W7W/RS-035 Tolmie Pk 09 Sept, 2013

Prologue:  In 2012 I retired from many years of Telecommunications and Mobile radio work.  January 2013 I became a volunteer (one day a week) at Mt Rainier National Park's Telecom- 2 Way Radio Shop.  During the summer months I have been hiking to the Parks four historic fire lookout buildings to perform radio system repeater upgrades.  Each lookout is located on or next to a SOTA summit.  If the work is completed in time then there is time for SOTA activity.

I arranged to work on the Tolmie Pk radio system on a Monday so my hiking partner, Ms Pat WT7N could accompany me.  We began our hike on a not too hot but sunny almost fall day at Mowich Lake, elev 5000 ft.  We hiked the Wonderland trail upwards to the high point of Ipsut Pass.  Then downhill and back uphill to Eunice Lake and then another 1000 ft gain to the lookout at approx 5900 ft.  The total elev gain is ~1100 ft in 7.5 miles RT.

This shot of Mowich Lake was taken 1/4 mile from the TH.  

Here's Eunice Lake fed from snow melt.  The small box on the ridge top is the lookout building.  The white arrow shows the approx location of the SOTA site.  It's another 9/10 mile to the summit from here.

Here's the Lookout.

At approx 1330 LT we headed east on the summit ridge to get away from other visitors to the LO site.  From the LO site it looked a bit higher in elevation towards the east.  We set up on a sort of precarious hogs back rock formation.  The Fish pole mast was strapped to a snag tree and the doublet wires were carefully strung out along the ridge back and attached to trees.  On the return trip along the ridge back I noticed that the LO looked higher in elevation.  Not to worry... Everyone still gets their points cuz I am sure I was in the activation zone.

Old worn out snag tree holds up 18 ft fish pole mast. 

KR7W at the op position.   

I only worked 20 meters.  22 CW and 1 SSB QSOs were made.  Thanks to all of the chasers who took the time to give out their STate... as it is nice to know where my 6 watts from a compromise antenna is making it to.

The hike back was pretty uneventful. Info on this hike can be found here:  http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/tolmie-peak     

Oh yah... more photos can be found here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kr7w-sota/sets/72157635826118454/

Credit goes where credit is due:  Pat WT7N took all of the photos.
End of report.

Best Regards,
Rich KR7W