06/12/2006 | W7GK Made the trip to Rocky Point (8700')(grid sq. DN21) on the Pequop Range in NE Nevada, between Wells and West Wendover, after we finished our work with the 2006 Pony Express Reride event Saturday morning.

Took awhile to get there and set up the antennas so got about a 3 hr. late start. We were happy to find 6 mtrs. open into EM. 144 and 432 mhz is not really an option in this part of the country but we do take it with us mainly to work the few Salt Lake City stations that do this contest.

Essentially Elko County is larger than 10 states plus the District of Columbia but our population is only about 48,000 so you get an idea of what we're up against.

The antenna site is about 125' higher than the dirt trail we take to get to the top of Rocky Point so we run 1/2" Andrew to the antenna to cut losses.

This year was a bit unusual since 6 meters stayed open until about 2200 local. The main concentration of contacts was strangely in EM12 and EM13. Around 1300 local the skip began to open to the northwest into grid CN. This years net total of QSO's was 102 which is about par for the VHF contest from here.

Thanks to everyone who gave us a QSO and hope to see you this fall.

Dave, W7GK
Kathy, KD7ODB -- W7GK