CT/ES-003, Serra da Arrábida – The hardest 1 pointer!

July 16th, 2016

Because of the warm weather (40 + forecasted) we decide to climb early than planned this SOTA summit which is hardest to reach one pointer…

As Phil, G4OBK, stated (SOTA mapping track) “..You would need to travel a long way to find a more demanding one point summit”

The track that the Park authority allowed to use is a narrow path within the bush (literally) which scratched every part of our bodies!

But when we have had a glimpse of the landscape between the bushes…Wow, that’s a view! J
It took more than one hour to get to the top, sometimes using some dry waterfalls vertically…

But what kind a fun would we would have in a walk without difficulties ?

When we reach the trig point we become amazed with the views!

It took me sometime to assemble the VHF yagi that I’ve built but soon after, using the portable radio of João, CT7ABE, I made 5 FM QSOs. 4 of this QSOs were S2S with CT/ES-007, Serra do Socorro, where a group of amateur radio operators was to activate that SOTA reference.

Then, I turn on the KX-3+VHF transverter and CT1DRB answered my CW call.

I made a few calls on 2m/CW but no answer. So I decided to eat something and took some time in a deeper look at the landscape.

I must to emphasize the Yagi (version 3.0 !!!!) which worked flawless. I’ve made just one small mechanical adjustment using a screwdriver from João’s toolbox.

Then I disassembled the Yagi and started looking for a place where I would erect the HF antenna (endfed). João come up to offer me the use of his set, because he already had done a few QSOs and he had finished the activation.

So, we disconnected the morse key and plugged in the iambic key. I tried a call but the morse signals are entangled…Scratching my head, I disassembled the Pico Palm…And all seems to be working properly.

At one point we realize that the radio is in Mode A, while I’m trying to send in Mode b…
We change to Mode B and there we go…Not chasing pokemons but listening to station’s signals…

The first answer was from a EA station, followed by another 10, including KA1R.

Propagation wasn’t that bad or…CW rules!

The temperature was rising and the heat was knocking us. We decided to leave.

While packing up his equipment, Miguel, CT1ETL, brought his portable V/UHF radio to me asking to explain in a few words what is the SOTA Program to another CT station.

After this task we started the descent, suffering from the heat (14 h local). The descent was a painful journey because lower altitude means high temperatures.

We are losing the beautiful landscapes while we descend. 😦

We arrived to the cars and the thermometer is showing 39 C!….

The outcome was a very nice morning in good company with lots of friendship and camaraderie.

Thank you all chasers and CT1ETL, CT7ABE e CS7AHW!