HAMS WITH AN ALTITUDE

 

 

By Russ Carpenter, AA7QU

Cofounder, The Adventure Radio Society

 

Imagine this. . .

 

Three hams have decided to try something different for Field Day--hiking into back country of Colorado, as high as the snow will allow. Their research shows that 12,000 feet is about the maximum attainable altitude for the last weekend of June. They choose Scarp Ridge in Western Colorado. Scarp is a brute, with a sheer cliff to the east, and steeply sloping ground to the west.

 

 

On Friday the team launches the expedition. The first 1,000 feet of elevation gain turn out to be the exact zone in which the 1999 crop of mosquitoes is hatching. The team staggers, but perseveres. The second 1,000 feet meander across squishy snow fields, sucking the hikers down to their knees with every step.

 

On top, there seems to be no space for a tent. The team finds several relatively subdued patches of jumbled stones and puts up imitations of shelter. Friday night passes slowly, as the team members wriggle on the rocks, searching for somewhat less uncomfortable spots.

 

 

Early Saturday morning a storm attaches itself to Scarp Ridge, and the team finds itself in whiteout conditions. Suddenly, there are only three things in the hams' alpine world--snow, sleet, and wind.

 

 

The team manages to get an antenna in the air. They stay up all night, fighting for each contact. Exhaustion overtakes them. The storm never abates.

 

Every one of these nasty things could have happened. None of them did. In reality, the expedition to Scarp Ridge undertaken by K6SDI, K6UNO, and AA7QU was virtually perfect.

 

 

A stiff but exhilarating hike. Firm snow. No bugs. Great weather. Astonishing views. Pretty good tent sites. A five watt radio that performed like a kilowatt. A full night's sleep (well, almost). And perhaps most importantly, two horses, belonging to K6SDI, that schlepped all the heavy stuff to the top. Does it get any better than this?

 

 

For some soul stirring vistas, take a look at the scrapbook:

 

 

Camp Heaven

 

 

 

Hams at the edge of a truly big cliff

 

 

 

The trusty inverted V, ready to launch killer signals, enhanced by steep terrain

 

 

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Russ Carpenter, AA7QU, is cofounder of the Adventure Radio Society. He lives on the McKenzie River, Oregon, and will use practically any excuse to get into the outdoors. russ@natworld.com

 

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