W7DK Dege Peak VHF

W7DK RADIO CLUB OF TACOMA W7DK

2003 FALL VHF CONTEST PHOTO ALBUM

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Four club members: Chuck AC7QN, Worth W7WG, Lynn K7OKS, and Rich KR7W planned and executed a trip to Mt Rainier on Sept 13, 2003 to participate in the ARRL's Fall 2003 VHF Contest. The group drove to the Sunrise area in Mt Rainier National Park and hiked the 2.3 miles and 700 ft elevation gain to Dege Peak. Topographical maps showed Dege Peak to be a clear shot into British Columbia.

It was a beautiful sunny day with the high temperature of about 65 degrees. The visibility was hundreds of miles.

Chuck operated 2 meter SSB with an Icom 703 at 5 watts, using a 7 a/h battery. Chuck's antenna was made from aluminum ski poles. Stations in BC, Yakima, and Eastern Oregon were worked. The first photo of Chuck became famous on the cover of QST magazine.

Lynn operated an old Yaesu FT-7 on 6 meters SSB and AM. Lynn's antenna was an one element beam (essentially a dipole). Lynn worked into BC with his 2 watts.

Rich worked 2 meter FM, 2 meter CW, 70 cm SSB, and 70 cm CW. The antenna was Lynn's 2 meter and 70 cm Yagi. The Yaesu FT-817's output power was about two watts. Contacts into BC were easy to make.

Rich also erected a multi-band Dipole and used the FT-817 to operate on 17 and 40 meters. A QSO with Japan was made. Also, a scheduled contact on 40 meters was made with Worth and some Whiskey Group members. It was a GREAT day for ham radio.

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