[AK-VHF] AK rove

[Ken K]

Hi Brandon, Just saw the threads with you,Ed, Shannon, etc. so thought I'd add my 2 cents. In 2010 and 2011, I roved for the January VHF contests, from Homer to Fairbanks. By far, most of the weekend activity was from Ed and the VHF-Up group. Things really quieted down as I drove north from Willow Saturday night. There were 5 or 6 hams in Healy, where I lived at the time, so I worked them on my way north to Fairbanks Sun morning. Larry/Two Rivers Contest Club KL2R in Fairbanks followed me through BP53, BP54, BP64 and BP65. It was ALOT of driving for a few contacts north of BP51.  The hams in Healy have all left, and I don't know what the local VHF activity is here in Fbks now during VHF contests. So I'd agree that your best bet for maximum activity is to stay south. 
Roving suggestions: As Ed mentioned, Diamond Ridge Road north of Homer was a good spot. In addition to BP40, I worked BO37 (Kodiak Island) from there. Just as you cross into BP50 from BP40, stop at the Russian River campground. Lots of terrain, but  Ed, Tom NL7OW, and Mike KL6M in Anchorage (SSB) found me there. In Anchorage: if you drive out to Kincaid Park at the very end of Raspberry Road, you're in BP41.  If you drive up to Talkeetna, slightly higher elevation just to the east of town. Find the gravel roads on GE; you should be able to work from both BP42 and BP52 there.
Also saw your SOTA comments. For the 2016 Fall VHF contest, I hiked up the Little Coal Creek trail in Denali State Park up to the Kesugi Ridge. About a 10 mile roundtrip, but the scenery on a sunny fall day (Denali and the entire Alaska Range) was fantastic. I hauled up an Icom 706MKIIg, as well as a small yagi and portable mast for 144 & 432, and a 6 m dipole. Imagine my wife's surprise when we got to the top and I pulled a 12v gel cell out of her backpack....Up there I worked Ed, Mike and a few others. Unfortunately, by the time we got to the ridge, it was 2-3 pm, so alot of guys had already signed off. Next time, I'd leave earlier or hike up Friday night.  I'd definitely recommend that hike for a contest (if the WX is good). 
The June contest is tough; people are out fishing, camping, etc. Sept contest competes with moose season and football. January is January.... The trick is to let everyone know and post your schedule. SSB/CW are helpful once you're out of town in terrain. I've gone down to the Pacific Northwest to do 2 Sept roves with my brother Tim AL1VE. LOTS more action, more intense. But the fun part about VHF contests in Alaska is being able to have a QSO, not just a contact. Ed, Mike, Tom, Larry, and a few others really made the efforts worthwhile.
GL, and keep us posted as your plans develop.
73,KenNL7B