People who wish to receive the PNW SOTA Newsletter
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SOTA has provided opportunities to go places I would never think of going. Any station I operate is field "temporary."
Retired software engineer after almost 30 years.
In 2021, got back into ham radio after a decade or so lapse.
Interested in homebrewing circuits and trying out new antenna ideas.
Know enough CW to chase SOTA/POTA. Working on better CW recognition so I can activate as well.
I enjoy backpacking, camping and combining that with ham radio.
I enjoy doing SOTA with my son, WA7OOO
2m, CW, SSB with a KX3, KH1, FT5R
Based in Olympia.
So far I’ve chased SOTA using the PSRG remote HF station, but i should have a station at my QTH soon. Lots of SSB and just enough CW to chase.
Ham'd up in 2022 with a General and looking to explore POTA and SOTA in the PNW. Extra in 2023.
Been active since the start of 2023 with over 450 points invested in summits in Oregon, Washington and California, and growing! I love operating QRP with an Elecraft KX2 and either a 40m EFHW antenna or a Wolf River vertical whip with coil for 40m. It's a very versatile setup. Happy to activate with newcomers or experienced operators!
Licensed as WN7DEO in 1965. As WA7DEO upgraded to Extra. 1996 changed call to K7VK.
Retired Forest Ecologist/Forest Silviculturist USFS.
Operate 160m through 70cm. New to SOTA in 2016. Love to summit scramble and wish I'd have known about SOTA years ago.
I activate and chase. Got into SOTA in 2016. Now using a KX3 and am looking forward to scrambling summits while I'm still able to. SOTA has already taken me to summits I would not have otherwise hiked. Two summits activated in and near the Bob Marshall/Scapegoat Wilderness have thrilling views, W7M/GA-084 & GA-163. My heart rate elevated when my radio was placed near large piles (fortunately old) of grizzly bear scat.
New ham as of summer 2024. Started doing SOTA with my family of 4 in September 2024. Net control operator for Lake Washington Ham Club.
We like to activate using a handmade yagi antennae and Icom 2 meter mobile radio. Carne Mountain (W7W/CH-142) was our first 8-pointer and hardest hike yet at 8 miles and 3,600 feet elevation gain. The larches were at peak and it was a stunning summit!
See QRZ
VHF FM, also starting to learn CW for HF activations.
Mountaineering objectives near Seattle, interested in first activations.
(last updated 2025 March 09)
Father of 2 teenaged sons and very active in Boy Scouts. Avid backpacker, QRP CW OP, restorer of ancient Volkswagens, dirt bike rider, computer nerd, and all around nice guy =) PNWSOTA admin and host.
I went on my first SOTA activation with Rich (AC7MA) and Bill (WA7NCL) in July 2017. I was hooked! I now have a KX2 and have been going on as many activations as my schedule will allow. I mainly do CW and sometimes 2m FM.
Dad, small business owner, new ham
Using SOTA to get out of the house, learn how to set up antenna's and just get out there.
Being in the mountains is just about my favorite way to spend time.
When I am not carrying a radio into the woods to do SOTA or support a wilderness ultra, I like to build RF gear of all sorts. I pick SOTA summits for the challenge or hike rather than the points and when I am out I really enjoy chasing other SOTA ops for S2S points.
My primary rigs are the KX2 and FT2D. I generally use endfed antennas for HF and a half-wave whip or beam for VHF/UHF. I mostly work CW on HF and FM voice on 2M.
In 2021, I put together the first Pacific Northwest Not-Quite-Fourteener to coincide with the Ham14er and Socal SOTAFest. It turned out pretty well, with more than a dozen W7W and W7O ops getting out and making a bunch of S2S contacts.
Working in Portland metro area, doing parks and summits as I can around an odd work schedule and two small children.
Running an FT-891 with an EFHW and some light masts. Only done a few summits in SE Oregon when we didn't draw any deer tags but still wanted the trip. Mostly get summit chases when I sneak in a POTA activation.
With retirement, I am renewing my outdoor fun life. This includes off roading, overlanding, and hiking. Recently got interested in HAM radio and then I found SOTA!!!
I plan to be an activator. For UHF / VHF using a FT 60 HT and role up J pole. For HF will be trying EFHW from PackTenna and WRC and 72 inch whip. Radio is an Xiegu g90
I enjoy packing my gear into the high country, making contacts from summits, hunting, and activating parks throughout the SOTA & POTA networks.
My family and I live between two beautiful properties, one in San Juan County and the other in Whatcom County. We keep a small farm, and we're made up of a family of five "humans being" with creation and the inhabitants of this land. Our homestead is comprised of roughly 10 acres of wooded grassland. The property is situated on a three percent slope with total southern exposure. You can learn more about us at www.GentlmenFarming.com and Instagram.
In my free time, I enjoy exploring light as it gets captured through the lens of my camera. I am interested in investigating ideas through photography and designing for our challenges in the ophthalmic industry. You can learn more about my work at www.JohnTrefethen.com | you can also connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Equipment -- IC-705, KX2, KH1, IC-7300, IC-5100, ID-52. (all barefoot) | HF Antennas -- Hexbeam 20M and up & EFHF 130' length, Sloper configuration | VHF/UHF Antennas -- Cubical Quad and Vertical 9' Commet.
I love getting into the very high cascades and taking challenging overnight treks into the wilderness.
I like any SOTA activation, but especially like summits that have never been activated, and we have a LOT of those in my region and surrounding regions. I have an IC705 and a KX2 and use a multi-band end fed, a linked dipole, and a random wire, and for a mast I use an ebay carbon fiber fishing pole. Works wonders.