12/07/2009 | KB7Q The Montana mountain cabin was unavailable this year due to renovation construction, so no 130' helium balloon vertical, but WA7U invited me to use his shack. Wow, just 2 miles from my own bed, and indoor plumbing besides!

Friday evening things got off to a great start - I managed W.A.S. and logged 831 contacts including a few European stations and a single JA by sun up. Things were off to a great start.

Saturday's session was a different story. It took until 10 PM before the band started to play well for me - it was a real B.I.C. (butt in chair) slog. It paid off with a new personal best score and a lesson learned that even hours of just 25 Q's running and S&P tours through the whole band that net only 2 or 3 new stations add up if you just keep going.

Best moment of the contest: Realizing that's SM2CEW calling me for a final multiplier second-to-last contact of the contest as the sun came up Sunday morning. Go gray line! Diversity reception with the Elecraft K3 added a new twist to the game - it sure helped combat QSB. Gene -- KB7Q