This year I operated from a campsite near the North San Gabriel River in Texas, near Liberty Hill.     

My rig was a Yaesu FT-817nd, powered from a Goal Zero Sherpa 100 that was being replenished by Goal Zero solar panels (a Nomad 13 chained with a Nomad 20). I used 5 watts power throughout the event.  

My antenna was a Buddipole Deluxe set up as a full-size vertical on 20m with 4 arms, 1 long whip, TSRB and 2 elevated radials, per the Buddipole In The Field book.  

All but three contacts were made with CW, with the others being phone. This was my first FD with a Buddipole, and it is my new go-to antenna system for portable operations!  

As for the Sherpa, when I shut down for the night, I still had 80% power remaining - I could probably have had a laptop charging as well.   

The weather was very hot during the day, but cooled off after the sun went down; that was when I did most of my operating :)   

73

Jeffrey NZ5G