Polar Bear #4, NK8Q, December Report

[Mark J. 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


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