[TowerTalk] Rugged Terrain Low Yagi Supports

[K6VVA]

I am seeking ideas for several makeshift, temporary fixed yagi supports to 
be used in a very inaccessible rugged terrain location to be hopefully used 
for domestic contests.

Today I picked up the new .38 Special revolver (for 
snakeshot/rattlesnakes).  On the other hip will be my .40 caliber automatic 
(for mountain lions).  This place is NOT the Marriott or Hilton, and at 62, 
having to step outside any vehicle at night to refuel a generator up there 
isn't too appealing!  But trying to Contest from this "RF-Hole" (W6SC's 
term) with an A3 on a 30ft slip-up mast just doesn't cut it anymore.

With a bit of costly grading to a steep, winding road, I will have access 
(wet weather questionable) via Kubota, Rhino or Mule (quite an appropriate 
name :-)   I can forget cement trucks, cranes, etc., and must figure on up 
to at least 70MPH winds up there during the winter.

Due to the steep terrain and slope, HFTA suggests I only need the yagis 
about 25ft off the ground, which would be slightly down from the ridge 
line.  From the stuff I've been collecting, I'll probably use a 204BA (4el 
20m), F12 EF-415 (4el 15m) and Cushcraft Skywalker (4el 10m).  I've been 
configuring all my SO2R setup for portable use, but there is a remote (pun) 
possibility of being able to turn this into a "remote" station site with a 
short low-latency hop here to the house using some new whiz-bang 
point-to-point gear.  Taking this approach (especially for high-power) will 
require some serious solar/wind/battery storage investment, so doing a 
makeshift initial "test" of the site seems to make sense.  The electric 
company quoted $70,000 to run A/C up there, which I figure would end up 
being $100,000 when all is said and done.  That ain't in the budget for 
this project.

The costly AB-577's are rare as hen's teeth (I do have one on the ground 
here), so I was wondering if those used 1 & 7/8" (or so) diameter 4 foot 
military mast sections would be sufficient per antenna at 25ft AGL 
(obviously, I am not an Engineer).  These would also require guying, which 
is going to be a challenge due to the steep terrain downhill.

I don't know if maybe some AB-577 larger diameter sections could be coupled 
together and somehow hoisted (extra manpower) into place *without* using 
the infamous Rocket Launcher part of the whole system.  Maybe there is a 
way to creatively use the muscle power of a small tractor to help lift 
something into place.  If the AB-577 could support a C31-XR, I have a used 
one of those on the ground here, but am concerned about SO2R interaction 
with an amp using one yagi.  It's all speculation at this point, which is 
why I'm seeking options.

If the site proves beneficial after numerous on-air comparison tests (maybe 
even with one A3 for starters), I could hire a group of Coolies or cement 
bag and water carriers with shovels to possibly get some bases done for 
several low-height Trylon Tower "Kits".  In any event, everything must be 
painted green (super-stealth).  For the time being it will be wires on 
40/80m, but the 4ft military mast sections should work OK for these.

One additional thought I had is if the types of light pole supports 
normally found in shopping centers might be able to handle the yagi 
windloads.  I've seen "boring" widgets attached to tractors, and if holes 
could be dug deep enough, I could have the poles brought up and dropped in 
by helicopter (make that COSTLY helicopter...probably the one K9AJ and I 
hired to haul equipment items for the FWS to The Farallon Islands IOTA 
NA-178 last February :-)

ANY ideas/options are welcomed.

Tnx very much & 73...

Rick, K6VVA