Carsten, DG0JCG, had chosen Saxon Switzerland for the activity, specifically the Zirkelstein Resort Reinhardsdorf-Schöna. 17 YLs, OMs, and XYLs made their way to the eponymous mountain and the nearby bungalow village.

We, the DARC OV S54, had reserved the special call sign DL2025C for Saturday, so after a good breakfast, we split into a shortwave team consisting of Carsten (DG0JCG) and Jens (DB5JH), and a VHF team consisting of Hartmut (DH9KFC), Kay (DM2KL), Mario (DM5AHA), and Joachim (DM6JKC).

In frosty but sunny weather, our main target was the Grosser Zschirnstein.
Thanks to the equipment we had brought along (a 50W mobile station with a power supply and a small log periodic, in addition to the FT 817 and handheld radios), we made numerous QSOs from the mountain on 2 m and 70 cm.

The stations we worked were delighted to receive five calls, meaning they had the summit in their log for the Saxon Mountain Competition. Of particular interest, of course, was the SES DL2025C – a good opportunity to gain eight more points for the diploma program, which expires at the end of the month.

With a spectacular descent, we approached our next destination, Wolfsberg, and then made our way back via Schöna.

Returning to the starting point, we noticed that the verticals on the terrace were “glowing,” meaning the shortwave team in the conference room was still active. At the end of the day, the log for DL2025C showed 158 connections in FT8 (IC-7300, tuner CG-3000, max. 40 W on 13 m “long” wire).

A beautiful field day and a cozy get-together for the OPs and the whole family.

73 de Kay, DM2KL

Photos: OV S54 / for full article https://df0che.darc.de/aktivitaeten/zirkelstein2025.php 

as well as an article in the Saxon BERG – KURIER / Issue 401, April 2025/8