This little blog is intended to help inform others about amateur radio, technology, and digital self-sufficiency. The source code for the site is publicly available (the "framework", not the entries themselves) and anyone is free to use or modify it for their own purposes.

The author after stumbling up Mt Whitney for 8 hours
The author after stumbling up Mt Whitney for 8 hours

Quick bio

I received my Technician amateur radio operator license in the fall of 2021 after moving back to my hometown of San Diego. At the time I was mostly concerned with maintaining communication with my family in the event of an emergency - but no one else was interested in getting a license. After a few weeks of chatting with strangers on the local repeaters I opted to stuff my Baofeng UV-5R in a drawer where it wouldn't see the light of day again for a year or so.

In early 2023 I came across a YouTube video for Summits On The Air while searching for backpacking information in the Eastern Sierras. The thought of integrating off-grid communication with backpacking re-ignited my interest in amateur radio, and shortly after I got a General license and purchased my first portable HF rig (Yaesu FT-817ND). After making my first DX contact (San Diego <-> Vanutau) on 20 meters @5W using a homemade antenna in my backyard I was hooked.

Since relocating with my family to North Idaho in the fall of 2024, I've decided to dive deeper into the subject of amateur radio and start activating local SOTA peaks as an excuse to explore the area.

Thanks for stopping by.