Fall ARCI in New Hampshire

by Jim Cluett W1PID

 

I'm not sure how it happened... but the Fall ARCI

contest fell right at the peak of the foliage season

in Central New Hampshire. It was an astounding

weekend. Shimmering golds, brilliant oranges,

and sunlight filtering through the entire magic show.

 

I hiked both days of the contest and operated portable

for a total of about 2 and half hours. The first day

I headed up to the cabin at Knox Mountain. You can

see pictures of the spot in the articles section at

http://www.w1pid.com.

 

On Sunday I hiked about a mile up an old range road

off Hunkins Pond in Sanbornton.

 

 

 

There were stone walls on either side of the laneway.

Off to the right is a 15 acre hay field where I operated.

 

 

The view from my operating position was fantastic. In

the background is the Belknap range. All the woods

between the fields and the mountains were aflame

with fall color.

 

I used a simple 28 foot wire thrown over a tree branch

so that it dropped vertically to my backback and tuner.

Below is a picture of my antenna tree!

 

 

The operation was simple. I used the FT-817 with

a li-po laptop battery. I tuned the wire with the

Elecraft T-1. I made about 15 QSOs from both

remote locations. I operated on both 20 and 40

meters. Some of the more notable QRP stations

worked from the field were W0RSP in SD, W7CNL

in ID, N0UR in MN, W2KJ in NC. I also worked  W1BSA

running a JOTA station in Massachusetts. And

there were a number of German stations from the DL

contest as well as a bunch of Illinois stations

in their QSO party.

 

I don't know how things were in other parts of the country,

but it couldn't have been a better QRP event in New

Hampshire. Thanks to all for the fun!

 

73, Jim W1PID