This wasn't an actual SOTA operation, but it was done in SOTA style. For today's Eclipse QSO Party, I took my SOTA gear to Oregon's Devil's Kitchen State Beach.
Made a couple of dozen contacts, one on FM, the rest on CW. Rig was my FT-817ND and the first trial of my SOTABeams 20/30/40M link dipole. Since I wasn't hiking far and because Oregon's coastal winds are strong, I took an aluminum 18' Wagner painter pole as support instead of the usual 20' fiberglass crappie pole.
SOTA activation or not, I never miss a chance to literally "Show the Flag" when it comes to SOTA, and it fluttered nicely in the coastal gale breeze.
It was a good chance to discuss ham radio and SOTA with my fellow eclipse-istas. Always safety conscious, I posted a caution sign: "TO AVOID EYE INJURY, DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE HAM RADIO PERSON!"