October – November 2006

On and off for a couple of years, I've searched for the "Indian Ledges." The cliffs feature 100-foot drops and superb views. The place is known to old-timers in Sanbornton, NH, but remained a mystery to me for more than 40 years. Dick Christopher, N1LT, and I discovered the elusive mountain and made what must be the first transatlantic radio contact ever from the place.

The ledges are several miles into the woods from the nearest road. A wrong turn could leave a hiker in the middle of nowhere . . . many times I had followed a trail only to take a wrong turn in the maze of old logging roads.

While looking for the peak earlier this week I met a local logger working in the woods. He said he'd been there almost 20 years ago, and he gave me directions.  So Dick and I packed our gear and started out with my dog Meghan.

It was one of those rare October days when the warmth of summer lingers, and the color and glory of fall radiates in sheer brilliance. This time, sure of the route, we set out with relaxed confidence. We dodged brambles, balanced carefully as we crossed brooks on ancient logs, and reveled at the sight of mammoth pine trees towering more than 100 feet high alongside the trail.

About a mile and a quarter into the woods, we started a very steep climb and knew our goal was near. Just as we were both feeling the exercise, we saw the top ahead. Huge rocks, outcroppings and boulders were everywhere. Giant trees adorned the cap. Soon we were gazing out upon a grand expanse of forest and gentle hillsides in fall gold.

We scouted the peak and picked out antenna trees. I chose an old pine near the edge of the cliffs. I threw a half-wave wire straight up over a branch. At the most, it was 15 degrees off vertical. Dick chose a pine farther away from the cliff. Even though his wire was about the same length as mine, his sloped at nearly 40 degrees. The difference between the two antennas was soon to become critical.

I chose 20 meters and in a minute was chatting with N4RLD near Atlanta. Rick had an awesome signal, way over S9. Turns out he was running a kilowatt. He gave me a 559 and said my 3 watts was peaking at 579. I was running an ATS-2 with a ZM-2 tuner.

Dick was having a harder time on 40 meters with very few strong signals and heavy static from an approaching thunderstorm. He was running an FT-817 with the Electraft T-1 tuner. So he switched to 20 meters and focused on EA6UN who was calling CQ from the Balaeric Islands.

Jurek could hear Dick's signal, but not well enough to get his call. So I gave him a try with my setup. Darned if he didn't answer and give me a 569 report. The only significant difference between Dick's setup and mine was the angle of radiation from the two antennas. What a difference a few degrees can make.

We spent more than an hour at the peak, and packed reluctantly for the return hike.

Part 2

This story has a sequel . . .

Not content to let the last glorious days of fall slip through our fingers, Dick and I went back up to the ledges four days after our first visit.

This time it was warmer (over 70 degrees) and the trees were nearly at peak color. The day was beyond belief and the bands were far, far better than they were on our first trip. We spent close to four hours at the site. Time and again we stood at the edge and gazed at the remarkable vista.

We set up a single antenna – a 65 foot wire configured as an L. The antenna went straight up 30 feet and over about 35 feet. Combined with the 817 and the T-1 tuner we made some gang-buster QSOs.

We worked easily into eastern Europe, hitting Russia, Ukraine and Hungary. Then we switched to 15 meters and worked into Uruguay with a 559 report from there.  Dick and I sat about 15 feet back from the drop-off and took turns operating.

The sun fell in the afternoon sky and we gathered our gear for the return trip. We were both keenly aware that our days of summer outings and expeditions would soon be over as well.