Didn't have much time for this one, so I made the most of it by entering Single Operator, Portable and hiked up to Pinnacle Rock in Planfield, CT on Saturday afternoon for the start of the contest. I took my Yaesu 817ND, a portable 2-element 6 meter yagi and a 5-element homebrew 2M yagi, attached them to a 12' extendable painter's pole and was off to the races.

At 600' elevation, the bands were nice and quiet with no noise sources. The weather was perfect and there were plenty of stations on to work. There was no great enhancement to speak of, but that was okay; I worked everybody I could hear.

2 hours with 2.5 watts of transmit power netted 21 QSOs, mostly SSB. Best DX was K1WHS in FN43 in Maine, a distance of about 150 miles.

I think I've found a great radio location for backpacking, with an excellent horizon in most directions. Hope to work more events from there before winter arrives.

73,

Sean KX9X