I again took time off work to use up the last of my vacation available for 2001. Its a good thing too, because in staying in the Mojave National Preserve for a full week, I got a better indication of the winter conditions. If we were to set up to operate the contest from this 5500 foot high campground with the facilities I now have, we might find ourselves in a bit of trouble!

Toward the end of my week long stay I encountered a weather front that suggested just how rough a weekend stay in January might be. The winds were so severe it was difficult to walk. Putting up or taking down antennas would probably become a disaster. Even the simple process of cooking and sleeping would be reduced to an uncomfortable process. So the question becomes, do I really want to take a group up to such a location? I think the reasonable answer is no!

I did have a good time for most of the week! The Mojave National Preserve is a wonderful a beautiful place! Even the process of staying and camping for a full week was an enjoyable experience. It even revealed the drama of encountering civilization again after a several day absence outside of such environs as Baker, California. The gas station I tanked up at also serves as a bus terminal. I think it was the general idea of a "lady" who introduced herself to me that, maybe, I could use some company on my travels. Well, hmmmmm! I didn't take her up on the offer but, she was compulsively clad in red leather boots and attractive in a tight jeaned sort of way! I also appreciated the psychology of the camp attendant, who as I crawled from my tent on my last days 40 mph windy day told me, "wow, what a night, I had to re-light the heater in my room several times!" I told him how badly I felt that his room might have had some marginal comparison to my tent!

Most folks I encountered were truly quite nice. On my second nights stay a fellow camper offered me corn bread and chili he had fixed up in his Dutch oven. Even the camp attendant was just having some fun with me, and was probably just making sure I wasn't a "flat lander" with any real difficulties. Who knows maybe even my red booted friend might have offered some delightful pleasures and company!

Well anyway, until better shelter is available than a two man tent, I think I will beg off going up to such a location in January! Still, doing this site for the June contest might still be a good idea. I will definitely go up to Mid Hills Campground for the September VHF/UHF QSO Party. I'm more strongly inclined to try a thousand foot higher site about 10 miles North/East of Mid Hills for June. I will need to talk this over with a few folks, and decide on one site or the other. E-mail me and we can see what is in the wind!

Oh,and another thing. I found that the "Big Bear Repeater" on 147.330 MHz. covers nearly all of the Mojave National Preserve excellently. The "family" of folks on this repeater were also very nice and helpful with my communication needs. I really want to thank all the folks on this repeater who helped me keep touch back home, and also provided tips and information to make my stay in the desert just that much more enjoyable!

Along with this article, read "January VHF/UHF Update"!