08/21/2006 | W1AUV August 19-20, 2006. Weekend One:

I started off Saturday on Mt. Equinox in FN33kd. The weather was OK: windy, somewhat wet. For Equinox, it wasnt bad. There were a total of 6 of us on Equinox at one time or another. I stayed on the saddle only coming up to the top when I needed to work a couple of people north of my position. I worked 27 people Saturday: 21 on Equinox and another 6 on the way home. My best distances were 297 km for both K1DS and N2UO.

On Sunday the day started off like it does for most water foul: wet. I went to Mt. Greylock FN32kp amid moderate rain, clouds and fog. I had to drive up slowly to avoid smashing the antenna on low hanging tree branches. Anyway, finally on top, things started off slowly as storms wandered through NH and eastern Mass (I used the K1TEO weatherman). While the storm trampled everyone out there I went to the western side of Greylock. I missed a QSO with VE3TFU that would have been nice but accidentally hooked up with WA2RQC, my first QSO for the day. I went to the overlook after an hour or so and slowly started to make contacts as people came out of their tornado shelters. I snagged K2KIB and N2UO in Sandy Hook NJ for 259 km. I also found Russ, K2TXB, and repeated last years 342 km hop from Greylock to FM29pt. Around 12:30 I headed over to the western side of the mountain again. I called and called the VE stations again but heard nothing. I decided to try K2DH, Dave, on his cell phone. When I got him he said they needed to move 8 miles to a different spot but he and the two guys with him would love to try it. While I waited for them to move Pete, K2AEP, pulled up on his way to the eastern overlook. I told him what I was doing and he stayed with me for the attempt. When they had moved to FN02xu we were able to connect on the liaison frequency. I heard K2DHs dashes pretty quickly but when he heard mine he said to switch to SSB. SSB? This was about 403 km: no way right? Wrong! He heard me! I worked K2DH and AA2WV on SSB and W2DYY on CW. 1209 points in 4 minutes plus 100 each for new calls for a grand total of 1509 points. Wow!

This, I thought, was going to be the highlight of the day; but no. Pete said he wanted to try too so he set up his rig. He only has 110 mW to a DSS dish. W2AAX got on to help with the liaison from Rochester and he said we should all point at a rain cell in northern NY. They aimed at the storm and K2DH sent dashes. Pete heard him! Whats even more amazing is that they heard him! Pete worked K2DH and AA2WV on rain scatter...403 km with only 110 mW. That was amazing. Petes probably still walking on air.

I made a few more relatively long-haul QSOs including WA1MBA in FN51av on the Cape for 274 km W3VIR, FN20mf for 309 km. On the way home I had to drive through NY because a thunderstorm that started as I was leaving knocked a tree down on RT 7. I made it back to Pittsfield and went up onto a hill in town to make a couple more QSOs. I worked KA1OJ and then Don, W1FKF heard me on rain scatter and I worked him at his home QTH. Then I worked Dale, AF1T and Mickey, W1MKY on Block Island again. I missed working WA1VVH but got W1PM.

After one weekend my score is almost what it was for the whole contest last year. Wow!

September 16-17, 2006. Weekend Two:

Activity seemed down a little the second weekend of the contest. I still had a blast though. The weather was good even if everyone thought propagation was off. We had early morning fog but it cleared off pretty fast where I was.

On Saturday I went to Durham, NY at the top of the Catskills. I wish more people aimed out that way. Good spot shooting back at New England but bad to the South and SouthWest. I made a bunch of contacts and headed back to Massachusetts after lunch. Some wrangling around Lenox yielded half a dozen more contacts. I even made a few aiming through a narrow opening overlooking Stockbridge Bowl. You have to find anyplace that has a shot to anybody!

Late Saturday I tried to hook up with VE3SMA and company. They heard me but they had a few technical issues and we were not able to re-find each other. I am still vowing to make that!

Sunday I went to Hogback in Vermont to start. Excellent spot for SW to NE+. Nice horizon and great views. I made a pile of QSOs there and left at 12:00 for Wachusett. On Wachusett I made a bunch more contacts including my best DX to date: 586km to W3HMS and WA3PTV. That was very cool. Thanks again!

On the way home I hit the Westboro Water Tower (another first). I made three contacts bouncing my signal off of the tower itself. I have to say, that was very cool too...not as cool as rain scatter (we had none) but still, very cool.

My thanks to everyone. I appreciate the contacts and your patience. Singling out a few people: I am grateful for sending contacts my way (K1TEO, W1JHR et al), liaison help (N1JEZ), fixing my lunch for four days(Linda) and getting me involved in this crazy aspect of ham radio (AF1T, W1MKY and W1GHZ).

I am a few points short of 30K...almost 10K more than last year. I'll take a 50% improvement anytime. See you all next year!

Tommy -- W1AUV