Excellent video and I love the cinematography! You are the Jimmy Chin of the Ham Radio world Jerry! You make us all want to get off our butts and get up to the mountains. Thanks!

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Greg! The more of us that show the fun that can be had on the mountain or a park or just portable the better and you do just that too. I watch your videos to feel what it’d be like in your area and i must say I want to pay you a visit too. I keep saying that though and my list is growing of place I need to go lol...

[@dannyboydkj7bpn]

Some neat country side. Really like the higher elevation lakes. Job well done.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Danny, and totally agree on all those alpine level lakes. Makes for getting water and trout much easier that the deserts of So Cal. Feel very fortunate to live in and near places like this. ‘Merica! 🇺🇸

[@W6RIPRadioAdventures]

Miss you dude!

[@K6UDA]

Dude, holy crap. That is by far the craziest SOTA activation I’ve ever seen. That one would kill me.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

👍🏻 it was a true ball buster and worth every drop of sweat we left on the trail. Type 2 fun for sure.

[@Blue-Collar-Radio]

Great video Jerry! That is some beautiful landscape. I definitely want to try SOTA someday. Thanks for sharing! 73

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I hope you do get to try SOTA, or even just operating portable with a minimalist approach is so much fun due to the challenge.

[@Capt_Duffy]

Wow what a video....i dont have the novelty to go to places like this for many reasons...but man your videos make people like me to virtually go there ....

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

That’s awesome! Thanks for that.

[@Fireguy-]

Beautiful scenery, love the high country. My toughest summit, Hawkins Peak, 10,023 ft. W6/NS-065. Keep them coming Jerry. 73

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks and I’ve heard of Hawkins Peak. What made it challenging for you?

[@Fireguy-]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA Hawkins is a little South of Tahoe the challenge was to catch a breath at that altitude and the near vertical final ascent, a bit of a hump, (for an old guy). 73, KK6CUG

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I hear that! On this trip catching a breath at altitude was the challenge for sure.

[@K6ARK]

Another fine video, Jerry. So glad we made this trip happen and that you came along. I had a blast with you guys and was impressed with everyone's abilities and willingness to push through the times when it became "type 2" fun. Can't wait for the next one.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ha, yes the "type 2" fun was just that... type 2, but also type 1.. thanks for setting up the trip and being a great hiking partner. I'd hike with you and those guys again any day.

[@jirio.lomnansky-H2030]

This is fantastic...! Thanks Jerry! And greetings from the Czech Republic. Jiri ok2ava

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thank you Jiri and welcome Czech to the channel :)

[@k2wo1]

Absolutely fantastic video.......one of your best ever. Truly beautiful country. 73, George K2WO.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thank you George! As they say in business, location location location eh. Ill work on find a way to make all my locations interesting in their own way I hope.

[@hamradiotube]

What an absolutely amazing activation Jerry! Great video too. To say I am super jealous is an understatement. What a great bunch of guys to share that experience with.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Dude I am so lucky with our SOTA crowd. These guys are true studs and just all around great people. We had a blast with lots of laughs and all clicked pretty smoothly. I’d hike with any of these guys again any day.

[@KevinW8BRY]

What an awesome trip. That looked truly amazing. Hope I can share something like that with my kids someday. Great video as always. Kevin W8BRY

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I hope you do too! I have taken all my kids and my granddaughter out on some activations and those are by far some of the best conversations I get to have with them. True quality time, until we hit the peak and i go all business mode for a bit, then back to the trail and them. They get it and still enjoy the time as much as I do so totally worth it.

[@AD6DMDennis]

Freakin’ awesome!! Your videos just keep getting better and more refined. Thanks for sharing that grueling trip with us. 73

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Dennis! I feel I found a way to really unpack some setting in-camera and in post.

[@sotatv640]

Thank you for the good video. SOTA is active in South Korea.

[@douglasdreger3852]

Great video. Cool to see the same trip from two different perspectives (W6RIP). You guys could put together a short movie bouncing back and forth from the various perspectives. Amazing that you accomplish so much hiking, camping and radio while taking the time for video recording. Impressive.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ha, I liked seeing Kevin’s video too for the same reason. Filled in the gaps for me. Looking forward to Adam’s video as well and as Kevin called it, “The Trilogy” will be complete.

[@hamzah6251]

Woah what an amazing place. Great channel Jerry. 73 de 2E0HXS

[@davidg5308]

Well done, Sir! Great views and editing! Not necessarily tough, but one of my favorites was Tuolumne Meadows down to Yosemite Valley with a side trip up Half Dome. Beautiful country. Need to get back up there - thanks! AI6OU

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

That area is epic and it blows me away it’s still within the CA borders. Guess we get so accustomed to the concrete jungle that when we step into the real backcountry I’m always still amazed at the beauty. I still need/want to do Half Dome! Did you activate it?

[@davidg5308]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA No, did not activate it - last time I did Half Dome was about 15 years ago (BH - before ham). Of course it should be activated - would get lots of onlookers up there.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

I was thinking it’d draw a lot of attention. I have to get put there before my knees say no lol.

[@davidg5308]

@@KG6HQDJerrySOTA Hmmm, I see it has not been activated since 2014. Would think you could just use 2m and shoot down to the valley for all you need - minimum gear with all those people up there. Maybe need to get some more hikes in and get back up there....! There are a few peaks between Tuolumne and the valley - that could be a fun week, but yeah, I'm not in my 20's anymore either.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

🤣 neither am I lol ... and maybe bring our own activation crew again though I do like providing an opportunity for chasers across the nation/globe the change to bag peaks like that..

[@DanielWiley]

Awesomeness! Thanks for Sharing Jerry and the Gang...

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Dan and thanks for the share on Twitter too

[@MrLaserdave]

Hi Jerry. Good to see you back on You Tube. Dave KI6FYQ. Great video

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Dave! How’s your SOTA goals coming along?

[@Pro4xexpeditions]

Good stuff broski!!! Love the Sierras! 🙌🏽👊🏽 73’s

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Totally agree! The Sierra’s are one of the absolute most beautiful places I’ve had the fortune to stomp around in. 🤙🏻

[@XPCTECH]

Epic Trip, thanks for sharing -KM2W

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Enjoyed the trip and sharing with everybody here 👍🏻. Thanks for watching.

[@willian.direction6740]

Great video Jerry good to see so many famous activators on the same summit together. Pity HF was poor for the ssb ops, but you worked out a way to score it. Basic cw might be a good next plan. cheers vk5cz ..

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ya, we scratched out our activation and even CW was rough...I’ve never had issues and wish I would have tried my speaker wire antenna on my KX2 cuz Adam’s was in play and setup for CW primarily so I didn’t want to fiddle with it too much.. but, excuses aside for not being up on my code, it’s one of my #lifegoals soon enough, or as soon as life let me slow down to put that in play.

[@Cosmos142857]

Nice job. Bell Mtn in Missouri. 'bout whooped me. Yup any time yer out there ya want a good pair of gloves.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Agreed! I usually know where I’m going but it wouldn’t hurt to have at least a light pair of Mechanic’s Gloves in the pack just to be sure. Tell me more about Bell Mtn. Is that also a SOTA peak?

[@robertchambers5821]

WOW, what an awesome video. You're embracing Amateur Radio the way I envisioned it starting out. 8P6RC

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Robert! I hope we can get more people watching these videos and finding even more ways to “play” radio. I don’t have time to be all fussy and pissy about balun’s and the death of ham radio cuz I’d rather be out “playing” radio instead ... it’s much more fun that being a grumpy old ham lol

[@abumoto1]

Thank you for sharing, Jerry. I have never seen such a beautiful place. I am jealous you to living near such nice place. I hope to visit there someday, and I too want to climb there. JP1QEC mot.

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thank you and I agree, it’s a beautiful place.

[@carareto]

congratulations. amazing. 73 py2vm

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Oh man access to water. What’s that like?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Right! It’s a weight reduction on your back to start. 🤣

[@stitchandme-n7ndq45]

Love that Signal Stick on ur Yaesu!

[@tjs2909]

Once again love the videos! Just curious, why the 8dr instead of the 2dr?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hey Tj, because my speaker on the FT2D is jacked. I need to send it in for repairs and I was anticipating needing it to work S2S's and comms with the group. Radio works great still but audio is thrashed is all. I'll have it back online soon.

[@AlaskaIsCold]

Next time you go let me know? If you want a rookie general with you that is.

[@jamessmith8617]

There! That’s better!😎😎🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@donnawurster1044]

Jerry, new Ham here, KI5GPI. Great content. Do you carry an antenna analyzer or swr meter?

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Hi Donna, thanks for checking out my channel and the comment. I do not carry an analyzer rather I cut my antennas resonate and/or my KX2 has a tuner built in to take out the Slack and gives me some free range on the frequencies. The radio also has a built in SWR meter and I do watch that to know what’s going on on tx and rx 👍🏻. What radio are you running or planning on running? Is SOTA in your future?

[@alvarogaitan2529]

hi my friend Jerry 73 from kb2uew

[@jamessmith8617]

You should wear a hat dude. 😆😆

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Ya, I need to be better at that and sunblock. Last couple trips it’s been happening 🤙🏻

[@mikak1]

Awesome video!!!! Mike - N6MKW

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

Thanks Mike.

[@ke6mt]

Wow. It is so insanely beautiful up there! Wish I'd been able to join y'all. It took me a sec to realize that you had enough people there to qualify the activation with VHF only! -KE6MT

[@KG6HQDJerrySOTA]

That's how Kevin and I did it, felt like cheating but it's a legit way to do it. Brought our own activation crew and good thing we did.