Hiking & FT8 Activation at Le Donon (FL/VO-023)
A rewarding hike to Le Donon (FL/VO-023) in France, complete with a SOTA activation using FT8 mode. 11 contacts, multiple bands, and a blazing hot ascent made for a memorable portable ops adventure.
🏞️ Le Donon: A Summit Worth the Climb
Hidden in the heart of the Vosges mountains in France, Le Donon (FL/VO-023) offers a rewarding combination of outdoor adventure and reliable radio propagation. On this activation, I tackled both a challenging hike and a successful Summits on the Air (SOTA) activation using FT8.
🥾 The Hike
The trail up Le Donon is a moderately difficult climb, made tougher this time by the intense summer heat. Despite the conditions, the route winds through beautiful forested landscapes and open ridge sections, offering sweeping views and a perfect excuse to pause and take it all in.
📡 SOTA Activation on FT8
At the summit, I quickly set up my portable ham radio station for a digital mode activation using FT8. Operating mostly on 14 MHz, I logged 11 QSOs across Europe. I also managed to pick up a contact each on 7 MHz, 18 MHz, and 28 MHz, a nice bonus demonstrating the flexibility of portable setups on multiple bands.
FT8 continues to prove itself as an excellent choice for portable ops — low power, efficient, and reliable, even under less-than-ideal conditions.
🤝 Good Conversations on the Summit
One of the highlights of this activation was meeting several hikers curious about my radio setup. It’s always rewarding to introduce people to ham radio, explain how digital modes work, and share stories from past activations. That blend of tech, radio, and community is what makes SOTA so appealing.
📊 Activation Summary
| 📍 Location | 📡 Reference | 📶 Mode | 🎙️ QSOs | 🏆 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Donon | FL/VO-023 | FT8 | 11 | 10 |
📌 Final Thoughts
This trip to Le Donon was a great mix of hiking challenge, radio activation, and community interaction. FT8 once again proved to be a reliable mode for mountaintop operations, and the 10 points earned made it well worth the effort.
If you’re looking for a summit that offers both a satisfying physical climb and a solid spot for portable radio ops in the Vosges, Le Donon should be high on your list.
