[VHFcontesting] June VHF Contest

[Dexter McIntyre W4DEX]

Howard,

Sorry to hear that Mt. Mitchell has now added you to it's casualty 
list.  Over the years I've heard lot's of war stories about operating 
from Mitchell.  I suspect it was beautiful there on Sunday.  Sure would 
liked to have worked you, especially on some of the microwave bands.

Dex

Howard W3CQH wrote:
> WHAT A BUMMER!
>
> Made all the arrangements, got the permits, got all the gear together & 
> tested, drove 11 hours down, like 15 hours back, from EM85wx Mt. Mitchell, 
> NC.
>
> We left around 1 am on Friday morning from the Rockville (FM19) area with 5 
> aboard the van; ONLY 2 were drivers and neither one of us had much sleep 
> during the day..
>
> Got to Mt Mitchell around 12noon (spent about 2 hrs on the road for pit 
> stops, food & Ice shopping for the 100 qt cooler and of course the never 
> forgetting HIGH priced petrol for the van tank and generator).
> Started the set up and finished about 8pm.  Of course that also included 
> lunch and dinner.
>
> For chagrins, I cranked up the 6m station, (we were able to install the 6m 
> antenna 150ft away from the rest of the stack), and I worked a few stations 
> on double hop.  It was great to see 6m open again and was hopping the 
> opening would extend thru the contest period.
> I am guessing for some it did!
>
> 2 MINUTES before the start of the contest, the HEAVENS OPENED!  And it was 
> MISERABLE! The lightning and thunder danced all around and over us! The RAIN 
> fell straight down, at a 45 degree angle, and at a 90 degree angle from top 
> center, and the wind was gusting around 40- 50 mph, the FOG swept in and we 
> couldn't see 15ft in front of us, from 2pm till about 6pm.  We were able to 
> get the gear under plastic protection, then We got the CHANGED WX report 
> that we were gonna get this garbage (100 percent chance) through out the 
> weekend, and decided to tear it all down and GO HOME!  At 9:30pm we finished 
> packing it all up and left! We were all cold and soaked to the bone, even 
> though we had rain gear.
>
> We made a total of 4 contacts on FM via a 5w HT to the locals on 146.55.
>
> WHAT A BUMMER FOR A FATHERS DAY GIFT! 
>
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