ACØPR, ham radio blog: SOTA at Navajo Point and Brian Head, Iron Co., Utah, two easy 10-pointers next to each other

I've been doing these two together for years, Navajo Point first (W7U/IR-002) and then Brian Head (W7U/SU-016), and normally in July when I'm free, hot at home, and need to get out. It was a cool 50 degrees when it's over 100 at home. The hour and a half drive has become very familiar. (Photo is looking at Navajo Point from the edge of Brian Head.

In the area:

I planned to get on the air about 9:00am, but with the very dry summer, and Brian Head always being prone to fires, there were some additional restrictions to ATV routes and I had to hike more than I normally do, but I wasn't very much beyond the time. It was nice and cool and it was a pleasant hike with plenty of green. I was out of breath, not sure if it's just because I'm out of shape and need to hike more or if it's the 10,000 ft. Probably a combination. The ground was a bit wet from recent rain. It wasn't a long hike at all and I found a place to setup.

One thing was that I have NEVER seen that many people up in the mountains. Campers all over the place and people everywhere. I don't know if it's getting away from the heat or a full summer with COVID or what, but wow.

On the air:

A friend of mine, Ron, KA5HZV, very kindly sent me a new CW key to try out. I had tried it just a bit

at home, but should have done it more. I started with that key and during my first qso I had to switch it back out because I just wasn't communicating well at all. It was a hard-to-hear summit to summit with VA2EO in Quebec, Canada. Luckily I got it done quickly, but I'll have to practice with the other key and give it another chance in the field.

I had three S2S contacts, the Quebec one, then also South Dakota with WC0Y and good old George, KX0R in CO who seems to always be on.

My third contact was the farthest of the day, SA4BLM in Sweden who was coming in very clear (gave him a 579). The band was good. After a lull in calls I went to 40m. I had a few qso's then there was a lot of qrm--I don't know if I caused it or someone else did. But being qrp (low power) it's easiest to just move and call again, so I moved 1kc away and got another group of calls.

It was almost 10am so decided to get moving to get to the next one. The hike down was pretty quick as was the ride back to the pickup. I loaded up and headed to Brian Head. Because of time, I just drove up instead of hiking from the parking area. I took my pack to an area away from the many others around. I heard a few wonder what I was up to (voices carry far up there), but no one came over to ask and I was in a hurry so didn't offer up any info this time.

I only worked 20m which was really short--getting AZ, CA, CO, NM which was odd for the time of

day. I did get Gary, W5GDW in NC. George or Geo as we call him on CW, called again for another S2S on the new summit, glad he did, it gets me points for the summit. I finished up in a quick 10 minute activation with 10 contacts, took a picture and headed back home.

Video of some Navajo Point qsos.

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
15:20	VA2EO	14MHz	CW	S2S VE2/QC-061
15:22	KU4R	14MHz	CW
15:24	SA4BLM	14MHz	CW
15:24	WC0Y	14MHz	CW	S2S W0D/BB-096
15:25	VE2PID/4	14MHz	CW	GA
15:26	KF9D	14MHz	CW
15:27	K4MF	14MHz	CW
15:28	W4KAC	14MHz	CW
15:29	N2ESE	14MHz	CW
15:31	KX0R	14MHz	CW	S2S W0C/SR-052
15:32	KA5PVB	14MHz	CW
15:37	N6MKW	7MHz	CW
15:38	N0MTN	7MHz	CW
15:39	K6YK	7MHz	CW
15:46	K6HPX	7MHz	CW
15:46	NG6R	7MHz	CW
15:47	K7SO	7MHz	CW
15:47	K6LDQ	7MHz	CW
15:48	WB6POT	7MHz	CW
15:49	K7III	7MHz	CW
15:49	K7MRJ	7MHz	CW
15:50	KR7RK	7MHz	CW

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
15:52	K6HPX	14MHz	CW
16:50	KT5X	14MHz	CW
16:51	WG0AT	14MHz	CW
16:52	KX0R	14MHz	CW	S2S W0C/SR-052
16:54	WW7D	14MHz	CW
16:55	K6MW	14MHz	CW
16:55	W6TDX	14MHz	CW
16:56	K7DJL	14MHz	CW
16:59	K7III	14MHz	CW
16:59	W5GDW	14MHz	CW