Thursday, April 18, 2024

EA7/MA-103, Benthomiz - 708m, 2 points

 In February 2024 I visited Southern Spain, staying at Torre Del Mar and activated 6 SOTA summits including one for the first time:

EA7/MA-103, Benthomiz - 708m, 2 points

An easy activation with good road almost to the top

I drove to Arenas and then took the concrete road that ascends almost to the summit.  I left the car near the crossroad and took the 10 minute walk up to the summit.
 
 Benthomiz is the site of a ruined Castle.  There is plenty of space to activate, with convenient trees and walls to attach the antenna.  I did not suffer any QRM from the masts.  I walked up the steep concrete path (with handrail) towards a mast (see bottom picture), then continued right and up/over some loose scree to the summit

I have activated this summit twice:  in 2024 I ran my dipole from the trig point down towards a ruined castle wall which provided some protection from the wind, propping up the centre of the dipole for some extra height.
 
In 2025  I attached my sotapole to a wall near the trig point and ran the dipole either side.  Nearby olive trees provided some shade over a convenient wall to set up my radio.
 

 



In 2024 I had 21 QSOs on 20m, then 4 on 40m.  In 2025 I had 21 on 20m, 2 on 40m then a further 26 on 15m (using my 40m dipole on its 3rd harmonic)

 

 

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