I thought I might share my radio/contesting adventures to the Smokey Mountains.
 
This trip first and foremost was a anniversary trip for my XYL Stacy and I. She was kind enough to let me bring some equipment and operate from the Cabin.
 
This trip was from Thursday November 18th through Sunday November the 21st. Upon arrival, it was already dark and I was eager to get my wires and equipment setup. So... needless to say, I trekked through briars and up the side up a massive hill to get my wires up. Success and I am on the air!
 
I used 2 antennas on a older Kenwood antenna tuner. A 300ft random wire, which surprisingly worked amazing on 40 and 80! I also ran a Falcon 40-10 shorty windom style dipole in a inverted V configuration. It tuned great on 80-20 and I really did not go much higher then 20 meters while at the cabin.
 
My first contact after getting everything set up was with my friends on 3916. (The Freewheelers) I tried out 20 watts first off on the random wire and got great reports, so I cranked it down to 5 watts and nobody even noticed!
 
I wanted to get another radio check, from my neighbor back home in Dacula, (W4IMD) Peter. So I met him on 40 meter at 9 - 10am on Friday and ran QRP. He was getting me 20 over back home! Amazing!
 
Excited with these results I was set to go for ARRL Sweepstakes QRP!
 
I leisurely worked it. Few hours here and a few hours there, but in all, I worked 59 sections QRP! Everyone I had a QSO with was surprised I was QRP. Height was for sure on my side. Total score was 18998 with a QSO with W1AW and a QSO into the Virgin Islands.
 
This has sparked a renewed interest in contesting and a whole new world of QRP to me!
 
73's to all!
 
-Scott Brown
KD4YDD