Have Handheld, Will Travel

Hamventure to Yosemite National Park
June 12th - 15th

On a recent trip to Yosemite National Park with W7AH for some hiking and relaxation, it became apparent to me that the "ham radio bug" has bitten me badly. The first hint ... packed in my suitcase, along-side my hiking boots and sunscreen, was my Kenwood TH-F6A. The final give-away ... one of the highlights of the trip turned out to be the ham shack at the B & B where we stayed. Wish I could say we actually picked the Yosemite Rose B & B in Groveland, CA  because of the ham shack (how cool would that be) but it just happened to be a lucky coincidence I discovered while checking out their website after reservations were made based on promises of beautiful rooms, amazing views, and scrumptious breakfasts (all, and more, which were delivered). (http://www.yosemiterose.com)

Yosemite Rose Bed and Breakfast

Innkeeper, WJ6WHQ (aka Don), took time to talk to us about his own hamventures and show us around his shack.  I even had a QSO using his rig.

WJ6WHQ and W7AH Swapping Stories

KG7LNG and WJ6WHQ Hamming it Up

After spending a couple of hours talking with WJ6WHQ, I came away with an entirely new appreciation for the role ham radio plays in so many lives. For me right now, it’s a fun hobby with the added benefits of learning something new and expanding my group of friends. For Don, living in a remote area high in the mountains above Yosemite National Park, ham radio plays an essential role in his community. As a member of TCARES (Toulumne County Amateur Radio Electronic Society) WJ6WHQ and his fellow hams provide communications assistance with fires, floods, search & rescue, and health & welfare message assistance to the Red Cross. These dedicated hams do so using their own equipment, without pay, and usually in 12-hour shifts.

As W7AH and I drove in  and out of the park on Hwy 120, we saw the devastation caused by last year's Rim Fire, the third largest fire in California history, burning over 250,000 acres in Tuolumne and Mariposa counties. There were spots the fire skipped, but others where the trees had burned all the way up into the crowns. Imagine looking out your back window and seeing a fire of that magnitude approaching your home as WJ6WHQ and many of his neighbors and friends did.  Essential supplemental radio coverage was provided by TCARES.

Aftermath of 2013 Yosemite Rim Fire

Luckily for us, the fire was finally contained and Yosemite is still spectacular.  I'll end this post with a couple of my favorite photos from our trip.

Glacier Point

Mirror Lake Trail

73, KG7LNG