[VHFcontesting] Mount Moosilaukee removal

[Bill Olson]

Howard and all, Mount Aggie was the site of my first multi-op VHF contest operation. In 1961, K1NTC, K1KOB and I hauled Gooneyboxes for 6 and 2 meters up there on a toboggan for the January contest. K1KOB, Lucky, was 16 and could drive (Curt and I were younger - not sure why my parents let me do this!) we parked at the base of the hill where the snow plowing stopped and dragged the gear up maybe 2 loads?. We set up in one of the old military buildings that was left over from WW2. (they had a submarine spotting station up there as I remember). We were in a corner of an old cinderblock building that still had some roof on it and built a fire in the corner to keep warm (not kidding!). We had a 3 element beam, Armstrong rotated on 6 and maybe 5 elements on 2. Generator borrowed from Portsmouth NH civil defense (I think the Gonsets came from there too).

I think we made something like 70-80 contacts in 8 or 9 sections on the 2 bands. There was an ice storm overnight and the antennas got coated and were pretty useless until we realized we could lower them down and knock the ice off. Got a writeup and our picture in QST too!

I've thought of going back up there with a rover station from time to time.. What's a QR code?? hah hah.. progress I guess.. it is a beautiful view from up there..

bill, k1DY
________________________________
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+callbill=hotmail.com at contesting.com> on behalf of Howard Reynolds <wa3eoq at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 3:18 PM
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Mount Moosilaukee removal

That can't be any worse than what York County, ME did to Mt. Agamenticus.
W1DC/1 from the top of that mountain (1200 Radio Club out of Waltham, MA)
was my first 2m Maine contact back in 1970 using a Heathkit Twoer from a
fire tower in Maryland.  My wife half grew up in Maine and had been to the
top of Mt. A long before I got there.  It was always free and we even threw
in donations to keep it going.  Now, York County, in their infinite wisdom,
built a pay parking lot at the bottom and placed No Parking signs all along
the access road so you have to use their pay lots.  Plus parking at the
bottom or top, requires you to be able to use QR codes to pay.  End of
soapbox.

After a two week absence which, unfortunately, included last week's 222
Sprint, it was good to be back on the 222 Activity Night.  I was greeted
with poor to nominal conditions, but was still able to work the usual
stations.  Since I was in Portugal and Spain, I even missed the eclipse,
but the trip was worth it - hi. WA3EOQ
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