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SOTA, POTA, AND THE VHF CONTEST A MULTI PURPOSE OPERATION ON PIKES PEAK
K0NRS COMBINATION OPERATION FOR THE 2022 ARRL JUNE VHF CONTEST INCLUDED A
SINGLE OP PORTABLE CONTEST EFFORT ALONG WITH ACTIVATIONS FOR SUMMITS ON THE
AIR AND PARKS ON THE AIR.  BOB WITTE, K0NR LATELY, MY HAM RADIO ACTIVITY
CENTERS ON VHF CONTESTING, AND THE SUMMITS ON THE AIR SOTA AND PARKS ON THE
AIR POTA PROGRAMS.  THE ARRL JUNE VHF CONTEST IS MY BIG EVENT FOR THE YEAR,
AND I USUALLY OPERATE FROM A FIXED LOCATION.  IN 2022, I DECIDED TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT A PORTABLE VHF/UHF OPERATION IN COMBINATION WITH SOTA
AND POTA ACTIVATIONS.  PIKES PEAK INCREASED ELEVATION GREATLY BENEFITS
VHF/UHF OPERATING, AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SUMMITS TO CHOOSE FROM IN OUR
PART OF COLORADO.  I CHOSE PIKES PEAK BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO ACCESS VIA
HIKING, DRIVING, OR A COG RAILWAY, AND IT TOWERS ABOVE A LARGE PORTION OF
COLORADO, INCLUDING ALL THE MAJOR CITIES.  AT AN ELEVATION OF 14,115 FEET,
PIKES HAS AN EXCELLENT RADIO HORIZON IN ALL DIRECTIONS.  THOUGH THERE ARE
NO LIMITS ON OPERATING TIME FOR THE JUNE VHF CONTEST, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
TO DO A 30 HOUR CONTEST EFFORT FROM PIKES PEAK.  THE SUMMIT CLOSES
OVERNIGHT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, CONDITIONS ARE VERY COLD AT NIGHT, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE LACK OF OXYGEN MAKES A LONG ACTIVATION A CHALLENGE.
I DECIDED TO LIMIT MY OPERATION TO SPENDING MOST OF SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON
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