[DX] VP8THU video

[Steven Wheatley KU9C]

Charles,

It's true that many DXpeditions can be classified as you have essentially
stated it.  My experiences going to XX9, VS6, and most of the Caribbean fall
into your definition.  And, generally, I ran into dog poop as the biggest
risk, not penguin poop.   But, these are not nearly as rare as VP8.  And all
have large airports, landing strips, and great infrastructure.

So, yep, I was a tourist with a ham radio, more or less.

I have a video of the PW0S landing, which appears to be similar to the
landing at VP8.  If you are telling me those guys are not putting their
lives at risk, you've got very rose colored glasses on.  See any hospitals?
Maybe a  doctor on the team.  Airlift, medi-vac, forget it!

Ask the ZL9CI guys, that spent a month in a boat anchored each night for a
month to give us that new one.  They were eager to go, they had the times of
their lives.  It was a choice, no doubt, but one that was not without some
serious soul searching, and a very supportive family.  IF you've gotten this
far, I'd ask any reader to go tell their family, hey, I'm flying to New
Zealand, going to play radio for a few months.....oh, and I'm going to pull
a substantial amount from the bank account to go do it.  See what kind of
dog house that puts you in.

I don't think there is pity required.  I do think there is a heluva lot of
respect, awe, and yes, financial support that is due....and I think each of
us ought to see what we can do in these categories, and others that I've
probably forgot.  Not everyone can put up the money, but to downplay what
many of the rarer operations go thru to bring that new one to our walls, and
our DXCC certificates....is unfair.  We need to support these folks any way
we can.  I get really discouraged when someone sitting in their warm shack
criticizing someone that goes to a strange place to give us a new counter..

If you don't have BS7H, as an example, I hope you don't turn the transmit
power on next time someone braves a trip there.  Clearly, sitting on a small
reef with a vertical and a small supply vessel anchored off the reef, out in
the middle of the South China Sea, is a 'vacation'.  A rush, an incredible
experience, a time of ones life, ABSOLUTELY.  But to say that the primary
focus of that trip is anything other than give the deserving a new one is
wrong.  That is, unless one is a salt water fisherman.

73
Steve
KU9C