so i finally decided to try activating a summit last weekend, been reading about SOTA for like two years and just never pulled the trigger. picked what looked like an easy one on the map, W4C/EM-001 or something like that, drove out there saturday morning with my KX2 and a end fed wire and a small pack.

well the trail that was supposed to be the easy route was basically washed out and i ended up bushwhacking for like 45 minutes to get into the activation zone. by the time i set up my wire in a tree and got on 40m it was already past noon and the bands were kind of dead. managed to get 4 contacts before my phone battery died and i couldnt pull up the spots anymore. needed one more for a valid activation and just couldnt get it. honestly kind of frustrating but also kind of addictive? already looking at maps for next weekend

yeah that happens, dont sweat it. the first few times out you're still figuring out your system and what works. i'd say get a dedicated GPS unit or at least download the offline maps before you go because phone batteries are just not reliable out there. also 40m past noon on a weekend can be rough, have you tried 20m for SOTA? you'd be surprised how many chasers are sitting on 14.285 and nearby just waiting for spots to pop up.

also four contacts is not bad for a first go honestly, you were close. just means you have to go back which isnt the worst thing

ive done probably 30 POTA activations and a handful of SOTA and the one thing i always forget is snacks lol. bring more food than you think you need. also a portable charger for the phone, game changer. what antenna setup were you using, end fed halfwave or random wire? that can make a big difference in how fast you can set up and tear down when you're tired from the hike