[Fourlanders] W'OVING THE WINTER WALLOP

[Mike Wechsler]

WE WOVED' THE IN THE WEATHER WALLOP, W'EALLY!
 
Well, we had an adventure, and that's for sure.  We watched the weather
reports and that Sat morning it looked 
Like the first part of the afternoon would be rain and then turn bad
later that evening...opps, that was when we
Made the mistake...that was on the lowlands, not up on higher elevation,
Beech Mtn...we had decided
To start the contest there and then if it started snowing to leave and
go to Jonas ridge in EM95 off the Blue Ridge.
But it was unreal up on Beech when we got up there..rain was now ice and
snow and the wind was howling.
Got everything set up and ready to operate anyway...swr was out the
roof..ice all over the antennas. We could
Not go on under the ice conditions, and it was getting worse...so we had
to take down the antennas and go
Off the mountain..next, brilliant idea...lets stop in em96 near
Grandfather Mountain, it is on the way...
Ice, ice, ice again...what now you ask?
 
Drop back and punt...go to lower elevation and keep on trying..leave for
Abingdon, Va. And a site
That I have used near the interstate, not to hard to get to and I had
some good success there before.
I had gone there in past Jan contests because of weather conditions.  We
did well there and made about
60 contacts.  Wind got really bad for a while and the truck was rocking
from the gusts, probably 50mph.
Not much snow however we only had about 2 inches when we left, but it
was COLD.  That soup I brought
Really was good, I cooked it outside on my lilltle backpacking stove.
Inside the truck cover we were quite
Comfortable, Wayne had just insulated the cover and since he uses a
generator we had a little heater going.
Was it worth it..OH YES, we had such a great time, plenty of energy from
the "WINTER WALLOP" kept
Us energized and the local guys were an inspiration to hear and work.
Our little group here in ETenn were
Keeping us busy, and we even had microwave activity since Bill, WB4WEN
and Bunky, K4EJQ were giving
Out all their bands ..wish I had brought 2304 this trip.  Our 903 was
not working right.I could hear Bunky
But could not get anything out of transverter..could have had some 903
contacts from em96 if I knew what
The problem was.    I wish I had W4BCU there, he could have found the
problem.
 
One of the highlights of the night was working WB4IXU, John, with the
help of WA4QYK, Dave, on 1296.
Dave could hear is both and was a relay to help get us on the same
frequency..finally after 30 min the
Band came up enough for me to get all the calls and grid info from
John.....Thanks Guys!
 
Home and to bed about 1:30
 
Sunday.....I am slow...I am old......we don't get out until  10:30 or
so, but we did fix the 903
System, bad bnc cable coming off the transverter.  Stop for a biscuit
and off the Bean Station and 25E overlook.
Roads were clear with no snow and ice, no problems getting there, except
I always take the right turn instead
Of going straight..do it every time.  Wayne, sorry about that......note
for other rovers...Sunday
Would have been easy rove...don't give up even if Sat is not good condx.
 
We did well at this site, although we still had problems with 6mtr
Saturn omni, swr was high even after cleaning
All the connections .....problem was solved when we took out a short
piece of coax we had on there so we 
Could take the halo off when traveling..must have been bad or just the
wrong length, anyway the antenna did
Not like that coax.
 
Highlight of Sunday,  Em72, never worked that before, several 1296
contacts and even 903 contact with
Wb4ixu, John.  EM63, W4ZRZ on 2 and 432.  Hearing my friends from NC,
AF4HX, Larry, and John, KG4LEV
Using the call KI4GZD, sounded like they had a quite a group over for
the contest, Thanks guys!
Worked n2mko in EM85, he was using battery power and little 817 rig, 5w
and had good signal.  We hope
To encourage him to rove in june contest.  Working k4qi through all
bands 1296mhz.  Hearing K4FJW,
Say, "We have been looking for you guys"     Talking to WB4WEN about
microwave amplifiers.  Getting a 
Laugh out of W4HP.  Finding another rover for June's ROVER
PARTY..K4EPC/R.
 
Things learned this contest.  
Don't give up because of the weather, just change where you will set up.
Even marginal sites will give you
Lots of contacts and plenty of fun.  Stay near the interstate, they keep
it clear  most of the time. January
Will have bad weather but the extra effort to participate is well worth
it.  NO REGRETS HERE!
 
Rain in the valley, Ice and snow on the mountains.  Ice will not let
your antennas work right....bad news!
 
Have powerpoles on all your gear,  especially all rovers, everything
interchanges, easy to swap my radio for 
His.my keyer works in his rover.
 
Wear ski bibs..they kept my legs warm.  Hoods on a parka are wonderful
at keeping you warm.
 
THANKS:  To everyone who followed us around and were patient while we
moved the little groups through
The bands.  The cooperation and friendship was enjoyed so much.  The
slower pace of January contest
Is to be enjoyed like a fine "Mad Dog" wine.   <G>
 
THANKS: To my friend Wayne for letting me join him in January,  thanks
for your nice truck and nice little heater.
 
JUNE CONTEST......WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROVER PARTY!
 
Mike and Wayne.....dididahdidah