FYBO 2005 - Stumped in Idaho

Since FYBO began several years ago, I've been able to go out in the mountains near Moscow, Idaho, dig a snow pit, and have a great time. This year was different. We got some snow between Christmas and New Year's, but it melted around the second week of January. Even the mountains have little to no snow until you get above 5,000 feet or so.

With no snow deep enough to dig a pit, I opted for a bare forest ground FYBO. After a short drive and a shorter hike up a closed forest road, I found an area with a little space between the trees that looked good for operating. Up went the KX1's 28 foot long antenna and out went the 16 foot counterpoise wire. There was a tree stump about a foot high with a bit of a slope on one side. The KX1 fit it well.

Power from a 2 AHr gel cell, the KX1 paddle, and a Palm V running NK0E's GOLog and I was on the air in 20 minutes from leaving the truck.

The day was cloudy with a few snow squalls. The temperature didn't get more than a degree above or below 35 F. I managed 32 QSOs and 18 mults ranging from ON to AK. 40 m surprised me with the amount of activity from 10 am to 1 pm local time. I usually don't bother with 40 that time of day.

The highlight of the event was getting a call from KL7R in AK. That 28 foot antenna does better than I give it credit. Around 2 pm local time the power dropped to 2.5 w then to 2. A check of the battery voltage showed it was time to give the battery a rest and head for home.

Having the stump as a bit of a table sure made sitting on the ground more tolerable. No snow and a stump for a table will be my remembrance of FYBO 2005.