I operated FOBB ’04 with an FT897 at 5 watts to a vertical antenna. My operating location was Usery Mountain Park, a county park to the east of Phoenix.

The location was great with nice mountain scenery and views to the horizon in the east and to the southwest. Unfortunately, I was blocked by a mountain on the north side, which was not ideal for the low radiation angle of the vertical.

I only managed to make 15 contacts during the event, but had lots of fun doing it. By the end of the event, static crashes were building up due to monsoon storms approaching from the east, so it was a good time to quit.

This was my first FOBB event and it was loads of fun. I’m looking forward to the next one.

Following are several views of the park:

http://www.fountainhillsguide.com/rec_hike_usery.html

http://www.arizonainformation.freeservers.com/desert.html

http://www.igougo.com/photogallery/displayFeaturePhoto.asp?ID=77946

http://www.igougo.com/photogallery/displayFeaturePhoto.asp?ID=77893

http://www.caliberdt.com/~bill/Arizona/UseryMerkle.htm
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John Leediker, W5EEX who was BB No. 97 in the 2004 Flight of the Bumblebees, is a QRPer and outdoorsman living in Phoenix, AZ.