What is SOTA?

Summits on the Air (SOTA) is a form of radiosport that combines portable amateur radio with hiking to designated hills or mountain tops. The sport aspect of this activity includes rules and an honor system of points and awards for operators on the summits (activators) and operators or listeners down below (chasers).

Activators carry portable radio gear up to designated summits and “activate” the peak… Chasers hunt the activators…

http://www.pnwsota.org/content/getting-started-sota