This year marked the first year for our group as 3A.  We started out about 15yrs ago as 2B and moved up to 2A and now finally 3A.  We learned a lot about operating 3 rigs in close proximity.

This year marked a new member of our group.  We recruited Charlie N7KN.
He replaced one of our other regulars, Robert N7QT.  Charlie allowed the use of his call this year marking the first use of N7KN on FD.  We try to rotate call useage amoung our group so everybody gets their 15min of fame.

We operated from our usual Table Mtn. Location near Ellensburg.  The weather was sunny but much colder that usual, with nightime temps at freezing.  The tent heaters were on full blast.  Day time was fine due to the sun, and there was at least a lack of insects due to the cold.

We operated two mostly CW stations and one SSB station.
The money bands were 40m and 20m CW with 15m being highly productive on SSB and CW.  It was nice to see 20m open all night, with 15m hopping during the day.  We also had nice sporadic E on 10m and 6m with mostly SSB with a little CW sprinkled in.  All in all much nicer conditions than the past few years.

There were several new antennas used.  Charlie provided his portable mast with a HEX beam for 15M thru 6M which worked great from the canyon rim.  WA7NCL set up a 2 element vertical dipole array that was slated for 20,15 and 10M.  It was less successful due in part to poor aiming.  The extended dipole seems to out perform it.  Next year the array will be tested as a Lazy H.  Other antennas were the usual dipoles and inverted Ls.

As usual, there was a pleasant camp fire going and plenty of cooking over the fire.  The bands were more active than in the past few FDs so a little less socializing by the fire.  There was also the inspiring views out over Wilson Creek Canyon, named after our namesake Bud Wilson, founder of Ellensburg and erstwhile part time horse thief.

Members of Wilson's Wonders this year: N7KN, AC7MA, KC7WNB and WA7NCL.

73 and CU next Yr on FD!