About Trails On The Air

Overview

Trails On The Air (TOTA) provides adventure-loving amateur radio operators with a community for sharing activations along human-powered routes. Activations are made along any no-motor-vehicles-allowed routes, while hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. TOTA outings do not need to be in State or Federal parklands. Routes may include bushwhacked travel (where allowed) as well as trail-following.

Registered TOTA members post details of their outings, including their routes and activation details. Posted outings are shared and sorted by location, travel mode, activation location, communication mode, distance traveled and elevation gain. Leaderboards are maintained for each category.

Membership

Membership is open to all amateur radio operators worldwide. See the Login or Join link for details.

Activation rules for TOTA outings

All locomotion modes

• Follow only "no motorized vehicle" paths. (Crossing roads is OK).
• At your activation site, make 6 or more contacts, using only the equipment and power source you carried in.
• Follow all laws and rules. No trespassing, etc.

Hiking and snowshoeing

• Walk at least 1 mile from start point to activation site.
• Make at least 6 contacts (any band and mode).
• Total trip at least 2 miles. (Out and back is OK).

Biking and skiing

• Ride or ski at least 2 miles from trailhead to activation site.
• Make at least 6 contacts (any band and mode).
• Total trip at least 4 miles. (Out and back is OK).

Posting outing details

For inclusion in the TOTA Outings Database, this information is required for each outing: title, date, state, GPS coordinates of start point and activation site, total distance traveled, elevation gain, radio TX mode, a screenshot showing at least 6 QSOs (a log from HAMRS, QRZ, etc., or a QSO map), and a screenshot of your route verifying total distance and elevation gain (Gaia GPS, AllTrails, CalTopo, etc.). Optional: 1 or 2 photos of your activation setup or key sites along your route.

Note: TOTA does not keep "hunter" records. Only activator details are maintained.