September 2006

After studying the topographic maps of the local mountains, this Bee chose a destination that required a drive, a ride on a ski lift, and a hike. It sure would have been easier to fly!

The drive up to the Mt. Baldy Ski area, 40 miles east of Los Angeles, got me up to about 6,500 ft. elevation. The ski lift took me up to 7,600 ft., and then the hike got me the rest of the way, ending at a spot just shy of 8,000 ft. From this location I could launch radio waves over the mountains, rather than through the mountains like I have to do from home.

The weather during the week just preceding the BB was awful, with temperatures peaking at 114 F in my fair city. We had been praying for some relief, so you can imagine my surprise when I took off Saturday morning and encountered fog and drizzle!

Hoping this was just a function of what the SoCal weather people call the "Marine Layer" I pressed onward up the mountain. Fortunately, the clouds started parting at about 5,000 ft., and at the ski lift parking lot it was clear. Riding up the lift, it occurred to me that this was what it was like to be a Bumble Bee, buzzing along amongst the treetops. Well, you had to bee there.

Safely above the marine layer, it was a gorgeous day, blue skies and 68 degrees.

I was expecting lots of 60- and 70-foot pine trees at the spot I had chosen. It turns our here were plenty of trees, but this place must be a wind tunnel most days of the year because all of the trees were about 12 to 15 feet tall, their tops missing and all of their branches headed east.

So the dipole didn't get up very high off the ground. At least the view from up there was great. I was looking out over the Mojave Desert to the Northeast, and could keep an eye on that marine layer, which worked its way up towards me all day.

My radio gear consisted of a KX1 into a 44' dipole not very high off the ground, and a Poqet PC for logging.

I spent most of the day on 20 meters, where the bulk of the action was. Signals were not especially loud, yet I was able to work everyone I heard. But somehow it just didn't feel quite right. Have you ever had days like that?

The hard part is that you never really know if it's your antenna or the band, but I feel I certainly could have done better with the antenna higher off the ground. At the end of the contest I had worked 44 Qs and 29 BBs. And I had much better weather than my XYL, who was down the hill, swimming around in that marine layer.

A good part of the fun of the BB is in the journey, and I'm already planning next year's. Thanks to the ARS for a very excellent reason for an adventure.

* * * * * * * * * *
Cam Hartford, N6GA, a veteran QRPer, outdoors operator and builder who lives in Claremont, CA, is a contributing editor to The ARS Sojourner and longtime member of the Adventure Radio Society.