My operating station looking from the direction of the vertical antenna. I still have a few hours to relax before everything starts. The very first station I worked when the contest started was in Hawaii. I worked him and a few others on 10 meters, but as I suspected, there was very little activity as solar conditions were poor. I quickly moved to 15 meters then 20 meters.

This is your finally movie. I made it at about 10:30pm. The temperature at high elevations drops very quickly as there is no humidity and little atmosphere to retain the heat. I'm already wearing my thickest long johns (top and bottom), two pairs of pants, a flanel shirt, sweat shirt, jacket, full ski mask (pulled down so I can talk), and a beanie on top of it. I have my 80 oz of hot chocolate at hand and I'm actually quite comfortable. The extreme level of layering is required because I am completely inactive. Aside from changing frequencies and logging contacts on my computer, I'm not moving at all.

In the end, the batteries out lasted me. Around 3:30am, I was getting tired and my QSO rate was dropping rapidly. I decided to hit the hay until 7am when I'd rearrange the solar panels to catch the morning sun.

The next morning the batteries started charging at over 20 amps (the controller was reading about 31 amps, but my laptop and radio in receive were pulling close to 10 amps). By the time I stopped, I had worked stations as far away as Thailand. I also worked the South Cook Islands and Guam. As I mentioned earlier, this event is mostly attended by American's and Canadians. The reason is that we, until recently, lived in a non-socialist country where you are not monitored, tracked and harrassed by your government. Unfortunately most hams in foreign countries are not so lucky. Your radio license in those countries is for your station address (home) only. If you pick up your radio and operate from elsewhere in these countries you will be promptly arrested. So it isn't quite as much fun for them to operate this type of camp out with your buddies event from home.

My final QSO count was 401 contacts. By the time I broke down my equipment and packed the car, the two huge solar panels had fully charged the batteries (my car certainly would not have started early Sunday). I made a controlled exit and stopped in Walker for a Walkerburger!

Have a strong competitive personality? Like to build things? Think you got what it takes to endure extreme conditions in the name of emergency preparedness? There's always next year. Field Day is ALWAYS the last weekend in June. Call me - LOL.

Why is my girlfriend the toughest man I know?
Mike
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