While planning a visit to Spain to walk the Camino Frances or the French Way, a popular walking route following the legendary path of pilgrims walking to Santiago for religious reasons, I made contact with two radio amateurs in Pamplona to ask about suitable SOTA activations in that area. I received enthusiastic responses and offers to take me up to several suitable summits.

I set up a WhatsApp chat group to make liaison simpler once I was in the area. I pre-purchased a European SIM card for my phone to be sure of having local coverage.

The first summit I was hoping to activate was ea2/nv012 with the amazing name Ortzanzurieta which is a basque name with very difficult pronounciation for an Aussie. I had several goes at it. The Z is not said as it is in English.

This summit was a few km to the east of the walking path (Camino) and I asked my EA contacts whether I could consider activating it during the day’s walk. I received advice that it would be a big ask at the end of a difficult day. The Camino goes through some lovely country especially in those mountains but it is not “a walk in the park”. There are some long slow climbs for weary legs.

However Ignacio EA2BD offered to drive from Roncesvalles and take me up to this summit. I took up his offer immediately.

After walking about 17km from Orisson, over the Pyrenees and the F/EA border, I could only agree with the advice. I was tired and needed a shower and fresh clothes before I could consider getting into a clean car.

So by about 5pm that day I was happily riding with Ignacio and Jorge EA2LU on the way up to this unpronounceable summit. The weather was suitable and although I had my radio gear with me, Jorge offered me the use of his kx2 and multiband end fed antenna.

The 20m band was cooperating and I made 28 contacts around Europe and into the US.

Jorge using another rig on 40m

All photos by Ignacio Ea2bd.

Many thanks to Ignacio for his generosity in driving over from Pamplona and waiting patiently for me to be ready for this activation. It was a huge day for me and adding a new SOTA association and summit to my activations was a bonus.