21 December, 2025

As some of you may already know, I am attempting to complete a 12+ year endeavor with Summits On The Air (SOTA): surpassing 1,000 activator points and earning the coveted “Mountain Goat” status within the program.

Some people knock out this accomplishment in just a few years. I’ve taken the slow, methodical approach—mostly due to other obligations like family and work. When I started back in 2013, I was still in the Air Force and stationed in Hawaiʻi. Since then, SOTA has taken me to some truly unique places, including summits in Korea, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennesse, North Carolina, and most recently, Montana.

I’m incredibly thankful for discovering this program within amateur radio. SOTA has allowed me to visit places I never would have otherwise visited, and made many friends along the way, all in the name of carrying a radio to the top of a mountain and making contacts from somewhere special.

Gaining Access to an Overlooked Summit

On this particular day, I drove about two hours toward Missoula, Montana, for the opportunity to activate a 2-point summit with an additional 3 winter season bonus points. I had passed this unnamed summit many times while traveling along I-90, southeast of Clinton, MT, but access had always been the challenge. Public land surrounded the summit itself, yet private property along the interstate blocked any reasonable approach.

On a bit of a whim, I reached out by mail to one of the landowners to ask permission to cross their property. Thankfully, they agreed. With access secured, I finally took advantage of the opportunity to hike this long-overlooked summit.

Steep Climb, Solid Contacts

The hike was no joke—over 1,300 feet of elevation gain in roughly one mile. Steep, direct, and grueling. The forecast called for snow but while I could see it snowing in the mountains south of I-90, it seemed to stay there. I only encounted a few random snowflakes on the hike up. Once on the summit, I set up my ham radio gear and started calling on HF. 40m SSB worked better than normal for me, racking up 14 quick QSOs in the log book. Then on to CW for just a few on 40m then on to 15m where I was able to work both coasts. Then on 20m SSB and CW finished out the action.

The Begali Traveler key I bought last summer continues to gain my favor. It is a little heavy to pack, but what it delivers in performance more than makes up for it. Additionally, prior to this key, I had never used a leg strap while doing CW, and I was definitely skeptical. This was the second time I have used the leg strap and I am completely sold on the functionality. I am able to tighten the strap down well enough the key feels completely stable, and it is not uncomfortable on my leg.

The activation was a success, with a solid pileup of contacts. Highlights included reaching a station in France and another in Spain, always a thrill from a Montana mountaintop. 5 points closer to goat-hood.

A Bittersweet Ending

Later in the day while driving back home to Helena, I got a call that a friend and fellow ham in Missoula had passed away the night before. The timing—just before Christmas—made the news especially heavy. Not that there’s ever a good time for loss, but it served as another reminder that we never truly know how much time we have.

Days like this reinforce why I keep doing SOTA. It’s not just about points or awards—it’s about experiences, connections, and making the most of the time we’re given.

73, Allen