Hams Enjoy a "SOTA ECLIPSE"

With the hope for clear skies on Saturday 14th October 2023, a small group of SOTA enthusiasts in Oregon will be climbing the peaks - not just for a chance at Summit-to-Summit contacts but to stop long enough to experience a total eclipse of the sun from an elevation. Andy Morrison K9AWM has that story for us.

Hams who are also fans of SOTA activations and camping out don't really need an excuse like an eclipse to make a big weekend event happen but Tim N7KOM and his friends are seizing the moment anyway in Oregon The state's southeastern region is in the path of totality for the annular (an-yuh-lerr) eclipse and that is as good an occasion as any for a hike up to Drake Peak, SOTA designation W7O/CE-002 (W Seven OH stroke CE Zero Zero Two), and Light Peak, W7O/CE-004 (W Seven Oh stroke Zero Zero Four). Writing on the SOTA Reflector, Tim announced his own plans to camp at Mud Creek Campground and arrive on one of the summits by 9:20 local time. His rig and of course his camera will be ready. Any operators wanting to contact him in advance should email him at timn7kom@gmail.com. He is willing to bulk-order viewing glasses to wear so everyone can safely view the event.

The weekend doesn't end when the eclipse is gone, however: Tim expects to keep getting more summits right up through Sunday afternoon.