so i finally did my first summit activation last weekend, W6/NS-something up near Big Bear. been meaning to do one for like two years and kept putting it off. threw the KX2 in my pack with a 40m EFHW and just went for it. the hike was only about 3 miles but man that elevation really gets you when you're also lugging a battery and antenna gear.

ended up making 11 contacts in maybe 25 minutes which i guess is enough to count, couple guys were really patient with my fumbling around trying to set up the sotawatch spot from my phone with barely any signal. ran the wire up into a pine tree which was a pain but it worked fine. whole setup with the radio and battery was maybe 4 lbs which felt like a lot more by mile 2.

anyway just wanted to share cause i wasnt sure i was ready for it but it wasnt that bad at all. already looking at the next one

nice work getting it done, that summit is a solid first choice. 11 contacts is fine, dont stress about the number as long as you hit the 4 minimum. the spotting thing is always annoying, i usually pre-fill the spot before i even leave the trailhead and just update the frequency when im actually set up. saves a lot of fumbling.

one thing that helped me a lot was switching to a linked dipole instead of the EFHW, easier to throw up and you can change bands without messing with the tuner. not that the EFHW is bad just a preference thing. anyway sounds like youre hooked now, which is how it always goes lol

yeah the mile 2 wall is real haha. i did my first one last spring and completely underestimated how tired you get just from the hike before you even have to think about operating. i brought way too much stuff, ended up leaving my backup battery at the car and honestly didnt need it. the KX2 is a great choice for this, ive been eyeing one for a while