WB3AAL's April 21, 2001 Outing
on the AT off of Route 183.
I was using my Kenwood TS-50 into a MFJ tuner to the 133 foot doublet about 15 feet off the ground. The doublet was feed with 450 ohm ladder line. Power output was 5 watts.
Can you see the wire? What wire?
I woke around 5 AM and checked the weather channel for the local radar. The wx forecast was a chance of rain in the AM, clearing towards late morning. When I stepped outside my door it started to rain. I packed the car and took off hoping that the wx was clearer the farther north I traveled. I got to where Rte. 183 crossed over I-78. I decided to change my operating condition because the wx to the west looked better. When arriving at the Rte. 501 crossing of the AT it was still raining. I was going to operate from the car at this location, but the trees were too far from the parking lot to throw up my 133 foot doublet. So I decided to travel back to Rte 183 and operate from the cover of the forest.
When I arrived at my Rte. 183 location I found the road and trail dry. I hiked into the woods around 500 feet off the road traveling East on the AT. There is a bend in the trail where I can get this monstrous antenna up in the air. Just as I was getting my main support over a branch it started to rain. Fortunately I had a large plastic trash bag along to cover the radio. After 40 minutes of setting up my station I got on the air around 12:15 UTC and the rain stopped. I started out on 10 meters calling CQ on CW for 10 to 15 minutes. Then I went to 10 meter SSB and called out a few time. I heard Europe on 10 meters but I could not raise anyone. I figured it was too early. So I jumped up to 12 meters and then 15 meters. Working CW first and then SSB if the band allows the mode.
I worked 11 stations while I was on the air. I finally got to work into Europe from the AT on 15 meters. I worked OK1DN in Czech Republic, EA8AJW in Canary Islands and DJ9AP in Germany on 15 meters CW. That gives me three new countries from the AT.
I seen several hikers walking through the area. Three out of the four groups knew Amateur Radio! Wow, they were impressed that I was taking into Europe with low power.
While sitting there calling CQ on the bands I always like to look around and take in the surroundings. A large branch fell from the top of a tree around a hundred feet away, that is a little scary having branches falling around you. Then I spotted a group of 4, from what I can tell, Great Blue Herons flying north. Then I stared looking up and I was watching a migration. I would see a group of three to five herons flying directly over me at tree top level. Wow, this is what I like about the Great Outdoors!
I packed up around 16:30 UTC after I could not raise anyone on 40 meters. The Michigan QSO Party has just started, so I took this as a good sign to pack up and migrate south to my QTH. Just as I shut off the radio I felt a few sprinkles and I knew I had a Great Day on the Appalachian Trail.
72 Ron de WB3AAL
