Mountain Explorer and Mountain Hunter Awards
Each award is certificate based using a different format from existing SOTA certificates. These awards recognize that there are now many Associations based worldwide and that many activators take the opportunity presented by the CEPT regulations to take their equipment with them on vacation. This award rewards those activators that operate in associations which are not necessarily their home association.. Chasers make every effort to help activators qualify their summit but often they are looking for that unique summit that presents a true challenge to the dedicated chaser and the Mountain Hunter Award has been created for them. In brief the requirements needed to claim an award are as follows:
Mountain Explorer
The essence of the award is to recognise the activation and qualification of Summits, in accordance with SOTA General Rules and the local association’s rules, in a number of different associations.
Bronze Award – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 5 Associations
Silver Award – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 10 Associations
Gold Award – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 15 Associations
Platinum Award – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 20 Associations
Amethyst Award – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 50 Associations
Example: To claim the Bronze Award an activator would need to have activated one summit is at least five qualifying associations – these could be GM, G, F, DL and ON as an example.
Following the increasing trend for Activators to visit summits when on a foreign vacation or business trip we have decided to introduce a variation of the award which recognises visits to continents other than the Activator’s home continent. The Activator will need to activate in a number of Associations on different continents, including their home continent, the distribution of the number Associations activated over the Continents activated is left to the individual provided at least one Association per continent claimed is activated.
Example: To claim the Tourist award the Activator could claim one summit in EA8 for Africa and one summit in each of GM, ON, PA and DL for Europe (5 Associations / 2 Continents)
Tourist – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 5 Associations on at least 2 continents
Frequent Traveller – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 10 Associations on at least 3 continents
Business Class – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 15 Associations on at least 4 continents
Globetrotter – confirmed activation of at least one summit in each of 20 Associations on at least 5 continents
| Award | Associations | Continents |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 5 | Not counted |
| Silver | 10 | Not counted |
| Gold | 15 | Not counted |
| Platinum | 20 | Not counted |
| Amethyst | 50 | Not counted |
| Tourist | Minimum 5 | 2 |
| Frequent Traveller | Minimum 10 | 3 |
| Business Class | Minimum 15 | 4 |
| Globetrotter | Minimum 20 | 5 |
Mountain Hunter
Chaser should contact (or SWL, hear) at least 2 different summits in each of 5 associations. The higher level awards require that at least one association claimed is on a different continent from the claimant’s normal residential QTH. Level 1 can be claimed with contacts only on the claimant’s own continent (1 continent); higher level awards require intercontinental contacts.
| Award | No. of Associations | No. of Continents |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze Award | 5 | 1 |
| Silver Award | 10 | 2 |
| Gold Award | 15 | 2 |
| Platinum Award | 20 | 3 |
| Amethyst | 30 | 4 |
| Global | Minimum 50 | 5 |
VHF (50MHz and above) Award
Chaser should contact (or hear for the SWL award) at least 2 different summits in each of 5 associations using just VHF/UHF any mode.
Endorsement for UHF only qualification (430MHz and above)
Endorsement for all 50MHz qualification
| Award | No. of Associations |
|---|---|
| Bronze | 5 |
| Silver | 10 |
| Gold | 15 |
| Platinum | 20 |
| Amethyst | 25+ |