07/08/2006 | WA9STI With my XYL, Karla KB6LAS, we operated class 2B from a remote campsite at 6600' in the Los Padres National Forest, north of Los Angeles. We were able to work 204 QSOs to include a nice band opening on 6 meters to the Northwest and Midwest on Sunday morning. But the highlight of the trip was a black bear who visited our camp on Friday at dusk after we had everything set up. Initially I was able to scare the bear away but then it climbed partially up a tree 50 feet away overlooking the camp. But a well thrown rock against the tree caused the bear to run off into the woods. This caused us to be wary of another visit the whole night. On Saturday just before midnight, I was operating 20 meter CW with only a glow from the campfire and my headlamp. The XYL and dog had already gone to sleep in the tent. I then heard some rustling in the bushes and thought the bear was back again. When I turned on a bright flashlight, I illuminated a six point buck deer about 75 feet away calmly munching on some grass. It did not seem fazed by the light. So while I continued making CW contacts, I would flash the deer with the light again and see it in the same spot eating. This went on for about ten minutes. I wanted to tell the stations I was working that I had a deer in front of me but thought it would be too confusing to interject this in the middle of giving out my exchanges. So this was ham radio at its finest - out in the wilds making CW contacts across the country while in the company of nature! -- WA9STI