FYBO 2009 - Under the Back Deck @ Home

All energized and fired-up, I got up at 4:30 am and headed for my favorite FYBO location near Elk River, ID in the forest about 50 miles from Moscow. There was a bit of freezing drizzle the night before so the road was a bit icy especially in the dark. I arrived about 6:30, but RATS!, the turnout to the parking area had not been cleared of snow and there was a six foot berm of ice and snow at the edge of the road. I guess that plowing the entrance to this former cross-country ski trailhead was a victim of budget cuts. On to Plan B, which was to go back home and operate from under the back deck using the Force 12 C4SXL at 60 feet.

Back at the house I set up the K2 and was on the air by 1630Z. First contact was with Ron, WB3AAL, who gave out a 20 F temperature. The first hour resulted in 10 QSOs with the usual QRP suspects. I did stumble a bit on Martin's CF prefix rather than the usual VE one.

With a temperature of 35 to 38 F, I got the good 4 x mult. By the time 20 m got thin and I got cold toes about 2200Z, I had 50 Qs from 24 SPCs in the log. Rapid and deep fading was the order of the day. Some stations started out S9 only to fade to gone at the end of the exchange. Most noteable in this category was Jim, N5IB, from whom I never did get his temperature. Last QSO was with JA1KGW.

There were three folks, down from last year, who beat my 35 to 38 temperature. The ones who reported below freezing were

• • CF3RCS Martin 15 F

  • W1PID Jim 25 F

  • W1FMR Jim 25 F

  • WB3AAL Ron 29 F

The equipment I used was a K2s at 5 w powered by a 12 AHr battery, and a Force 12 C4SXL at 60 feet. I used a pilot's kneeboard for logging, did a manual dupesheet, and sent all the exchanges by hand. Good technology for cool weather. In honor of the Peter I Island DXpedition, I wore my 3Y0X cap and the trusy penguin from last year umpired the entire operation.

An enjoyable day even if I didn't get to sit in the snow.