A new form of QRP operating activity for me, i.e. backpacking with amateur radio. My old Kelty backpack has been collecting dust for a while, but it was up to the task. I took the "kitchen sink" and used this as a learning experience, since I did not have time to construct light weight accessories and cannot send worth beans with light weight keys. I'm an old bug user/slapper. Summary:

Hourly and Band QSO Rate Chart
 

Score: ((10 + (45)2)QSO pts)(21 BBs)(3) = 6300 points. Location: Mt. Pinos CA (two miles each way, about 8000+ feet AMSL).

Observations: As noted by others a great deal of QSB on all bands especially 15m. I found it very difficult to use search and pounce, because I was not being heard that well; so I resorted to depending on CQs and continually searching out a reasonably clear frequency. I suspect that this will explain a very low BB factor in my score. However, the flora and weather were great; and I saw several of the real bumblebee types cruising the flowers. There were layers of stations heard on 20m from all over the United States. I just could not work many of them.

It was good to hear 15m open (on my second visit there) and next time the 40m dipole will be oriented to favor an east-west path or I will use a 15m antenna. Stations heard on 15m but not worked: K8CV at 1737Z (got him on 20m later); W4DU at 1845Z and AB7CE at 1905 to 1925Z (calling many unanswered CQs). I used the 40m dipole on 15m and tried both the 40m and 20m dipole on 10m, but heard no activity. I expended quite a bit of time on 15m and 10m, since I considered this outing to be a learning experience. I worked N6GA on three bands and tried to move Cam to 10m but he had not built his 10m module yet (must have been a Sierra); and Cam will, therefore, endure some harassment at a future swap meet. I almost managed three bands with Bill, KD7S; but he did not hear me call him on 20m.

Friday preceding I got the Sierra power increased on 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m, but I did not have time to tweak the 20m and 30m modules. I am using the MRF-237 modification. I finished a CMOS III keyer on Saturday, and I built dipoles for 40m and 20m as well as tuned half-wave coaxial lines for each antenna. I did manage to tune the 20m antenna late Saturday evening (heard N0UR on 20m but could not raise him - he was going to bed), but tweaking of the 40m antenna was done at the location. I did work N0UR during the BB activity, however. I only got 3.5 hours of sleep the night before (very poor planning), but the weather was so good it was still a joy.

Here is the "kitchen sink": Sierra, OHR DD-1 and WM-1, EMTech ZM-1, Heath 1 watt audio amplifier and Motorola speaker, over the ear headphones, Vibroplex paddle, CMOS III keyer, 40m and 20m dipoles, a "Sling-a-line", Autek RF-1 and two 7 Ah gel cell batteries (only one used). Power output: 40m 4.0 watts, 20m 2.5 watts, 15m 2.0 watts and 10m 1.5 watts. Yes, I used a speaker for much of the activity (I am normally a headphones type). A lot of room for both space and weight reduction in this package, i.e. build a power meter into the ZM-1, switch to a LCD frequency display rather than LEDs, eliminate the audio amplifier and speaker, run tests to determine required battery capacity and use a single optimum battery, incorporate a suggestion mentioned by Roy (W7EL) at Pacificon and attributed to Zack (W1VT) of using the battery to weigh down a light weight key.

Question: Back in the days of the old ARRL CD parties folks would gather on 15m on the hour and on 10m on the half hour. Do you think an informal arrangement like this would help to encourage more activity on those bands?

No mosquitos, flies or ants ... absolutely fantastic, T-shirt weather. Not many people in the area. Some amateur astronomers from the previous night and some naturalists checking out the flora and the "limber pines" (the most western stand of limber pines in the US). Even found two suitable rocks and used one as the table and the other as a back rest. I'm looking forward to the next one, and I will make time to develop some lighter weight accessories.