Quick QRP Trip to Knox Mountain
November 2012
This afternoon Hanz, W1JSB and I made a quick trip to
Knox Mountain. We operated for less than 10 minutes and
made one QSO each... with Spain and West Virginia.
Then we headed home. Hanz caught a shot of me on the
bridge. You've got to be careful where you step because
there are some large holes that go straight through.
![](jim.jpg)
We didn't get started until after two and already the sun was
low. The temperature was in the mid-40s. We hiked along the
brook toward the north and east.
![](brook.jpg)
About a quarter of a mile from the cabin, we jumped across
some rocks because the old bridge at that end is gone. It's
always a treat to catch a glimpse of the pond and the cabin on
the opposite shore.
![](pond.jpg)
We arrived a little before 3:00 pm. I tossed a line over a 40 foot
branch on the old
cherry tree at the edge of the pond. I hauled up a 33 foot wire to
use on 20 meters.
I sat right under the branch so the wire would be vertical. I used
the Elecraft T-1 tuner
and connected the ATS-4. I powered the rig with 8 AA cells. We were
putting out
about 4 watts. As soon as I turned on the rig I heard EA3DD calling
CQ. Manu in Spain
came right back to me. We completed a quick exchange. I was 559, he
was 599.
I was ecstatic at such a quick contact. Then I handed the Palm
Paddle and the earphones
to Hanz.
![](hanz.jpg)
In less than a minute he answered a CQ sent by W8PBO in West
Virginia. Art gave Hanz a
569 and he was 599. They chatted for a couple of minutes and signed.
We packed up. Already
the temperature had dropped almost 5 degrees.