01/26/2005 | KU4JZ We had alot of fun, just like an adventure! We were determined to be competetive, and we became adaptive. Due to severe weather conditions, we had to scrap plans to use directional antennas mounted on motorized masts. Instead, we opted to operate on basic antennas that could be easily reached when they required ice removal. The best choices were mag mounted verticals on the 4wheeldrive vehicle for FM work, and "strong arm" masts lashed to the bannister of the cabin's front porch for SSB. Our elevation of 3048' made our relatively basic antenna arrays quite effecive. A 6m and 2m vertical were placed on the vehicle for FM, and a 222 mhz vertical was mounted on the bannister for FM. A 6m loop and a 2m Moxon Rectangle were used for SSB and were supported by the bannister. Wrapping things up on SSB was an 11 element yagi for 432 mhz which was supported by a tripod on the porch. Our location was on a high spot on The Blue Ridge Parkway in Carroll County, VA, grid EM96. However, the weather conditions were brutal. Snow, sleet, freezing fog and drizzle, temps as low as 7 degrees, high winds, and windchill values as low as -13 degrees below zero made for difficult work outdoors; however, we met the challenge and endured. To make matters worse, we suffered an apprx. 9 hour power failure about 3am Sunday morning, losing heat, and worse, all Sunday morning contest contacts. However, through all of this, we never lost our enthusiasm and spirit, and our claimed score this year more than doubled that of last year! We look forward to next year!

Our equipment included: Icom 746Pro; Icom 706 MKIIG; Alinco DX-70TH; Pryme PR-222 HT for 222 mhz with Mirage C-211-G 222 mhz amp. -- KU4JZ