12/17/2008 | K6XN I had to quit the contest early around noon Sunday from my summer cabin in the Sierras at 5000 feet when the temperature dropped to 22 degrees Fahrenheit and the snowfall rapidly increased to 3 inches over a few hours with a rapidly increasing rate of snow fall. In order to make it out I had to travel approximately 3 miles through the falling snow on an icy forest service dirt road in four wheel drive through the forest before I hit a paved road. It was snowing even heavier when I finally made it out to a paved road. Last year I was snowed in in a matter of hours so I packed quickly this time and I threw a chain saw and a shovel in the Jeep just in case and got out while I could. I would have preferred to have stayed for the entire contest as the band was still open for me when I had to leave. This is the first time in over 10 years that I have participated in this contest and I had a lot of fun although this year was unlike any of my prior experiences in a 10M contest. Murphy was elsewhere this time for me and everything worked flawlessly even my 19th century wood stove in the cabin. I am glad now that I cut and stacked a lot of oak firewood a week ago up there when I had the opportunity. My 2006 Honda EU2000i generator safely handled the 500W Icom IC-2KL linear and performed flawlessly for me the entire contest. I love this generator. 73, Ted, K6XN -- K6XN