so i finally did my first activation on Saturday, W6/SC-215 up near Big Bear. been chasing summits for about 8 months and kept telling myself id get around to activating one day and my buddy basically dragged me up there which im glad he did.

brought the KX2 and a 40m end fed half wave, just threw it up in a tree maybe 15 feet off the ground, nothing fancy. was honestly nervous i wouldnt get my 4 contacts but i put out a spot on SOTAwatch before i left the car and by the time i was set up there were already people waiting on frequency. made like 11 QSOs in maybe 25 minutes, couple of them were S2S which i didnt even know was gonna happen, that was cool.

only issue was the wind kept pulling on the antenna wire and i was afraid the whole thing was gonna come down. probably need to figure out a better way to anchor the far end. but yeah overall it went way smoother than i expected. if anyones been on the fence about doing their first activation just go do it, the chasers are incredibly patient and everyone was really friendly on the air.

already looking at references for my next one, thinking something higher for more points. any suggestions for SoCal summits that arent completely brutal hikes for someone who isnt exactly in marathon shape?

congrats on the first activation, S2S contacts on your first time out is pretty great actually. most people dont even plan for those and then get surprised when another activator calls in.

for SoCal summits that wont destroy your knees, Mount Disappointment up in the San Gabriels is pretty reasonable, the road gets you partway there and the trail isnt too heinous. its only a 6 pointer but honestly for building confidence its a good one. Santiago Peak is another option but the hike is longer than people expect. i did it in summer once and deeply regretted my life choices around mile 4.

for the antenna situation, i carry a couple of those cheap tent stakes and a few feet of paracord for exactly that reason. wind is just part of the deal on most summits, youll figure out your own system after a few trips. some guys use a fishing pole as a vertical and skip the trees entirely, worth considering if the summit is exposed.

ive been chasing for about two years and i always appreciate when activators spot themselves before they leave cell range, makes such a difference. there's nothing worse than being camped on a frequency waiting and not knowing if someones actually coming up or the spot was a mistake.

also the S2S thing is genuinely one of my favorite parts of following SOTA, when two activators find each other its just a fun moment on the air. both of you get the bonus points too which is nice.