CAMPING AND QRP AT BIG MEADOW
07/03/03 TO 07/07/03
This year for our 4th of July camping trip we decided to make the trek to Big Meadow. This was my first time camping here. I almost didn't go as I had just returned from a 2 week business trip back East and was lacking the energy to pack and load all the gear and food. I'm glad that I found the energy as it turned out to be a fantastic place to camp.
Big Meadow is one of the camping areas located in the Sequoia National Forest just North and a bit East of the Lake Isabella/Kernville area. The drive up the mountain to the camp site is a dirt road, so make sure you are prepared for this. It could be messy in a car if it's been or is raining. The camp sites have no running water and there is only one out house that you have to walk a bit too, so bring lots of water, TP and a shovel. I prefer this kind of camping far away from civilization and normal amenities as you find very few people there. Also bring some bug spray as there are plenty of biting flies and mosquitoes. Ahhh...the great outdoors ;-) Weather was warm during the day and cool at night. We didn't have any rain during this outing. I'd suggest shorts during the day and warmer wear at night. As soon as the sun goes down it starts cooling off.
Upon arriving we got our camp site set up and I set up the antenna for the QRP part of the trip. The antenna on this trip was a Center Fed Zepp of about 100' of wire fed with about 40' of Radio Shack TV Twin Lead. I was able to get the antenna up about 35' (wish I'd brought more feedline! - mental note for next trip here!) although I could have easily got it up to 50'. The radio was the 4 band Elecraft K1 (serial# 1643) with built in ATU, and Noise Blanker. Here are a couple of shots of the setup:
Close up of the station. I used an old crate to set it on. Yes my fair skin needs a LOT of that #50 Sunblock at this altitude!
A wider view of the station...that's a comfortable chair ;-)
Here's a shot of the Zepp antenna...see how tall those trees are? Wish I had a couple at the home QTH!
Here's a shot of the small stream that I had to hop over to get to the station...and yes there are fish in there!
All in All, the bands seemed in only marginal shape, but the best DX was Bill KL7RHJ in Anchorage, AK! Thanks for pulling me through Bill! Another very notable QSO was Monty N5ESE on Lake Travis in Austin, TX with his AT Sprint on 20 Meters (that was a fun QSO Monty!) Most QSO's were in AZ or CA, but I had several good rag chews in there and had a lot of fun! I also checked into the Western States QRP Net on Saturday Morning. Jeff KN6YD was net control. Thanks to all of the stations that took the time to work me in the field!
Here's the complete Log:
07/03/03:
K6RXL Kevin - Phoenix, AZ - 20 Meters
W6BNB Bob - Sebastopol, CA - 40 Meters
07/04/03:
KB6FPW Mitch - San Jose, CA - 40 Meters
N6JUG/M Jim - San Francisco, CA - 40 Meters
N5ESE/P Monty - Lake Travis (Austin), TX - 20 Meters
07/05/03:
Western States QRP Net - 40 Meters
W7IX Ron - Klamath Falls, OR - 20 Meters
KL7RHJ Bill - Anchorage, AK - 20 Meters
WY7W Tom - Tucson, AZ - 15 Meters
AA6Q Ted - Scotts Valley, CA - 20 Meters
W5LJT Bill - Willis, TX - 20 Meters
WK6C Carmine - San Juan Capistrano, CA - 40 Meters
WA6NPC Bill - San Francisco, CA - 40 Meters
07/06/03:
W5TZR Ralph - Near Hemet, CA - 40 Meters
That was all the time I had for operating. Was a lot of fun!
Here are some other pictures of the area and camp site that I took:
Here's my fellow campers on this trip relaxing around the evening fire...
Here are a few of the Signs posted around the camp site and on the trails:
Here are a few shots of the landscape while we were hiking:
...And here's one last shot that I took on the way out at an overlook point that you can park at:
That's about it for this trip, so until next time 73's....