In many parts of the world, amateur radio is moving in sync with Mother Nature, finding its way increasingly outdoors. The first weekend in June seemed to be a worldwide celebration of operating from mountains and other summits, and here in the US, an organized group of YLs established a new tradition.

Never mind playing King of the Hill. Paula K9IR, Amy AG7GP, and a few dozen YLs around the US - if not the world - were Queens of the Mountains. It happened on the weekend of June 8th and 9th when it seemed that many of the more adventurous ham radio operators were heading to the summits. The pair were kicking off an inaugural YL SOTA event to encourage women to try activating for Summits on the Air and to support one another in making summit-to-summit QSOs. Amy told Newsline she and Paula were inspired to try out this event after a group of eight YLs activated a summit in July of last year during the Pacific Northwest W7O (W Seven Oh) SOTA campout. Although near-blackout conditions for radio posed challenges on the first day, this was hardly the toughest obstacle the YLs faced. Amy said many of the activators braved heavy rain, mud, poison ivy and vehicle break-downs. She told Newsline: "Doing Summits on the Air, you learn to be prepared for the extra environmental challenges." Despite those challenges - or perhaps because of them - expect the Queens of the Mountains to be back on top next year.