Mt Taupiri SOTA Activation - 4th March

Context

The summit of Mt Taupiri has a splendid view of the Middle Waikato Basin (including Hamilton) and the lower Waikato Plains. It’s possible to see Mt Ruapehu on a clear winter’s day, but unfortunately for me I chose a summer’s day early March. I had read about ZL2AJ’s activation from 2017 and his descriptions still ring true 6 years later.

Access to Summit

There are two tracks to the summit. Both tracks are not marked with orange markers, and are a little overgrown. The tracks themselves are well worn, so it’s usually easy to see where you’re supposed to go. Make sure you keep your wits about you. I walked up the 40 minute track, which does not provide much flat space to recover. It is steep the whole way, about as much as Hakarimata.

In ZL2AJ’s article, he mentions that the tracks aren’t sign posted so it would be easy to walk down an unintended path. I’ll give you a guess as to what happened to me. So I returned via the 60 minute track. I don’t think it would be significantly easier to climb up it even though there are a couple of flat sections. There was a picnic bench about a third of the way up as well.

Set up and Activation

While I was at the summit, several day trampers visited my radio station, including a dog. There’s plenty of space to raise an antenna at this summit, especially if you use the trig. I was able to set up my wire antenna with ease, barring it catching on the nearby trees and weeds. The end of my ladder line VHF antenna hooked onto a convenient nail sticking out of the trig point. This made it easy to monitor the 147.050 Hamilton repeater, and make a couple of VHF contacts which are less common for SOTA missions in New Zealand (simplex, as per the rules).

I had to hide under the picnic table to get away from the heat. My G90 was also heating up, and it has had trouble in the past with overheating in the sun, so I figured it was best to stay in the shade. A bonus was that the grass at the summit was long enough to provide cushioning.

Results

I’d like to thank the following chasers and the activators on other summits (S2S) (in order of contact).

  • ZL2WE
  • ZL3OY
  • ZL2UGS - we didn’t get a simplex contact, but it was good to hear from you on VHF nonetheless.
  • ZL1PO
  • ZL2JML - S2S
  • ZL3QR
  • ZL1SRP
  • ZL1KB - S2S
  • ZL3GA - S2S
  • ZL3RIK
  • ZL3MR - S2S - Contacts on 40, 20 and 15 m. My first ever 15 m QSO.
  • ZL2AJ - S2S

Special thanks to ZL1PO for contacting me on VHF as well as 40m, for spotting me, and updating me on other activators. You did all this while nursing a bee sting, absolute legend. Your support was much appreciated.

Taupiri was a simple summit to activate, apart from the poorly marked tracks. Getting to the summit and setting up was quick. If you have a clear day I recommend it, remember to protect yourself from the elements, whether that is the sun or the cold.

If you want to help out weird people like me who tramp up hills with a radio, the busiest time to listen is 11 am on Saturdays. The usual watering holes are 7.090 MHz and 14.310 MHz, they are the “QRP frequencies” for 40 and 20 m respectively. You can submit your log and get points for it as well.

73 Craig ZL1SHP