[COham] w0rw on Pikes Peak, 29 May 2013, 1530z, 14061.5‏

[Paul Signorelli]

w0rw/pm on the "Purple Mountain's Majesty". 
Date: 29 May 2013, Wednesday. 
Type of Operation:  Pedestrian Mobile,   
Call Sign: w0rw/pm,     
Operator: Paul,  

CW operation -  
14061.5 kHz: 1530z (1130 EDT), Alternate 14062.5 kHz. 

Operating schedule: i will not be operating for more than a few hours on top, then i must descent to Glen Cove (11,500 feet) for resuscitation in the warming hut. Glen Cove arrival around 1900z, w0rw/GC. You can see a picture of me at Glen Cove at <http://www.qrz.com/db/W0RW>. That is where they keep the 5 foot Oshkosh Snow Blowers. 

Location: Pikes Peak.  
State: Colorado.
County: El Paso. 
Nearest City: Colorado Springs. 
Elevation:  14,115 Feet, (4302 Meters).

SOTA Number: W0/FR-005. 

Weather:  You can see the summit weather station and Pikes Peak cam at <http://www.cograilway.com/Summit/WeatheratSummitB.htm>.
Web Cam: I will be operating in the view of the Pikes Peak Panoramic Cam, North East View.You can see me at : <http://www.springsgov.com/units/pikespeak/cam7.asp>.If you are 'Really Watching' me on this cam please send  'QRW'.I won't be hiking around very much so I can stay in view of the camera.Even if there is no propagation to your location, you can still watch me operating. If you want to see all the Pikes Peak Highway pictures go to:<http://www.pikespeak.us.com/Activities/drive-to-the-summit.html>.
Equipment: PRC319 Military Backpack Radio,
See more pictures at <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prc319/>  
   This is a fixed frequency radio, and i can't QSY when it is on my back. 
You have to closely zero beat me (QNZ) or i won't hear you.
The radio weighs about 25 pounds with a 14 cell LiIon battery pack.
Power: 50 W,
Antenna: 10 foot center loaded foot whip, with quarter wave shorted stub counterpoise.

Propagation Beacons: Check WWV on 15 MHz for propagation to CO. I will be 5 'S' units weaker.
Ground Wave: i will be Line of Sight to Denver, WY, KS, OK & NM.

Base Camp Intercom: 146.520.
Degree of Difficulty: If this was easy, i wouldn't do it. QRM, QRN, QSB, QSA1, QRP, Nets, Contests, QLF,  etc.
TMI TMI .... Too Much Information ? Read on...Hazards: Thin Air, Sun Burn,  Frostbite, Crevasse, Caissons disease (<http://www.altitude.org/altitude_sickness.php>),  Precipitation Static, Saint Elmo's Fire, 1500 foot drop-offs,Thunder Storms with millions of ionized particles rushing up the hill trying to charge my antenna and discharge through my body to ground ; but no rattlesnakes, mosquitoes or guard rails above tree line.  
This is a very hazardous pedestrian mobile operating site. 
  Check out the crash that happened during the race last year.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WisYeUAdeUA>
If you a little too fast, zip... right over the edge.

High Altitudes have some additional challenges for radio operation:
1. There is 50% less air to breath at this altitude than at sea level, Got Oxygen? 
The trick to high altitude breathing is not to breath twice as fast but to just
to expel more CO2 than normal when you exhale.
2. Equipment that is air cooled needs to have twice the air flow for the same cooling effect as at sea level. My radio is convection cooled, it just keeps my back warm.
3. HV Arc resistance is reduced; For example, a 10 mil air gap will withstand 1500V at sea level but only 750V at 14,000 feet.
My radio (PRC319) is a sealed and water proofso it doesn't have any high altitude issues. 
When the case seal is good the rubber key pad buttons bulge out.4. Last time i was up here i had to rescue the Pikes Peak Ranger Truck with my Subaru, he got stuck in the snow.
Get your 'Pedestrian Mobile Handbook'  at: 
<http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/amateur-radio-pedestrian-mobile-handbook/16364181>
or the 'W0RW/pm 2011 Article Collection' at:
<http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/the-w0rwpm-2011-article-collection/11145788>
a Pikes Peak QSL Card is available or you can make your own QSL card from your web cam screen shot.
Paul  w0rw, 
Box 6069, Colorado Springs, CO  80934