Activating I/LO-149 (Monte Colombine)

 A longer than expected hike but nice ascent and great summit for activation, 8 SOTA points

 I had planned my 3 day SOTA holiday to be near a cluster of 8-point summits but on Monday 18th May 2026 I had to abandom my drive from Darfo Boario Terme as the main mountain road through the Crocedomini pass was closed, and indeed always closes over the winter season.

On Weds 20th, I planned to take the long route round to I/LO-149 as shown below, but came across another road closure about 4 km from the summit (closure shown with C).

I drove down to I/LO-167 Dosso Alto to see if this would be a possible alternative summit to activate, but the map suggested it was a steep ascent from the skiing car park, and the track to the easier hike was closed to unauthorised vehicles,

I returned to LO-149 and decided to walk the additional 3km from the closed road to the start of the summit ascent.  This was a gentle ascent on the tarred mountain road followed by a well worn track zig zagging up to a succession of smaller summits.  The trail was snowy in parts but always passable.  In the winter the snow drifts could be much deeper requiring better walking equipment.

 Progressing towards LO149 gve a good view of the NATO Ionosond installation across the valley:

 The summit provided plenty of space to set up, a comfortable wall to sit on and a handy sign post to attach my Sotapole.

 Once set up I realised that there was no mobile phone signal on Vodafone or TIM which would make self spotting impossible.  As soon as I switched on my KX2 I heard Andy I/OE6ADE/P activating I/VE-208 so gave him a call fior a S2S.  I then walked around the summit until I could pick up enough 2G signal to send an SMS Text spot, but was not convinced that it had sent.

Returning to my KX2 I heard IK2LEY/P calling me from I/LO-290, confirming my spot had worked (TIM network), and so got the next S2S in the log.  I then had a mini pile up, working 14 stations in total with 5 S2S QSOs.

A nice summit to end my visit to I/LO, but a long tiring walk back to the car despite being all downhill!  I headed back to Milan just as torrential rain started, returning the hire car nicely washed! 

 

Activation of I/LO-195 and LO-176 May 2026

 Two straightforward summits in skiing area, 6 points each

 Staying in Darfo Boario Terme provided access to a cluster of 6 and 4 point summits, so today I planned to activate 2 of LO-330, LO-195 and LO-176.

LO-330 is close to the road and I took a look to see if it was possible to drive up the track to the top of the chair lift to only need a short hike to the top.  Unfortunately there are several clear signs allowing authorised vehicles only, and in fact the track was in too poor a condition for my small hire car.  On to the next... 

I/LO-195 Monte Lantana sits above a skiing village.  I parked towards the top of the zig zagged roads serving skiing accommodation where a well worn path started working through the pine forrest.

The route then turns right up a grassy bank, with an interesting looking 'dish' near the top.  I did not investigate this but it looked like some kind of reflector rather than an antenna - might microwave signals be reflected round a mountain?

The summit provides a very comfortable activation area with a pleasant wall to sit on and plenty of space for antennas.

 

I worked  13 stations on 40m SSB including 2 Summit-to-summit QSOs with Swiss hams on a summit in France.

 

I/LO-176  Monte Pora

Back at the car I then headed further South to the next skiing resort of Malga Alta di Sotto and drove part way up a track to park near the small reservoirs (P on the map below).  There were a few staff around cleaning tables and engineers attending to the chairlifts, but no one challenged my paking.  I could have continued driving along the good track North East which ends at the top of the chairlift.

 

I started walking along the track but diverted up the steep grassy bank to the top of the chairlift to find an activation spot.  The summit sits just above the chairlift station and there is plenty of space towards some commercial masts to set up.  I imagine this would be busy during the skiing season. 

 I enjoyed 10 QSOs on 40m including 2 summit-to-summits, then 4 on 20m SSB.

Next activation I/LO- 149 >>

 

Activating I/LO-319 (8 points) May 2026

 A challenging hike up, but made easier by parking at the top of the chair lift

 Following a frustrating morning I was keen to get an 8-pointer in the log and so headed to Monte Muffetto, the closest one to Darfo Boario Terme where I was staying.

 

The two hiking routes shown are from the roundabout (330m climb) or the top of the ski lift (170m climb).  As it was off season and the chairlifts were not running, no one was around to stop me driving up the (good) track to the skilift top station, accessible from the roundabout.  The track was slushy in parts but fine for my small hire car.

 

The hike was still quite challenging, initially requiring a climb up to the pass at Stanga di Bassinalle, then a steep ascent over snowy tufts of grass (no clear path) before levelling out to the summit.  I was rewarded with a convenient operating 'table' and a handy Cross to attach my Sotapole (hoping that I did not offend anyone in the process).

 

I enjoyed 9 SSB QSOs on 40m followed by 3 on 20m, which was surprisingly quiet today.  I headed back to the car, glad that, despite earlier frustrations, I had my first Italian 8-pointer activated.

Next activation I/LO-195 >>

 

Visiting Lombardia and Activating I/LO-458

In May 2026 I enjoyed 3 days activating 5 summits in the Lombardia region of Italy.  My pre-planning showed a cluster of decent accessible 8-pointers around I/LO-145 and so I based myself in Darfo Boario Terme.  This also gave access to some nice looking 4 and 6 pointers around I/LO-195.

 

On Monday 18th May 2026 I planned to head across to the 8-pointers to activate LO-149 and LO-151.  I had planned to take the SP345 from Esine, north of this cluster and approach my parking spot from the North.  I could not understand why Google maps kept diverting me on to minor tracks (often only suitable for 4x4s), despite my forcing back to the main road.

I then realised that the SP345 was closed, and indeed always closes in the winter over the Crocedomini pass.  This was shown on Google maps and on Wednesday 20th I approached the cluster from the South... more of that adventure on that page! (I/LO-149 >>)

In the end I abandoned my 2 hour journey part way to the 8-pointers after a bumpy drive on very rough tracks, and returned to Boario Terme to have some tyre damage looked at.

I/LO-458  Monticolo (1 SOTA point)

 I arrived back at 12:30 and the Tyre shop opened at 2pm, so I headed over to I/LO-458 which sits on the edge of the town and is easily accessible - no 4x4 tracks here!

A short straightforward walk up to the summit yielded a convenient post for my pole and operating position to use, and I enjoyed 8 quick SSB QSOs with western European hams on 40m.

 

 I was back at the tyre shop at 2.30pm and on the road at 3pm, on my way to I/LO-319 >>

Activating EA8/TF-010 Roque del Conde - 1001m, 18th March 2026

 Straightforward ascent, steep at times but a rewarding summit, worth 8 SOTA points

I parked next to the start of the walking trail in Vento and followed the well marked path.

 The trail descends into a narrow gorge before climbing up steep steps to continue towards the summit.  The route was quite busy with hikers despite changeable weather (fog, wind, rain and some hail at the top - but I did get a winter bonus!).

 The summit provided plenty of space at the trig marker and the surrounding area.  With a sharp wind I chose to shelter behind the graffiti covered concrete trig block and attach my antenna to the trig point.  There was plenty of space to extend the inverted V Bandhopper antenna.

 

I enjoyed 18 SSB qsos on 20m and one on 2m FM.  With very bad weather forecasted for the following few days I went on to my final activation of this holiday, EA8/TF-0219 Rojar.

 

Activating EA8/TF-017 Montaña de Taco - 319m

 A challenging ascent to an urban reservoir, worth 1 SOTA point

 

Access to this summit looked straightforward on the map, but others had mentioned restricted access.  There were 24 activations before me so I felt this was worth trying, even if only worth 1 point!

I parked along the access road just downhill from a vehicle barrier, but access on foot was possible by walking to the right of the sign:

I walked along the road, ascending steadily until I reached the facility entrance, which was definitely impassable for hikers and vehicles:

 This was the most challenging part of the hike, needing now to scramble up the bank on the left.  There were no barriers or signs preventing this, but the rocky scrub and steep gradient made this challenging.  Once on top I followed the perimeter fence around the reservoir round to the summit

 The summit is relatively flat and I did not meet any other hikers or reservoir officials, so plenty of space and feedom to activate.  The vegetation was fairly low and thin, so easy to set up my bandhopper antenna at full height.

 I managed one 2m FM QSO, then 17 on 20m ssb including one Summit-to-summit with Fritz EA8/HB9CYX/P on Gran Canaria EA8/GC-006.

 

I packed up and headed back, and on to EA8/TF-014 for the final activation of the day.

Activating EA8/TF-009, Baracán - 1003m

 Straightforward well marked path to a cosy summit, worth 8 points

I parked early at the car park on the road hairpin on the map below and followed the green track North West.  Returning late morning the car park was very busy, and I had to ask another car to move to allow me out.  This is a popular hike and viewpoint!

 The path is easy to followand a steady ascent, getting steep for the final leg to the top.

 

The summit is identified by a trig marker, but allows little space for activation.  the slopes are quite steep and covered with bushes so setting up was challenging.  Added to that there were 3 or 4 hikers passing during the hour I was there, so I was conscious not to monopolise the trig point for too long.
 

I managed one 2m FM QSO folloowed by 8 on 20m ssb.  This was my first of 3 summits planned today, so I packed up and headed for EA6/TF-017 >>