07/06/2009 | WA9STI For 2008, I returned for the fourth time to one of my favorite secluded spots at 6674' in the Los Padres National Forest, in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles. This time Wyatt, K6LZL, joined me for his first Field Day operation. We operated class 2B in the Santa Barbara Section. While a fire had swept through the area the previous year, the site was mostly untouched although trees had burned all around. We made 314 QSOs with 53 on CW using a G5RV and Buddipole on HF and an 11 element beam on 2 meter SSB. There was a nice band opening on 6 meters but due to a high SWR on the 3 element beam, we were unable to take advantage of it. The only other thing missing were a black bear and six point buck deer that visited during Field Day of 2006 when I worked it with my XYL, KB6LAS (see the Soapbox Entry for 2006). For Field Day 2009, I originally planned to come here again but the area was closed off for re-seeding requiring me to scout out another location. Scott -- WA9STI