Bay Hill SOTA activation 2023-04-02

Today’s post is about Bay Hill, aka W6/NC-434 SOTA activation. I can’t say that the summit is of any particular interest to me on its own. It’s just me trying to hit two birds with one stone: I’ve never been to Bodega Bay before, and Bay Hill is the closest SOTA hump.

A wee bit of Bodega Bay history

Located about forty miles north of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is neatly protected from visitor crowds by Muir Woods and Napa Valley. It takes about one and a half hours to get there driving on 101 and about two hours driving on the 1.

The bay is named after Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, Spanish Peruvian explorer who charted this coast back in 1775. While most evidence points towards Drake’s Bay, some distance to the south, as the location of New Albion - the first English claim on the west coast of North America - some believe it could be Bodega Bay instead.

Like Drake’s Bay, Bodega Bay was home for coastal Miwok people when the Europeans were exploring the area for the first time. It also served as the main port for the Fort Ross and was one of the southernmost points of Russian-American Company activity back in the 19th century.

After the Mexican-American war the territory was incorporated into the United States.

The comparatively secluded location made the place a fitting backdrop for Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”

I was delighted to discover one of the prettiest corners of Central California’s shore here, hiking the short Bodega Head trail. The vistas are well worth the drive and you can get some decent oysters and crabs in town.

Getting there

I’d take 1 going north and 101 going back. Just drive to this point. Bay Hill road is a bit rough at times but nothing a Prius can’t handle.

Bay Hill aka W6/NC-434 SOTA activation

The activation is a fairly simple “drive-by” one. There are several pull-outs on the road near the summit from which you can work.

Make sure your antenna setup is neat, secure, and does not cause trouble for passers-by.

Stations worked from Bay Hill

Thanks to all the chasers!

Time UTC	Call sign	RST sent	RST received	Frequency	Mode	Maidenhead grid
20:14	WW7D	559	579	14.062	CW	CN87
20:16	N7LKK	559	559	14.062	CW	DN17
20:18	WU7H	559	559	14.062	CW	CN87
20:20	KF7SP	559	559	14.062	CW
20:22	KE5AKL	559	559	14.062	CW	DM65
20:24	WB7ULD	559	559	14.062	CW	DN40
20:30	WB6POT	599	579	7.032	CW	CM99

See you, K0SSK out.