VE6AB Mobile Ops
End Of The Road
With the winter gate on highway 532 having just been opened on April 30th, that connects highway 22 with highway 940, I was itching to drive this road, and I think you can tell why.
I am parked on the Hump (brakes set!) as this section is called, and I believe the photo speaks as to why its called that.
On a clear day the views to the far horizon which is approximately a 100 kilometers in the distance are stunning to say the least.
Actually they weren't that bad on this morning either!.
I accessed this area from the direction my truck is facing, and the last 2 kilometers were a grind, as the road is very steep with very sharp rocks passing for gravel that will puncture a tire if your not paying attention.
I also saw my transmission temperature hit 95 Celsius by the time I crested the summit, and in comparison earlier on back on highway 22, the transmission temperature was running at 70 Celsius while driving along at 100 kph.
The elevation on the summit which is about a 100 meters behind me was reading 6600 feet above sea level on my altimeter.
With my tripod and camera set up and the wind funneling through this gap threatening to topple them over, I had to hang my 16 pound bean-bag from beneath the tripod head to keep it stuck to the road on this morning.
I plan on returning to the Hump, as there is a ridge located several hundred meters to the south and above this backroad at the summit that is a killer location to operate my portable HF station from, if I don't blow away that is, as the wind funneling through here has to be dealt with, considering it dosen't stop blowing to often through here.
Still, with views like this, its worth the effort. and besides conditions on HF were very good on this morning.
I also was hearing and working a number of repeaters located across the far flung reaches of southern Alberta direct on this morning,
I wonder why, maybe because I was above the tree line, and besides it proves line of sight counts!
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
On The Level.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/HamRadio/HamRadio/i-M83gBHd
