Amateur Radio Family Campout
July 18-20, 2003
Sugar Pine RV Park, E of Twain Harte CA

Office, Store	Restroom, Showers, Laundry
Full Hookup Sites
Tent Sites

The Annual Ham Campout was held on July 17-21 at Sugar Pine RV Park, between Twain Harte and Mi-Wuk Village on 108 above Sonora. It was jointly sponsored by the Mt. Vaca Radio Club and the North Hills Radio Club. We had 7 RVs, 1 tent, 1 cabin, and 1 motel room, with 22 people. There were members from MVRC, NHRC, and RAMS, former members of each, and a lot of overlap. We started arriving on Thursday, and the last of us left on Monday.

The early arrivals enjoyed a hike and picnic on Friday to a lake in the Dardanelles area. We were joined by Marc, W6MAR, who was up for the day and not counted above. We started Saturday at Columbia State Historic Park, a western town, then split into two groups touring Calaveras County wineries and Calaveras Big Trees State Park. On Sunday, we drove to Tuolumne, Cherry Valley, and Hetch Hetchy, led by Bill, N6MSI, who grew up in Tuolumne. Those who were not headed for home returned to camp via Wards Ferry Road, which was not universally enjoyed.

The evenings were spent with the usual happy hours and shared dining tables. One evening, Jim, WB6ZII, showed a video of a Ham 4WD trip to Ouray, CO, and Canyonlands, UT in 1991. All of the Hams on that trip were at this campout, with the exception of W6LLP & KA6NZZ, who moved to Washington State! Bill, N6MSI's folks visited from their home nearby. Bill's dad, Curly, was also on the 1991 trip.

Hams present: WB6ZII & KD6TTS, WA6ESA & WA6CNE, N6MSI, WA6IVI, N6AGI, W6TEE & W6KDJ, KD6TTR, WB6PHQ, WA6UAF & WA6RWR, W6MAR.

Les, W6TEE