This past weekend, my wife and I started scouting nearby summits for potential
operation spots during the upcoming June contests. First up was a trip to Flagg
Mountain in Coosa County, Alabama located in EM62tx. It's elevation is listed
as 1,148 feet. It's about an hours drive from my front door.
Getting there is half the fun, so our trip included a stop at "Kelly's Corner".
It's one of those old grocery/general stores that were common when I was a
child. It's been there for the better part of a century, and still sells a
mixture of gasoline, groceries, hardware parts, etc. In the back is an old
butcher shop style deli meat cabinet, and they'll make you sandwiches to go
made to order. They stock local meat, from local farms, and know most of their
customers by name.
Abby and I got a bologna sandwich and an ice cold root bear in a glass bottle.
That store alone would have been worth the drive.
Headed up the mountain, you turn off a paved two lane, onto a single lane paved
road with a scary one lane bridge that crosses a local creek. This continues to
a logging road that runs up a curvy road to the top of the mountain. Like most
peaks in the Alabama, the issue isn't height as much as finding a clear view of
the valley below that isn't blocked by trees.
Near the top of the summit, we were blocked by a gate. This was expected, as
the true summit is owned by a private group and access is restricted. We were
able to drive to within about 300 feet of the peak. A break in the trees
provided a great view towards Montgomery. I hauled out a portable four element
Arrow beam, and some coax. This was quickly hooked to my Yaesu FT-857D.
But then disaster struck. I had forgotten to throw the telescoping push up pole
into the back of the truck. There was no support for the antenna. I struggled
to suspend it to a tree branch using bungee cords on the edge of a cliff. After
a couple of near falls, my wife vetoed this approach.
"Why don't I just hold it for you?" she offered. Well, I thought, it won't hurt
at low power, and I'll keep the contacts short. Just enough to test things. She
hoisted the small beam way above her head, and I began to call CQ on 144.200.
Quickly, Jack, WA5UUD answered my CQ, asking, "Where the heck are you? You're
running 20 over S9 here!" I told him my location, and we chatted for a few
moments. He politely asked about Abby and I told him that not only was she with
me, she was holding the beam.
Jack replied, "Wow. Now that's what I called a stacked array!".
My wife is still laughing.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
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