DN19-DN29 trip report

[ba...@k7bwh.com]

(My DN19-DN20 expedition log is uploaded to LotW. For the stalwart few of you that managed a QSO on Nov 17-18, check LotW and let me know if anything is missing or wrong.)

 

On Nov 16-19, I enjoyed a warm leisurely trip through some grids in southern BC along the border. No, actually, I didn’t. I had three days with moments of white-knuckle driving in winter conditions in the mountains.  Here’s my trip report.

The goal was to add three BC grid activations to my logs. And, as long as I’m out there, I might as well call a VHF Luncheon in Spokane.

Saturday, the lunch at Frankie Doodles Restaurant was nice although lightly attended. One ham showed up, Bob K7TM, a longtime rover friend that’s been all over Idaho. Bob and I are the only two who’ve achieved the Sacagawea Certificate for activating all 20 grids in Idaho. Over lunch, we shared a joint dream of adventuring further north into BC in the summer. Saturday night I visited my sister for a convenient overnight stop in Post Falls, ID.

Sunday morning, I crossed the border by Bonner’s Ferry, ID. It’s open 24 hours year-round and all I needed there was my Enhanced WA driver’s license to enter the country. I scouted my way northeast on Hwy 95, Crowsnest Highway, stopping frequently, but although there’s ample turnouts it’s all deep in a narrow valley and there’s no chance of using the radio.

My first activation was in Cranbrook, BC, DN29cl49, at the Elizabeth Lake Visitor Center. A lovely place to visit and to admire the migrating birds relaxing on the big lake. I made seven contacts in challenging band conditions.

Monday morning, I almost hit a deer and there was really nothing that either of us could do about it. I had started driving westbound from DN29 to DN19 at 6 am. Dark, cold, and everything frozen. The highway was black ice, and I knew it, so I was driving 20 below the speed limit. I saw her on the centerline and tapped the brakes but clearly it would barely slow my 7,000-lb juggernaut, much less stop in time. Swerving wasn’t an option. She saw me and started running - but it was cartoon running where her legs were going like crazy but she had no traction and remained in one place exactly like the coyote in Road Runner cartoons. At the last moment, one hoof caught something, and she did barely get out of the way. 

I reached Creston, BC without further ado. As a side note, I was surprised along the way to see several Tesla Superchargers in the Kid Creek Rest Area, deep in primitive forest and miles from anywhere. In Creston, there’s a nice upper-hillside residential development with empty lots which made a good place to set up. However, other hams said my signal suffered severe multi-path distortion and they had trouble decoding my FT8. This was a recurring theme this trip – it’s difficult to get a signal out of the valleys and the reflections foul the signal. Next time, I’ll try lowering my antenna get a higher take-off angle over the mountains.

By 4pm Monday afternoon, it was widely known that a bomb cyclone was headed toward Seattle and it was highly likely to close Snoqualmie Pass. I cancelled the rest of my trip, packed up and headed home.

Driving south from Creston back to Post Falls, a heavy snow squall almost took me out. The weather always gets warmer as you go south, right? On average, yes, but with large standard deviation, no. It had been clear sailing and easy driving, until it wasn’t. It became very dark with fast heavy traffic, one lane each way, lots of big semis, and blizzard conditions that covered lane markings. I think my knuckles are still white. 

After that, the rest of the trip home was easy; Snoqualmie Pass was barely wet with light traffic. I got over that hill long before the bomb cyclone got there. Good thing, too – we had no power, heat, lights or internet for four days and my wife doesn’t tolerate those conditions alone. It’s a good thing I brought my generator home with me.

It’s nice to be home. It was a good trip despite only fourteen contacts for a thousand miles of driving. Hey, DN19 and DN29 are checked off and confirmed in my activator list and that was two-thirds of my goal. Good times.

Barry K7BWH /VE7