Snow Bound Antennas 

 

Often it's a real challenge to string antennas in the snow. This lead me to thinking about building something I could quickly assemble and stand up without the wading around in deep powder fishing wires in and out of trees. Weather had foiled our attempts to snow camp the night before 2008 FYBO so we used this time to build our 'FYBOpole'. I modeled this after the W3FF BuddiPole using some BuddiPole telescoping whips. Trying to keep weight to a minimum I used thin-wall PVC and made my coil supports from styrofoam. This design still needs some work but as I was about to find out it did solve the problem of quick setup times.

 

Rooster goat admiring my FYBOpole antenna installation

"No Rooster! It's NOT edible!"

 

FYBO 2008 ...BUSTED!

 

I awoke at 2:30AM thinking about FYBO and my new antenna I'd built just for this event. I couldn't sleep as I was so excited over testing this FYBOpole in the snow. So I got up, continued packing and got the goats ready. We left the house around five and drove to the trail head. After hiking to the top on Mt Herman in freezing darkness with my headlamp and  installing my new FYBOpole antenna I realized my poor goats buddies were shivering! Also my hands were getting numb! Not good signs!

 

Peanut goat quietly endures the freezing FYBO temps!

 

The rest of the story is best described in this short video clip on YouTube below.

 

 

Lessons Learned

 

When dealing with the outdoors and mother nature you've got to be prepaired and willing to except what she throws your way.  Especially when it comes to the weather. You may have noticed noticed my video (above) when I got to the top of the mountain I looked rather disoriented. This was simply from the lack of blood and oxygen getting to my brain. Since my blood was in high demand by my leg muscles for pumping my heavy pack up the steep grade. But something as simple as this can dramatically effect your ability to make rational decisions.  And ultimately can affect your survival if you were in a dire survival situation. Making a good decision requires clear thinking if at all possible!

 

Here's a simple lists of survival tips I 'try' to follow:

 

1. ALWAYS pack the "ten essentials" for your own outdoor survival! Don't depend on others to bail you out. Even if you're just going for a 'short' hike.
2. File a flight plan with a reliable friend or spouse and include when you're expected to return. Plan on it taking twice as long as you think it will.
3. Try NOT to let ego or pride sway your better judgement or it could become a suvival situation. Take your time to make rational decisions
4. Plan for the worst, expect the best and be ready to accept and deal with the unexpected.
5. Above all have FUN ...but be SAFE. There's always ANOTHER time and opportunity to have FUN but only ONE chance to avoid becoming a fatality!

          (unless you are a cat with 9-lives?)

 

Happy trails and QRPing 72 Steve/n0tu Rooster and Peanut

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/goatman/

 

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