Hello,
Yesterday was a Great day despite having some antenna problems. I meet Mark
de NK8Q in the parking lot for Bake Oven Knob.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bake+Oven+Knob+in+PA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.569986,81.035156&ie=UTF8&ll=40.751256,-75.736227&spn=0.022367,0.039568&t=h&z=15
The elevation is around 1560' and it is a very rocky area. There are large
boulders the size of a VW Bug. Mark and I started the hike up over the rocky
terrain, 20 minutes for a 1 mile hike. Once we got to the location we picked
out our operating locations. Mark made camp in the middle of the area and I
was north west of him where there was some soil so I can mount the vertical.
I went around and took some pictures of the area, Great views all around. It
was a nice sunny day which proved the weather men wrong again. It was a
little windy up there which I had a problem with the vertical wire becoming
tangled in the trees.
I could not get the vertical mounted the way it was designed. The base of
the Jackite pole was about 2 feet higher than it should have been. I
basically had to use large rocks and a short concrete wall to get the
antenna to stand up. Only problem was there were a lot of short trees that
played havoc with the antenna all day long with the windy conditions. I was
on the NW ridge of the lookout which was very windy and cold. The temp there
said it was around 42'F but with the wind chill it was around 15'F. My
thermos of hot chocolate came in handy during the day.
I got on the air on 40m and called CQ for a little while. I had no luck. So
I decided that I would give mark a quick contact. This is my log for the
March PBMME 2008.
20m NK8Q Mark PA PB #4
40m W2KJ Joe NC
40m VE3WMB/PM Mike Ont PB #19
40m AA8MK Jim OH
80m WB3GCM Vince PA About 10 miles east of us.
20m W3PBC Ed PA at Pulpit Rock
20m N5KIP Dick LA
20m K5XYL Dee LA
80m W3MC Mike MD PB #50
I was using my K2 which will tune anything. But I notice the antenna just
was not working like it should due to being higher up off the ground than it
should be.
This area is a High Traffic Area since it is so accessible. I must have
talked to 20 people while I was up there. Two groups I talked to for at
least 20 minutes each. It did cut down on my on air time but with the
antenna not working it was a nice distraction.
Mark and I packed up around 23:30 UTC and hiked down the mountain. Then we
went for some pizza.
I had a great day being out on the AT with Mark. I enjoyed all the QSO's
with all the Polar Bears and non-Polar Bear. My count from the Appalachian
Trail places me at 935 QSO's to date.
Thanks for all the fun and hope to work many more in the PBMME 2008/2009
season. Please keep an ear out for me during the off polar Bear season for
me being out on the AT.
72 and Thanks,
Ron Polityka
WB3AAL
www.wb3aal.com
www.n3epa.org/
K1 - SN 01011
K2 - SN 01392
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