Packsaddle Mountain is private property
and the owner does not respond to inquiries about access to the
summit.
When the SOTA Summits for the Texas
Eastern Flatlands were published, I thought that what is now W5T/NT-030 was going
to be my first activation – and I might be the first activator. It
is just a short drive from my QTH and I can almost see it when I
climb my tower – about 12 miles SW.
Click here and scroll down a bit for a
great photo of Packsaddle Mountain.
Packsaddle has two prominences
separated by the “saddle” area. Originally, it was all part of a
single ranch. Now it is two properties and the northern
section contains the SOTA summit. I visited the Llano County Tax
Assessor/Collector offices and spoke with the Chief Appraiser. I
explained SOTA and he kindly looked up the current owner and supplied
me with his address.
I've written three letters to the
owner explaining both SOTA and Amateur Radio (with its relation to
emergency preparedness). I promised that I would leave no trace. I
had zero response.
I hope that someone, someday, will gain
access and activate Packsaddle. If you do, please leave a comment
here and on the SOTA Summit reference page. I would love to
be proven wrong!
Speculations and opinions - to be taken with a grain of salt:
For some time, there was a hang gliding club that maintained a launch site near the southern prominence of
Packsaddle. Unfortunately, a glider pilot was killed there in 2010. Though that section is not the summit area, I
speculate that the potential of another death may
be a reason for the lack of response. Lawsuits are never
fun. Additionally, Llano County is prime white-tail deer country and there are sound economic reasons for not
giving the deer any excuse to leave their property. Deer hunting can
be very, very profitable in this area.
Another consideration are the abandoned mines on Packsaddle. At least one is in the “saddle” adjacent to the
summit.
Back in the 1950s, our
Boy Scout troop camped in the “saddle” near the site of the last Indian
battle in the region and I can testify that parts of Packsaddle are
pretty rugged. We investigated a mine and climbed to the summit.
I recall a stone cairn, not to mention the rattlesnakes and at least
three varieties of cactus.
Also -
As a native Texan, born in this area, I
would be very hesitant to enter another person's property without
explicit permission or very good reason. If the property was marked
“Posted – No Trespassing” (and most ranches in this area are
so marked), it's had to imagine circumstances that would make me
trespass unless it involved the safety of myself or others.
And it might be suicidal to enter in deer season without some means
of announcing my presence as a human being and not a deer or a turkey...
Just my opinion.
cln – Nick
WB5BKL
