From Mike K6AER
This years Field Day was so different from any thing I had ever
experienced in California. Friday evening we set up camp at a 4000 foot
mountain peak half way between Eugene and the coast.
East Prairie Peak had
atop a 2 acre clearing that must have been made by loggers 50 or more
years ago. Now only meadow flowers grew there. Just off the slope of the
mountain top clearing stood 120 foot trees as far as the eye could see.
To
the west was the Pacific and to the east 80 miles away are the Three
Sisters mountains with their glacier snows glowing orange against the
sunset.
Even for summer, the night time temperature dropped to about 40
degrees as the moist Pacific air moved inland forming cloud tops passing
over the ridge line.
I had set up the communication van with my TS-180S
Kenwood and a 4 element wide spaced 10 meter beam up at 60 feet.
Checking
out the system I worked a New Zealand and Chilean station.
Five by five
was the copy. All was perfect for Saturdays annual rite of passage. That's
as good as it gets.
As the final twinges of twilight disappeared at 10 PM,
we gathered around the campfire enjoying hot drinks and light
conversation.
The old wood fire crackled as the sparks rose into the full
moon sky. As far as the eye could see not a single manmade light was
visible. The warm fire glow on everyone's faces made it a magic moment.
We all wondered if any human or animal was watching from beyond the
darkened tree line.
We retired to our tents lulled to a deep sleep by the
rustling of trees in the coastal breeze.
The smell of bacon and eggs broke my sleep. It was Saturday morning and
the air was crisp with the smell of Douglas Fir. The camp fire survivors
stretched and scratched their way from sleep into morning business of
Field Day 1999.
By 10 AM all was ready. Then the propane generator
sputtered and died. The power source for half the expedition was in doubt.
For a half an hour all kinds of heads poked, prodded and adjusted until
the old generator showed us it needed its points filed.
Then the governor
placed a power surge on our mini grid and popped the power supply in the
20 and meter tent.
Repairs were made to the power supply and all was
ready at 1800 Zulu. CQ Field Day from W7UTC 6A Oregon was heard for the
next 24 hours. It was my 40th Field Day.
Mike K6AER
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