Organ Pipe w
Sam's
Introduction:
Quartzfest is an annual Ham RV campout held during the annual Winter "shows"
or flea markets at Quartzsite Arizona. Quartzsite is on I-10, 18 miles from
the California border. I had been encouraged to go to Quartzfest '98, but did
not make it. In the meantime, I started writing an HF Mobile column for
Worldradio magazine. The incentive of meeting more HF mobileers made me more
determined to get to Quartzfest '99, held on February 1 - 8. Also, the Sam's
Radio Hams were going to be there at their own campout, and I wanted to meet
them. This report describes my trip, and suggests a future group trip from
Sacramento. I also wrote a straight report of these events in the June
1999 issue of Worldradio magazine, page 6.
Lake Havasu? Going to the relatively warm desert in the Winter is great. But the hard part is getting past any cold and stormy weather between here and there. It is about 350 miles from here in Sacramento to Mojave, where you first hit the desert, and another 300 miles to Quartzsite. There was a break in the weather here on Wednesday Feb 3, but I got a late start and only got as far as Hanford, about 225 miles. The next day, Thursday, I had a slow start because of fog. I checked in with my friend, Ross, WØXJ, in Kansas, on the 20 meter Elks Net. Late in the afternoon I came in range of the Lake Havasu AZ 146.96 repeater, where another friend, Vern, W3DLY, informed me that it was raining at Quartzsite, and that I should stay over with him and Trish, WA3GKT. I had intended to make it to Quartzsite, but rain is rain, and I had an enjoyable, warm, dry, visit with them.
Quartzfest '99 - Friday: The next morning Vern introduced me to some of the local Hams at the bagel shop, then I hit the road. The sun was shining and the rain was gone. I again found Ross on the 20 meter Elks Net. I had something to do in Blythe, on the California side, that I couldn't do over the weekend, so I did that first. After getting groceries and ice in Blythe, I contacted Quartzfest leader Harvey, K5LJM, on 146.55. I finally made it to the Quartzfest camp, south of Quartzsite, after 2 PM Mountain time. Harvey barely had time to point me at a suitable parking spot, when he and Margie, AB5ZX, had to dash for the Fish Fry at Sweet Darlene's in town. I unhooked my Jayco pop-up trailer, and followed.
Harvey and Margie live in Sun City AZ, and this was the third Quartzfest. The Quartzfest campsite is at a BLM short-term camping area next to Highway 95, 6 miles south of town. This was dry camping, so everyone was fully self-contained with water, electricity, propane, and bathrooms.
After a fine fish lunch at Sweet Darlene's tent restaurant, I contacted Frank, W6GZI, on 147.51 at the Sam's Radio Hams dry camp at Rice Ranch in town. I stopped there to meet Frank and other Sam's Hams that I had met only by e-mail. After being introduced to a number of interesting folks, and seeing several RV radio installations, I finally got back to my campsite to finish setting up. The 4 PM social hour being over by then, the regular evening campfire was the remaining Quartzfest activity for the day.
Harvey and Margie planned activities that were very flexible, allowing
everyone to come and go and to participate in as many campout activities as
they wished. By arriving four days late, I had already missed the talks on
Pactor, APRS, and computers; the VE testing; and the 75 meter antenna
shootout. (And the rain!) Oh well.
Quartzfest '99 - Saturday: This was the day scheduled for the Ham and craft swap meet at the Quartzfest camp. The area between the RVs and the road filled up with tables and pickup tailgates of things to buy. A number of Hams showed up from elsewhere in the area, and out of town. I saw a small 440 mobile rig that I bought for someone else at a reasonable price, and a complete Spider all band mobile antenna for my "collection".
After all this excitement was over, I went to town for my first look at one
of the shows. I saw lots of tools, clothes, and food, that I almost needed,
but not quite. I bought a cane/seat for my son Matthew, KF6FIQ, who had
stayed home, and returned to my pickup parked by the Sams camp. They were
having their business meeting, so I sat with them on the new cane/seat.
Sam's Radio Hams is a Southern California chapter of the Good Sam RV Owners
Club. Most owners of trailers and motorhomes, including me, belong to Good
Sam. They announced a campout in June at Pine Acres, in Pine Grove, not far
from Sacramento. I said that might be close to the date of the big Railfair
in Sacramento. They asked me to send them information when I got home, which
I did. A "Last Great Campout" is proposed for a boondock location, such as
Slab City near the Salton Sea, to wait out New Year Y2K. The Sams had 38
member vehicles plus 16 from the Dana Point Yacht Club at Quartzsite.
The RV HF radio installations seen at Quartzfest and the Sams were
interesting. HF mobile in motion is not a big concern, but a lot were set up
to operate while parked. The antennas most seen were all-band trap verticals,
but some Sams members were using 23' unloaded marine antennas with SGC
Smartuners. Results were said to be comparable to trap verticals but with
better frequency coverage. Both types of long antennas were lowered to the
roof when driving, and raised by screwdriver motors, car window motors,
satellite dish motors, RV TV antenna cranks, or climbing up on the roof.
The Sams have nets where they can contact those still at home: Sam's Radio Hams Net Sun 9:00 AM Pacific 7268.5 kHz. Sam's Radio Hams YL Net Tue 7:30 PM Pacific 3918.5 kHz. SRH Net M-F 8:00 PM Pacific 3918.5 kHz. Frick and Frack Net M-S 8:45 AM Pacific 7273.0 kHz. Among other Ham RV nets are: RV Service Net M-F 8:00 AM Pacific 7268.5 kHz. RV Service Net M-F 12:00 PM Eastern 14307.5 kHz. Family Motor Coach (FMCA) Day 2:00 PM Eastern 14263.0 kHz. RV Service Net M-F 5:00 PM Eastern 14307.5 kHz. Good Sam RV Radio Net Day 7:00 PM Central 7284.0 kHz. (Not directly connected with Sam's Radio Hams)Sam's Radio Hams operate on 147.51 mHz FM simplex while caravaning or in camp. Besides being convenient, this lets members and spouses with Technician licenses take part. Other Ham RV groups use the 146.55 mHz camp frequency used for Quartzfest. Cap, WB6ZDF, at Quartzfest, is a full-time RVer and one of the RV Service Net NCS. See my HF Mobile page for links to more RV net and activity information.
I was almost late getting back for the Saturday Quartzfest social hour. Dennis, KC7YVO, flew over in his Piper Cub and parachuted little packages of gifts for Quartzfest '99 participants.
Quartzfest '99 - Sunday: This was
to be the last full day for Quartzfest, as well as many of the shows. Only
the social hour and campfire were planned. I visited the RV show tent and
collected a nice assortment of U.S. and Canadian maps and booklets, as well
as the new KOA directory. I talked with the Sinclair Truck Stop man from
Panguitch Utah, one of our favorite motel stops. I also had a new call letter
badge made.
The Sams, led by Frank, W6GZI, had a 4WD day trip using the local map, "36 Historical Sights and Day Trips". I went too, making six 4WD vehicles. All but mine had been towed to Quartzsite. We visited three of the 36 sights, which were intaglios, petroglyphs, and one of many "General Patton" sites. I hope to see many more of the 36 on the next visit.
Some of the Sams had an optional "add-on" trip the next day to Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument in Southern Arizona, on the Mexican border. They
invited me to come along, and I accepted since Quartzfest '99 was ending, and
I wanted to scout Organ Pipe for a Fall trip.
Organ Pipe - Monday: Most folks
still at Quartzfest were breaking camp, and already talking about plans for
"Q2K". I packed and drove up to the Sams camp to tag along with anyone going
to Organ Pipe. That turned out to be Gene, KB6IYN, and Marilyn, KC6WIU. Right
after leaving Quartzsite, I again said hello to Ross on the 20 meter Elks
Net. Everyone left Quartzsite at different times, stopped for gas, propane,
sandwiches, and groceries, and were in and out of 2 meter simplex range. But
there were always enough to talk to on the 237 mile trip to Organ Pipe.
Jim, N6XZL, had made reservations for group camps 1 and 2, eight months ahead
of the trip. This was the busy season and they were turning away people
trying to get into the main campground. Everyone but me had a BIG rig of some
sort so it looked difficult to shoe-horn in the 20 maximum rigs expected. But
when it was all over, we only had 19.
Organ Pipe - Tuesday: The stay was
to be two days, three nights, but I was planning to leave a day early. So
when their first day trip was planned to go into Mexico, I chose instead to
take a trip around the park loops with a small group that was leaving on a
long trip into Mexico the next day. There are many interesting stops on the
park roads, all documented with booklets for sale at the Visitor Center.
There are a number of possible hikes in the park, including some that start
from the campground. There are also picnic tables at some stops.
Temperatures ran 81/46 F while I was there. That is very pleasant for
February. I noticed a 4WD back road from near the border to Ajo. Frank,
W6GZI, told me later that they took that trip after I left and enjoyed it.
Returning to Sacramento - Wednesday & Thursday: I said goodbye to the Sam's Radio Hams and headed north. I again made contact with Ross on the 20 meter Elks Net while parking at the Ajo IGA for ice and cold drinks. I stopped at Goffs to say hello to Dennis and to buy a copy of Bill Mann's new book on places to go in the Mojave for our Spring trip. I spent the night at the Barstow KOA. I got home the next day after one more check-in with Ross on 20 meters from west of Barstow.
Conclusions - A Fall Trip? I am proposing a Fall trip from Sacramento to Quartzsite, to finish seeing the 36 Sights and Day Trips, and to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for the experiences that it provides. It would take one week and both weekends. The season starts later than for the Utah and Colorado destinations where we have gone, so I suggest early November, or late October at the earliest. It is not too early to make reservations for a group camp at Organ Pipe now. There are no reservations for individual campsites.