Hurricane Hill in Olympic National Park

NPOTA Entity: Olympic National Park NP44

SOTA summit: Hurricane Hill W7W/NO-086 

Activation Date: Sept 30, 2016

Portable operation: Yes

Radio: Elecraft KX2 operating at 10 watts

Antenna: LNR Trail Friendly end fed 40-10m

Bands used: 20m and 40m

Furthest QSO: ~2,500 miles with K2JB in North Carolina

Hike in: Yes, ~3.2 miles roundtrip and 500 ft of ascent

Solo operation: No, with Guy (N7UN/NS0TA)

Recommend: Yes

ATT Coverage: Excellent

Photos: Copyright Paul Gacek 2016

That little red light has come on. You know, the one that indicates your about to run out of fuel in your car. “Oh yes”, we said to each other, “we forgot to get gas!”. Clearly, our rather large breakfast impaired our mental capacity earlier. We’re deep inside Olympic National Park and only about a million miles from the nearest gas station. Getting to the trail head isn’t really the issue albeit further away from a gas station but more getting to the gas station later. We take comfort in the fact that the return journey is down hill and if the worst comes to the worst we can coast down the hill.

The trail is easy to follow and very popular. We are a friendly pair and say hi to most everyone we pass. We see couples carrying new arrivals in backpack style infant carriers. We see the old and infirmed enjoying this beautiful part of the world on an equally beautiful day. We see the young, the happy. The great outdoors in doing its magic and lifting people up.

Setting up shop on the highest point finds us chatting with so many people who are curious what we are up to. We hear whispers that its a weather station, others a permanent fixture before mustering the courage to ask us directly. Eye contact and a smile from either of us melts our unannounced visitors apprehension. Most everyone enjoys the story of what we are doing. Maybe its the fact that people like a single passion but find something magical when two passions collide in such a healthy and positive way. Guy and I tell the story differently but with the same intent on conveying the fun and hoping to win converts. Sometimes I sell the hiking aspect and how I have visited places I would never normally go yielding so many unexpected sights and delights. Sometimes that my radio passion as a kid helped shape my career choice and how fortunate I have been in the tech industry. Maybe its the social side. I always close with giving them my “business” card that points them to SOTA sites, how to become a ham site and of course my blog!