XARC 2002 annual foxhunt
To: [email protected]
From: "Robert Karz"
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 23:54:34 -0400
Subject: [xarc] Fox Hunt Report
The seventh annual XARC Fox Hunt is now history and it was
the best
ever. It was won by the team of Judy Stonehill (N2KXS) and Fred
Miller (WO2P)
in a time of 1 hour and 30 minutes followed close behind by Pete
Fournia
(W2SKY) and Carol Fournia (KC2FUI). Third Place was claimed by
Jon Dickason
(N2JAC) and Bob Scott (unlicensed) with a time of 1 hour and 35
minutes. We
had a record 9 teams entered, and all but one found the fox within
3 hours.
The only team not finding the fox had battery problems.
The weather was perfect (sunny and '60's) and the fox location
was a
little more challenging than usual. The hunt began at the Ellison
Park
Landing Road with bagels and cream cheese courtesy of Ned Asam,
KC2FLM. After
a group picture (soon to be posted to the web site), the hunt
was under
way.
As hunt masters we (Bob Karz - K2OID and Doc Weinberg - WA6UCY))
tried
to find a more challenging location for the fox this year, recognizing
the
growing skill of the hunters. The fox was placed in Irondequoit
Bay
Park high on a bluff along the eastern shore of the bay. The idea
was that
signals would be ducted south along the bay and into the Irondequoit
valley to Ellison Park. From the starting point, the signals appeared
to come
from the middle of the bay. Another advantage of the start was
that it was
along the west side of the valley. Vehicles exiting the parking
lot and
heading north (right) would find themselves on the wrong side
of the
bay......indeed, 8 of the 9 teams did. There is another park on
the
west side of the bay, and as hoped, at least one team ended up
there.
The shortest route to the fox was to go north along Creek Street
leading to the eastern side of the bay, but because the fox was
below the top of
the bluff, this approach puts a lot of earth between the hunter
and the
fox, and the signal actually gets weaker as the hunter gets closer.
Sure
enough, the one team to head up Creek Street lost confidence and
turned back.
Eventually everyone ended up at the right park.
The Irondequoit Bay Park has a single "entrance"
(although apparently
at least one team found another way in). The idea was that teams
would be
running in to each other in the relatively confined area, and
that did
in fact happen. The park has many hills and valleys to reflect
signals,
confounding close-in hunting. Here signals tend to get stronger
as you
move up hill, even if its the wrong hill, and sure enough, at
least one team
went up the wrong hill. Finally, there was the bluff. The fox
was
positioned about 50 feet above the main trail with a barely noticeable
deer trail
leading to it. We wanted the hunters to mistrust their readings
because there was no way we could have gotten the fox up there.....but
we did.
Those hunters approaching the fox from above the bluff would encounter
lots of brush, and a few hunters did that too.
The result was a challenging hunt. The fact that, excepting
battery
problems, everyone found the fox is a testament to the skill of
the
hunters.
After the hunt, we all gathered at the Bay Towne MacDonalds
to present
awards and share stories. Certificates of participation have since
been prepared for all participants who did not receive awards
Saturday.
This was a change from the planned stop at Golden Boys Restaurant.
For future
hunts, we recommend a meeting place be announced after the hunt
is underway.
This will allow the hunt masters to be close enough to control
the fox (it
has a radio link) while not giving away the fox's general location.
The next hunt will be run by Fred Miller (WO2P) and Judy Stonehill
(N2KXS) and will be in Wayne County. People seemed to enjoy this
hunt so much,
we may change the schedule from annual to both spring and fall.
We took about 20 pictures which we will post ot the club website
once
they are developed (I don't yet have a digital camera).
If you participated in the hunt, you know how much fun they
can be. If
not, we hope to see you at the next one.
Your hunt masters certainly enjoyed setting it up.
73,
Bob Karz, K2OID and Doc Weinberg, WA6UCY
The order of finish was:
Team 1: N2KXS and WO2P, 1 hour 30 minutes
Team 2: W2SKY and KC2FUI, 1 hour 30 minutes
Team 3: N2JAC and Greg 1 hour 35 minutes
Team 4: KC2HBW, KB1ENW, and KC2FQD 1 hour 45 minutes
Team 5: K2AS and Greg Donovan 1 hour 48 minutes
Team 6: W2JMR and Sharon Randall 2 hours 46 minutes
Team 7: W3MUD, W2SAX, and Art 2 hours 50 minutes
Team 8: Ned Asam and Gregory Asam 2 hours 52 minutes
Team 9: KB0WJO and Jena found park but had battery problems
