Ruten, LA/OL-099

On August 14 my family and I went on a hike to Ruten, LA/OL-099, and I had the opportunity to make a short activation. We parked just in front of the toll gate at N 61 28.133, E 009 28.219. Then we were 5.5 km away and almost 600 meters below the summit, and we simply followed the signs.

This was the first activation I used my YouKit HB-1B, which I purchased some time ago. The antenna was a MP-1. Both the rig and the antenna worked really great, and they are very suitable for SOTA purposes. Since it had to be a relatively short activation, I chose to operate on 20 meter. The conditions were strange ("patchy") and poor. No DL, F, G, PA, ON, ... were worked (as I often do). Immediately after my first call, I had a QSO with a S5, then with a LA, and then nothing more happened. Some CQs later I worked an HB9 and an OE, and nothing more happened. Some minutes later and a lot of new CQs, I worked two OM stations. I still made some calls, but no one answered, and I then decided to go QRT (remember: the activation had to be fairly short!).

Later I saw that N4EX had spotted me. Even though I believed the conditions were poor, I nevertheless was heard in North Carolina! BTW, I actually heard a N4-station, but I couldn’t realize he was calling me…

Before I left the summit, I did as usual make calls on 2 meter and 70 cm FM, but no QSOs were achieved.

DXCCs: HB9, LA, OE, OM, S5.

Skotjernfjellet, LA/AH-012

Skotjernfjellet was acitvated two days ago (on August 9). When driving towards this summit, I simply followed the instructions given in the geocache GC2GX0W description. I drove in Bjørgeseterveien at Bjørgeseter station (where in fact the trains no longer stop!). This is a toll road (fee NOK 40), followed the signs to Brovold until I was NE of Sølvtjernet. Then I drove up a small hill, then to SE until the road ended. Then I was located around 800 meter away and 110 meter below the summit.

A hike to Skogtjernfjell is highly recommended. It offers untouched nature and magnificent views. The area around Skotjernfjell is designated as one of the few places with untouched forest.

As on my last activation, I used my MP-1 antenna. It seems to work great for SOTA activations. Easy to erect and adjust, and easy to carry. I start working on 8 stations on 20 meter CW, then 5 stations on 20 meter SSB, and finally 3 stations on 30 meter CW. I did also made some calls on 40 meter SSB, but no one answered. Neither did (as usual) any reply to my calls on 2 meter FM and 70 cm FM.

DXCCs: DL, G, HA, HB9, I, OE, OM, S5, YO

(BTW, there are 2 easily found geocaches in the area; GC2GX0W and GC2AP6N.)