On September 14th and 15th we will travel to a nice location, and relatively rare Maidenhead Grid Square for the ARRL sponsored VHF QSO Party. The QSO Party is a radio contest where VHF/UHF DX oriented Ham's see how far they can communicate on the wavelength bands above 50 MHz.

I will be bringing equipment to be active on 6 and 2 Meters as well as 70 centimeter SSB and iCW. I may bring my 222 MHz. SSB gear, I'm not sure. For our part the "contest" will really be to only get on and work as many Hams as propagation makes available. I'm not an engaged contester seeking killer points. I care more about the fun and scientific experience of radio propagation provided on these contest weekends!

The campsite location is called "Mid Hills Campground", and is located on Wild Horse Canyon Road at almost 6000 foot elevation in the Mojave National Preserve, and is maintained by the National Park Service. This campground supports 26 camping sites, and by the appearance of the recently graded dirt road, could support motorhomes or trailers. In fact much of the interior roads of the preserve are well paved. There is water available at the campground with about a half dozen or so spigots located around the campgrounds loop road. The restrooms are of the "pit toilet" type but, they are very clean and well maintained in concrete buildings. Each campsite has a nice picnic table, and an iron fire ring with an adjustable grating for cooking. There is no wood available at the campground, and there are no stores or nearby provisions. You must bring what you need!
More on this later!

Let me make the point that this is a radio event! I'm not against having other sorts of fun, and in fact I plan on some. These won't include shooting! I doubt in fact that firearms are allowed for recreation in Mojave National Preserve anyway. I will be doing some Amateur Astronomy, and some good down home country "cast Iron cooking". In fact we might think about some sort of Pot Luck Dinner for Saturday night?

To get to the campground from the Los Angeles area take Interstate Highway 15 toward Barstow. For those coming from other locations look up the Mojave National Preserve via the Automobile Club or other map resources. You can break off then to approach the preserve via Highway 40, and follow this to Essex Road. Gas up in Ludlow!

If you use this route, take Essex Rd. Northwest for about 9 miles. Follow the well marked road signs, and take the turn North toward "Hole in the Wall Campground". Just about one half mile South of "Hole in the Wall" a road turns off to the left. This is Wild Horse Canyon Rd, and is the preferred and well marked route to Mid Hills Campground about 7 miles from this junction.

You can also come in directly via Highway 15. This is the route that I plan to use. If you come this way, take Hwy. 15 to Baker. Gas up your vehicle in Baker! Then go South. The roads are all marked with brown National Preserve signs denoting all major areas. From Baker follow the route toward Hole in the Wall Campground, and turn off before this for Mid Hills Campground.

If it seems like I'm trying to be very detailed with road markings and mileage's its because I am! This area is BIG, and while it is pretty and scenic, there are NO FACILITIES! Be mindful of your gasoline consumption. There is gas, and food, etc. in Ludlow, Baker, and Fenner. CHECK THESE LOCATIONS ON A MAP! I'm probably being overly cautious but, it would be a bummer to run out of gas, or be otherwise stuck by the lack of provisions that a little forethought would have satisfied!

We will use the Communications Channel of 146.520 MHz. FM simplex for in-transit mobile stations. Yes, I know its the National Calling Frequency but, believe me I listened all week, and there is no activity out in this part of the desert. I think it in fact may be a wise thing to perhaps stir up a little activity on this frequency out there! Also, you should know that the Onyx Peak link of the W6FNO 146.820 MHz. repeater can be "worked" from many areas along this route. This is of course the same repeater system sponsored by the Eastwood Amateur Radio Service supporting the Johnstone Peak 146.22/.82 no (CTCSS) "PL". Nice to know if you run into trouble! A 146.760 MHz. repeater is also quite loud from Arizona! The 147.330 MHz. "Big Bear" repeater also has good coverage in this area!