People who wish to receive the PNW SOTA Newsletter

K7VK's picture
Vick Applegate
W7M/LM

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.

AK7U's picture
Kevin Stanton
W7O

New to ham radio in 2021.

None so far

KA7WYR's picture
Chuck Dorsett
W7W/KG

Hi I'm KA7WYR, licensed back in the 1980's along with my entire family, earning my Novice and Tech (with code) licenses. This year 2024 upgraded my license to General and have started doing more HF ops. Living in Western Washington I wanted to become more active and combining hiking and radios seemed like a great combination! My full QRZ bio at https://www.qrz.com/db/KA7WYR.

QTH is Issaquah, WA and starting (in 2024) to activate local peaks in W7W and branching out from there in terms of difficulty. For equipment I have a 2m/70cm HT with rollable j-pole antenna, and also recently build a packable HF rig based on FT-891 and either EFHW or simple dipole.

N7UN's picture
Guy
W7W/LC

Former SOTA Association Manager for W7-Oregon, W7-Utah, W7-Montana, W7-Wyoming, and W7-Nevada. Completed all SOTA docs for W7-Washington and then turned over to Bruce/N7RR for execution. W7W subsequently managed by WW7D. Recently turned over W7-Idaho to Scott/W7IMC. W7O is now managed by K7ATN. Worked for the SOTA MT to incorporate NA into the SOTA family.

Currently retired as a EE and worked 21 yrs for UPS IT in NJ. "Trying" to sell my house in NJ so I can move back to the Pacific NW.

TBD

WB7VTY's picture
Joe Korpela
W7W/WV

Licensed in about 1977. Passed Extra exam in 1988 with 21 WPM CW. Main interest QRP CW. Best; Japan on 15M CW with 1/2 watt. Hobbies amateur radio, astronomy (Celestron 9.25" SCT and Celestron NexStar5SE), hiking, camping. Home Station; Kenwood TS590SG, MFJ-949 Tuner, 160m dipole, 80M OCFD, 30M OCFD, Kenwood TMV71 with Diamond 510 vertical. SOTA / Portable; Yaesu FT817ND, Hendricks PFR3B Kit (I built it in 2017) MFJ16010 Tuner, LDG Z817 Tuner, 58 foot wire. SKCC # 7735

I use the same radio on the desk that I use portable - and ICOM 705. I also have a Hendricks PFR3B that I built a number of years ago. Im QRP only on HF. Antenna at home is a Chameleon Emcom 2 set up as a dipole. For portable I use either a chameleon MPAS Lite, or a 58 foot piece of #26 polystealth wire with a LDG 9:1 unun. All of the antennas are good for 160 - 6 meters. For antenna tuners - the PFR has a built in BLT and with the 705 I use either the AH705 auto tuner or a MFJ 9219 manual QRP tuner. I also have a Yaesu FT60 handheld and a Kenwood TMV71A that I use on the desk. For portable power I use the Bioenno batteries and a solar charging system for prolonged portable use. Favorite mode on HF is CW.

WU7H's picture
Josh Gibbs
W7W/KG

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.

NN7O's picture
Tom Hardy
W7O/NC

Started SOTA when I lived in Bishop, CA, and got spoiled with short trips (but tough hikes) to 8 and 10 point summits. Now retired to Astoria, OR, and am adapting to coastal living and trying to not be concerned about points. Beautiful hiking and summits here! Doing more chasing, too, since given that retired people can spend time sitting at the radio. Field rig is a KX2, usually into a random wire or an EFHW.

Mostly HF CW. Rig is KX2, usually into an EFHW or random wire.

K7TPH's picture
Mickey Pillers
W7I-SR

Raised in the Great Basin country. Recently retired from 40+ year career with USFS. Started amateur radio October 2019.

Planning stage so far. SOTA activities were significant aspect of my decision to get involved with amateur radio. Currently putting together equipment suitable for SOTA work.

KK7LHY's picture
Kyle Westhaus
W7W/KG

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)

N7AGX's picture
Bill Ostrander
W7O/CS

Retired Oregon Dept. of Forestry communications. Ham for 45 years.

Just beginning!

K7MAS's picture
Mark Sandler
W7W/KG

Amateur Radio Operator since March 1995.
Mountain Climber Since 1972.

Activator - Since 2011

AG7GP's picture
Amy Haptonstall
W7O/CS

Licensed 2017. Enjoy portable activations. Just learning cw.

Interested in activating.

KL0NP's picture
Will Koenig
W7W/NO

I started doing SOTA in March 2019. I have been learning CW and using my MTRB3. I completed CW Academy, level 2 in Jan/Feb 2020, and I am enjoying CW. I also use a 3 element Arrow Yagi with an Anytone 878.

I work as a flight nurse in Port Angeles. I work 24 hours on/24 hours off, so I mostly go for day hikes (some long days, hiking down in the dark).

I prefer off trail, by telemark/backcountry skiing when possible. My wife and daughter activated Mt. Adams, and I have done about 50 peaks in the Northern Olympics. My first activation was up at Hurricaine Hill, and Mark, K7NEW, just happened to be there and saw my antenna, so helped me get started.

K7KER's picture
Kathleen Kerns
W7O

I'll fill this out later.

I'll fill this out later.

AC6ZQ's picture
Christophe David
W7W/KG

ON6ZQ | AC6ZQ

SOTA MT, activator, chaser

KR7Q's picture
Dennis Lane
W7M

I've been active in ham radio since I was 1st licensed in 1977 as WB7TDC.... Ham Radio has been a continual interest for me.  My 1st rig was a heath kit HW101. If it were not for my faithful "Elmer" W7TVA, I would have never got that rig on the air. After a few years of SSB operation, I became disenchanted with using a microphone.   I found the HW101 With a  400 hz CW filter was really effective. I was hooked on CW. In 1980 I took the advanced and extra tests. At that time I applied for a 2x1 call and was issued KR7Q AND NEVER LOOKED BACK!
My preferred mode is CW. I use that mode for 90% of my operating. However,  I do enjoy a good rag chew on HF  SSB or 2m simplex.
I retired from the fire protection industry in the Seattle Area in November of 2016. We love living in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana.
I have enjoyed getting into the POTA & SOTA over the past few years. These programs have been a breath of fresh air for my interest in radio.   I enjoy  combining outdoor activities and ham radio - especially here in Montana where there is so much to see and enjoy. I have been actively involved in photography for over 50 years and more recently learning about videography.  I try to combined video and still images to document my POTA & SOTA activations.  - See My QRZ Page if Interested

I have only been active with SOTA since June of 2020. I've really had lots of fun chasing the Activators. I have only done one activation but plan more next year. Lots of summits here in MT. I like to use an EFHW for 40 or 80 with a 49:1 xformer with a fiberglass telescoping pole about 17 feet. There's always a few trees around too. My 1st SOTA activation video is on my website or via QRZ.

W7NHY's picture
ROB
W7W/LC

Just starting out

hiking

KK7ULL's picture
Corrinne Henderson
W7W/KG

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!

N7ID's picture
Mike Brown
W7I/NI

QTH is N. Idaho. QRQ alki.

I like to activate with my KX2 and modified Super Antenna.

NE7ET's picture
Jarod Eells
W7O/NC

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.