Activating GM/CS-039 Carn na Caim June 2026

 A nice climb to a large activation area, but with no shelter, worth 8 points

 I parked in Layby 88 on the A9 Southbound and walked along to the pedestrian gate and along a well made stony path.

 The first half of the walk is on good stony track and provides almost all of the elevation gain, so the hard work is done early before the legs start complaining!

 

The second half is a fairly flat, on grass with the occasional boggy patch.

 

The summit is large and flat, offering no shelter but it did have a handy metal post that I used to hold my Sotapole.  In the picture below the small summit Cairn is on the left.

 

 

This summit is evidently popular with hikers and I saw at least 8s while I was on the summit.  2 people came over and asked what I was doing, and seemed interested and even impressed!

I enjoyed 5 SSB QSOs on 40m, then 6 on 15m including a S2S with IK2LEY/P on I/LO-457.  I finished off the activation with 5 on 20m.
 

Activating GM/CS-043 Geal-charn June 2026

 A straightforward hike to a stony summit, worth 6 SOTA points

 I returned to activate Gael-charn in June 2026 having first climbed it in September 2025.  I parked in a large car park just off the A9 near Balsporran Cottages, which was filling up with other hikers and dog walkers.

The walking route passed the B&B, over the level crossing, and was  a good stony track for about half of the ascent.  A useful early sign kept me left, but the next turning was right.

 

 

The stony path transitioned to peaty moorland which made it harder to stay on the correct route, but using the SOTL.as map on my phone kept me moving in the right direction

 Once on top I had high winds to contend with and sheltered in the cairn.  I only extended my Sotapole 3/4 height and restrained it against the wind with the cord strapped to a heavy rock.

 I started on 20m with 3 SSB QSOs, and was very pleased to include a S2S with Fabio IK2LEY on I/LO-451, over 1500 km away.

I then switched to 40m and a further 10 in the log, including 3 S2S with operators on Welsh summits, it being the GW SOTA weekend.

The weather was too changeable to stay too long so I packed up and headed back to the car.

Next activation GM/CS-039 >> 

Activating GM/ES-041 Carn a'Ghille Chearr June 2026

 A straightforward activation in the cloud, worth 4 SOTA points

 In June 2026 I found myself in Aviemore again while my wife was on a course.  Plenty of opportunities to climb some new SOTA summits, and revisit some previously activated ones.

While England, Wales and continental Europe were sweltering in a record-breaking heatwave the heat had not reached the Highlands and in fact it was pretty dreary for this activation.

I parked just off the A'anside Road, taking a bridge across the river where there was plenty of parking space next to a Glenlivet notice board. I walked up the stony driveway and through a farm yard where a public path was signposted. 

 This proceeded as a rough track for about half of the way, and then became a much less distinct route through boggy peaty moorland which was hard to follow at times.

 The visibility deteriorated as I climbed and by the time I reached the top I was in the cloud, with a mixture of drizzle, hail and gusty winds to contend with while I set up my sotapole.

 Propagation was reasonable and I managed 7 SSB QSOs on 40m, 6 SSB on 15m and then just 1 on 20m.  The forthcoming weekend was the GW SOTA event so I was glad to get 2 S2S QSOs with activators in Wales warming up for the weekend.

Cold and wet I packed up, drying my Sotapole as much as I could and headed back to the car.

Next activation GM/CS-043 >> 

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 and reached the car just as torrential rain started, returning the hire car in Milan nicely washed! 

 Next activation GM/ES-041 >>

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 >>