Summer SOTA trip

At the beginning of August, I took some time to activate a few SOTA summits in southeastern Germany and in the northern part of France. Conveniently, all of the peaks were also located in one or more POTA parks.

Rather than providing a detailed log for each activation, I wanted to share a few personal impressions and memories from these summits.

DM/BW-640 – Blößling (1310m)

I parked near the quarry in Bernau-Wacht and began my ascent along a rather monotonous mountain road. Aside from the final stretch — where the path narrows and winds through fields of blueberries — the hike was fairly uneventful.

At the summit, I found not only a cross and a small cabin but also a convenient bench just above the cross, which served perfectly as my operating spot. Here, I set up my EFHW antenna and enjoyed sweeping views of the major Black Forest summits and even glimpses of the Swiss Alps.

With favorable conditions, I logged 33 QSOs in 55 minutes (11 on 40 m, 22 on 20 m).

DM/BW-549 – Hochgescheid (1205m)

Approaching from Herrenschwand, I parked at Tiergrüble (1068 m). The road from Herrenschwand to Tiergrüble grew alarmingly narrow, barely wide enough for one car. The trail up to the summit is partly visible on OpenStreetMap, but the second half disappears, and I only discovered a usable trail during my descent. Nevertheless, reaching the top is achievable, albeit with some bushwhacking.

The Hochgescheid summit is more of a plateau, offering limited views—the surrounding trees obscure most of it. I found a pleasant spot beside the forest road, with raspberries growing nearby. Solar conditions were expected to deteriorate due to a pending CME, yet band conditions stayed favorable, and I managed 35 QSOs in 1 hour and 15 minutes (17 on 40 m, 18 on 20 m).

Despite the lack of scenery, I appreciated this activation more than the previous one. Lying on the soft grass, shaded by trees and feeling a gentle breeze remains a highlight of the day.

I also spotted an unusual installation nearby, which I later learned was a local experiment designed to collect water from clouds drifting over the summit.

DM/BW-284 – Schnepfhalde (1298m)

This was a brief activation: pressed for time, I promised myself to descend once I reached the 10 QSOs needed for a successful POTA activation. Parking at Aulemer Kreuz, I took the eastern trail, as the western route was closed for forestry work. Like DM/BW-640, this hike was largely unremarkable—long sections on forest roads, with little of note. However, the view from the summit made up for it, offering a truly picturesque panorama.

A cross with a nearby bench provided an ideal SOTA setup. I attached the mast to the cross, ran my antenna wire toward the bench, and set the feedpoint right beside me. In just 26 minutes, I logged 13 QSOs, surpassing expectations despite a K-index of 5 from the previous day’s CME. Operating with only 10 W during all activations, I was again reminded of how much is possible under challenging conditions.

DM/BW-293 – Zeller Blauen (1074m)

The drive was more adventurous than the hike. I took the tiny road from Mambach up to Pfaffenberg, which again is barely wide enough for a single car. Fortunately, I encountered no other traffic. From Pfaffenberg, another narrow road led to Käsern, where I parked just before the entrance to this charming little hamlet.

The hike itself was, once again, mostly along unremarkable forest roads. I used some shortcuts on skid trails between the switchbacks, arriving at the red marker on the SOTA map—not actually the summit, but a flat plateau. Seeking a more inviting activation spot, I walked about a kilometer south to the actual summit with the cross.

Fog obscured the usual views—on clear days, you can see the Swiss Alps from here. I set up by attaching my mast to the cross and running my antenna wire to the bench a few meters away. The cross-and-bench arrangement seems to be a recurring theme in Black Forest summits.

With improved solar weather, I made 40 QSOs in an hour (17 on 40 m, 22 on 20 m, 1 on 15 m).

DM/BW-010 – Köhlgarten (1229m)

Another swift activation—this time, featuring a scenic drive from Schönau through tranquil, idyllic valleys. I parked at Kreuzweg, the pass leading into the Rhine valley, where there was ample parking space.

I hiked to the southernmost peak of Köhlgarten, which boasts both a summit cross and the finer views, compared to the eastern summit. Unfortunately, visibility was affected by forest fire smoke; normally, the Swiss Alps are visible here. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the spot, setting up my mast at the cross and sitting in the shade. There was a bench with a stellar southern view, but it was in direct sunlight—unbearable in the summer heat.

Phone coverage was patchy, which was surprising given the direct line of sight to a cell tower nearby. I was able to spot myself online, though I lost connectivity several times.

In just 34 minutes I made 26 QSOs, including 4 S2S and 2 P2P QSOs (12 on 40 m, 14 on 20 m).

DM/BW-002 – Herzogenhorn (1415m)

The approach to the parking area was once more mildly nerve-wracking—a single-lane road with sparse pullouts to let other vehicles through. On summer weekends, the drive up is restricted to guests of the Krunkelbachhütte, but I had luck: it was a weekday.

From the car park, the summit with its cross is visible, less than 200 m in elevation ahead.

I followed a gentle route along forest roads via the Herzogenweg, climbing steeply up at Oberes Hofmättle. The summit is a broad plateau, which could make activations tricky in windy conditions.

On the eastern side of the plateau, a display explains the surrounding summits. I set up my mast there, enjoying the view towards Feldberg (DM/BW-001).

In just 20 minutes, I completed 20 QSOs with a single S2S and P2P contact each, and then packed up—heat was intensifying and there was little shade (6 on 40m, 14 on 20m).

FL/VO-185 – Hunebourg (417m)

A change of scenery! The northern Vosges offer summits lower than those in the Black Forest. The region left a melancholic impression; many old, abandoned houses and shrinking villages, with quiet, narrow roads winding through dense forests.

Reaching the park grounds beneath Hunebourg summit, I drove through deep valleys with no phone signal, not seeing another car or person for long stretches. After parking, I walked about 200 meters along the road before the summit’s red sandstone rocks came into view.

The ascent was occasionally steep, but the summit itself is flat, peppered with convenient rocks—the perfect setting. Tree cover facilitated raising the EFHW antenna; once the wire was in place, I settled onto one of the rocks. There wasn’t much of a view, but the gentle breeze was a blessing in the heat.

The activation was slower than expected, despite good band conditions—perhaps few hunters were interested due to the summit’s modest point value. Still, I made 21 QSOs in 1 hour and 3 minutes, including 11 S2S and 2 P2P contacts (17 on 40 m, 4 on 20 m).

FL/VO-198 – Hochfirst (421m)

In this case, Google Maps misleadingly struggled to suggest a workable route. Contrary to its directions, you can drive from Offwiller into the forest via Rue de la Chapelle, continuing about 2 km. Park at 48.91668, 7.53708.

The initial segment was along a forest road, but I soon grew impatient and headed straight up. The summit isn’t an imposing Alpine peak, but rather a tranquil, flat clearing surrounded by forest—perfect for raising antennas.

I suspended the feedpoint of my EFHW from a tree branch—less than ideal, as the wind moved the branch quite a bit, resulting in high SWR for much of the activation, especially on 40 m.

Nonetheless, I achieved 28 QSOs in 1 hour 14 minutes, including 11 S2S and one P2P (20 on 40 m, 8 on 20 m). No other hikers appeared; given my lack of French, that may have been for the best!

DM/HE-003 – Großer Feldberg (879m)

The last summit of my trip was also the easiest to access—driving up to the plateau, it’s just a short walk to a suitable activation spot. After some research, I found a location at 50.23374, 8.45756, offering a POTA 3fer (DE-0034, DE-0558, DE-0623). This area is a bit removed from the busiest sections and offers plenty of options for setting up masts and sitting in the shade.

I completed 18 QSOs in 1 hour 24 minutes, contending with some QRM from nearby facilities. I was happy to trial my new LPDA on 2 m and 70 cm with the FT-4XE — and realized I now have a strong case for investing in an IC-705 for more serious UHF/VHF operation.