[Wswss] K5N expedition needs operators

[Wayne Overbeck]

K5QE asked me to forward this to west coast six meter 
operators who might be able to join the upcoming K5N 
expedition.  73, Wayne, N6NB

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Hello to everyone.....As many of you know, the K5N Grid Activation Group is planning a 6M DXpedition to the Big Bend area of Texas to activate 3 of the rarest grids down there.

Group1 is planning to activate DL88--currently the rarest grid in the US.  We will be "roughing it", sleeping in tents on the rocks and in the heat.

Group2 is planning to activate the DL79-DL89 line in the Big Bend Ranch State Park.  Unfortunately, all the members of Group2 except for George-NR5M have been forced to retire.  This has happened primarily due to work conflicts that came to the fore at the last minute and one member who has not fully recovered from his open heart surgery of a year ago.  He is just not completely up to par and did not want to risk the trip.  For those that might not know George, he is a formidable operator and has serious resources that he can bring to bear on this project. 

We need to find some experienced ops that could commit to this DXpedition on short notice.  IF you are interested OR know someone that might be interested, PLEASE call me or have them call me ASAP so that we can "cuss and discuss" things. 

Group2 will be staying in the Main Ranch House(Also called the Sauceda Big House) at the Big Bend Ranch State Park.  This is like a 5 star motel facility.....like with showers, potties, air conditioning, a kitchen and other such stuff.  You can see pictures of the main ranch house if you go to http://www.tomzap.com/FLIGHTtoBigBendRanch2.html.  George has reserved the entire Big House for Group2 for the days that we will be there.  George is bringing an air conditioned motor home with a generator to use as the operating position.  No 128° heat like we will have in DL88......

We are planning to provide all the gear for this operation, however, if we find that we need something and one of the new ops has that item, we would appreciate the loan for the time of the expedition.  We really don't know what we are missing right now, because all the gear that was to have been provided by the other ops is not now available.  I can put together almost all of the stuff that we need, but there will probably be some small items that we don't have.  Clearly, each op will be responsible for his own personal gear.

A basic outline for the expedition is this:
1)Depart from homes and drive to Marathon, TX on June 19th, a Tuesday.  Clearly, if you are coming from a long distance away, this might not work.  Russ-KB8U is flying to Midland and renting a car from there to drive to Marathon.  Maybe someone could do that and car pool with Russ.
2)Drive to DL88(Group1) and to the DL79-DL89 grid line in the Big Bend Ranch State Park(Group2).  Upon arrival, set up and start operating.  We hope to be operating sometime in the afternoon of June 20th.
3)We will operate June 21st thru June 24th, ceasing operations at Midnight on Sunday the 24th. 
4)Pack up as much as possible on Sunday, finish packing out on Monday morning(June 25th) and begin the drive home
5)Finish driving home or flying home on Tuesday--June 26th, depending on where you have to go.....

We have a problem and we are in need of a solution.  Are you a solution looking for a problem??  If so, please get in contact with me ASAP.  We really don't want this major expedition to fail just because we can't find three good operators......Thanks....

73 Marshall K5QE
Phone is 409-787-3830