Backpacking & Playing Radio

Just back from a nice overnighter on the Tuxachanie Trail.  I'm still letting a cup of coffee settle in and revive the extremities before I start unpacking, but here are a couple of key pictures:


The first shows the campsite (north side of the lake at the POW Camp, well back in the woods; tent on left, ham radio gear on right), while the second shows the ham shack after being moved inside, after dark.

Here are some highlights:

• got the pack weight down to 38 lbs, made a big difference re last trip's 43 lbs.  More to lose though.
• The LNR EFT-10/20/40 antenna was strung out horizontally at about 5 feet between several bushes.  It tuned well – perhaps well enough to ditch the tuner – and performed admirably in this configuration.  For example, talked to a guy in California on 20 meters using a measly 5 Watts.
• There was a ham contest going on this weekend, with all of the usual meaninglessness.  While seemingly a good way to make contacts, it was too easy for a QRP signal to get lost in the kilowatt pile-ups and a net detriment to QSO count.
• When I'd had enough of that, I finished re-reading Santiago while listening to an Art Bell re-run in the background.  The FT-817nd did a good job of pulling WHAS's AM signal out out of the murk.
• The hike back went quickly, taking only 3 hours.  I attribute it to the lighter pack.
• Remember to remove eyeglasses from tent pocket before rolling and stowing in pack.
• While this was a well-spent trip, fundamentally I am a mountain biker, not a backpacker.  Things are warming up now, and I'll make a few more backpacking trips next winter, but it's time to get back on the MTB and get some breeze through my ripped jersey.
• More notes & details to come.

ps: Post-unpacking highlights:

• Sorting through miscellaneous crap I hauled and didn't use, some weight improvement is possible:
• Sans FT-817nd, there's every hope to get the loaded weight below 30 lbs.
• With the FT-817nd, there's every hope to get the weight below 35 lbs.
• The eyeglasses survived the tent roll-up without trauma!  Wonders never cease.