[Elecraft] Polar Bear #4, NK8Q, December Report

[Mark Schreiner]

I'm happy to report that I worked one PB while I was still at home 
before packing up the station to go to Pulpit Rock.  I worked Ken, 
WA8REI who was out snowmobiling (or as we say in Michigan,
"sledding").  Glad to have worked Ken, who I worked at least once from 
Pulpit Rock in the past.

My 4WD didn't have studded snow tires on it (my bear claws weren't very 
good), so I only made it about 1/2 way up the hill before we decided to 
start hiking up as well taking the "bear" essentials.  K3YTR came to the 
rescue (thanks, Ed!) and I was able to safely get my vehicle back down 
the hill before dark and Ed gave me a ride back up (with my extras).  
That was the first snafu!

The second snafu happened as I was putting the antenna up.  The last 
time the antenna went up fairly quickly because I had left a masonry 
twine in a reasonable tree that I had used the month before.  My plan 
was to again use this one.  But unfortunately the windy weather at the 
top of the hill caused the masonry twine to wear through so I had too 
many loose ends (4 instead of 2).  We managed to get the antenna up a 
reasonable height (thanks for the throw, Ed, WA3WSJ) and I eventually 
got on the air around 4 PM local time (2 hours later than I had planned). 

I worked 5 stations on 20m, including a past contact from last month, 
N0EVH, John in Independence, MO who is a fellow Elecrafter.  Thanks for 
finding me again, John!  I also worked the EPA QRP Club's newest member, 
Charlie, K3WW, who also had worked Ron, WB3AAL earlier.  I had worked 
Charlie the month before as well, I think.

After the sun set I switched over to 80m and eventually got a call from 
K3VV, Ken, who posted my info on some reflectors (thanks much, Ken).  
About the time the stations started coming in from those postings I was 
called away to get a group photo for the updated website and for 
publication in the local newspaper, Allentown's Morning Call.  Thanks to 
the other 4 stations who worked me on 80m after Ken's postings and sorry 
to those who I heard calling but didn't get  to work. 

<Astronomy report on>
It was cold, clear and breezy with temperatures slightly below freezing 
(not counting the wind chill) after the sun went down.  I was easily 
able to view Venus to the west for about 1 hour at least, even well 
before sunset (Venus is currently just passed it brightest magnitude) 
and saw several low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, always a nice thing to 
notice.  While there were a few clouds the viewing conditions (naked eye 
only, I left my eye pieces at home and concentrated on radio) were 
pretty good.  The just past full moon (waxing moon) eventually came up 
from below the eastern horizon and was almost directly over Allentown 
from our vantage point.  I just got home and now that the nearly full 
moon is much higher off the horizon I saw a really nice halo!  As a 
member of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society I felt obliged 
to report a few astronomical details as well.  Sorry if you are 
wondering what this has to do with Polar Bears, but this was a Full Moon 
Madness operating event! 
<Astronomy report off>

Looking forward to the next event and I hope I'll be able to participate 
again!

Cheers for now from Polar Bear #4!

Mark, NK8Q