We held, our third annual Big Hill SOTA and POTA event on August 20th.  There were 18 participants that made the trek up to the top of Big Hill.  While the temps were over 100 degrees in the Sacramento Valley the top of Big Hill was at a comfortable 80 degrees.   The views were great as always.   Most of the participants were able to make their allotment of contacts to get credit for their activations.  We had all modes covered from the top of the hill, phone, CW, and digital. Best DX worked was Japan and France.  Our SOTA hill was WS/NS-290 Big Hill and the POTA designator was K-4455 for El Dorado National Forest.  It was a great day on the Hill.

We had a great meeting for August with over 70 in attendance combining in person and Zoom.   Steve, W1SRD and Doris, K0BEE shared stories from thier DX-Pedition to the Austral Islands working as TX5N. The program was great and we had lots of great questions.   

I have been getting a lot of questions about the condition of club Field Day site on Mormon Emigrant Road post Caldor Fire.  I haven't driven the MET since the fire because I really didn't want to see the devastation left behind.  I gathered up my courage and Nancy and I decided to take a Sunday drive to the location.  Once you get past Jenkinson reservoir on MET the devastation is apparent.  Hills covered in burnt out trees and piles of cut burnt trees.  Almost all the ground vegetation, such as Manzanita is gone.  The areas where tree clearing work is being done are just dirt.   

At the Field Day site about 60% to 70% of the area is burnt.  Some of the trees have survived for now but I don't know how safe they are.   Lots of new grasses in the area that weren't there before, some have stickers that get into your socks and shoes.  We did see some wildflowers.  There is little shade and many of downed trees.  

The Field Day location is 18 miles once you turn onto MET located on an original part of the MET, 38.6680 -120.2922.

Pictures pre-Caldor Fire

 Pictures post-Caldor Fire