ACØPR, ham radio blog: Navajo Point W7U/IR-002 (my 5th time)

As seen from Brian Head

This is one of those annual summits I activate when it's hot at home. We were under an excessive heat warning (109 degrees). This is my fifth activation of the summit, one each year. This is a simple 10-pointer that many miss because Brian Head is more popular in the SU (Southern Utah) region and this is listed under the IR (Iron Co.) region. I always do both of them the same day, and I don't know why, but I always start with Navajo Point.

Trail report:

Navajo Point is easily accessed by dirt road when there is no snow. There are ATV trails that get fairly close (like 200 vertical ft.), but you can opt to park much lower down. The final approach has no trail and has numerous fallen trees to overcome. Bear and cougar country, but a popular ski resort area. Nice little spot at the summit clear enough to operate (facing south). There is a little geocache there under a tree if interested. Very close to Brian Head summit (W7U/SU-016). In winter access through Cedar Breaks National Monument may be closed.

The experience:

This is one of my favorite places to go. It's easy access, the hike is short but beautiful. I've gone in early fall, and it's even better then with wild bramble berries and mountain flowers. The top has lots of trees and bushes, so it can be hard to put up a dipole wire, but there's just enough space to do it. You can get a glimpse of Cedar Breaks National Monument to the south.

As happens every so often on a Saturday, there was a contest going on. This was a big one though, probably only second to Field Day--IARU HF World Championships, so from all over. Not being a contester myself, I didn't have any idea. This time, they covered really the entire band. I did find a spot (around 14.069 I believe it was) and had a good run of 15 contacts on that band before a contester came in and took over. Easy with a small qrp station like myself. 40 meters didn't have that problem. 30 contacts in 25 mins. shows a contest can't stop an activation.

My radio started have weird issues. The meters didn't show up, the power cut out a few times. Even though I had charged the external battery the day before, it was showing quite low. Luckily I knew it was getting old so had a backup in the pickup and didn't need it for this first activation.

Once calls stopped coming in I packed up to head back down for the second summit of the day. It was starting to get a little warm, but not bad.

Date:11/07/2020 | Summit:W7U/IR-002 (Navajo Point) | Call Used:AC0PR | Points: 10 | Bonus: 0

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode
15:07	AB4PP	14MHz	CW
15:07	N4EX	14MHz	CW
15:08	K0LAF	14MHz	CW
15:09	N2ESE	14MHz	CW
15:09	N5ZC	14MHz	CW
15:10	W4TMW	14MHz	CW
15:10	WA2USA	14MHz	CW
15:11	W6IYS	14MHz	CW
15:11	K7GT	14MHz	CW
15:12	K6KM	14MHz	CW
15:12	K6YK	14MHz	CW
15:13	W5BOS	14MHz	CW
15:14	W6JMP	14MHz	CW
15:15	W5GDW	14MHz	CW
15:15	KA5PVB	14MHz	CW
15:17	K2JB	14MHz	CW
15:24	WA7JTM	7MHz	CW
15:25	N7CW	7MHz	CW
15:26	K6HPX	7MHz	CW
15:26	K7SO	7MHz	CW
15:27	KB7HH	7MHz	CW
15:27	KH2TJ	7MHz	CW
15:28	NQ7R	7MHz	CW
15:29	W0NF	7MHz	CW
15:29	W6JMP	7MHz	CW
15:30	KI5WA	7MHz	CW
15:30	N6WT	7MHz	CW
15:31	N0MTN	7MHz	CW
15:32	N5ZC	7MHz	CW
15:32	K6TUY	7MHz	CW