Introduction - This report covers the Whitney Classic Bike Ride,
Oct 4-5, and the Sam's Radio Hams Campout, Oct 6-8, in Lone Pine, CA.
See Fall 2003 Ham Radio Trip for the previous week of this trip, to Durango, CO.
Whitney Classic - Don, KO6CO, Matthew, W6KDJ, and I got to the
Comfort Inn (formerly Alabama Hills Inn) in Lone Pine in time for the Sam's Radio Hams 3:30 PM
Friday radio operators' meeting where assignments were made for the Whitney Classic. Despite
predictions, we had plenty of operators for all locations. The 3 PM Saturday start was moved
to Furnace Creek, although the paving at Badwater had been finished. Don covered the start,
and Matthew and I were at the Wildrose Junction on 190. We were joined there by our guest,
my daughter's mother-in-law, Judy, from Henderson, NV, with her camping van and Jeep. We had
the lowest temperatures, the best communications, and the earliest closing times, ever. The
last rider finished at 6:30 AM Sunday, rather than Noon.
Campout - Sunday, we moved to nearby Boulder Creek RV Park from the
dirt lot next to the Comfort Inn. Boulder Creek has landscaped the back "Siberia" and installed
hookups, almost doubling their capacity! Monday, we drove to Whitney Portal to visit a member's
family cabin and to have the legendary burgers served at the lodge, which were great.
PHOTO - Group at Whitney Portal cabin
Tuesday, a trip to Cerro Gordo was cancelled. The people up there were leaving for a few days,
but there were supposed to be signs and guards in their place to chase people away. I would
have been happy with a trip right over the top, returning by the Saline Valley road, and
visiting Darwin. But Horseshoe Meadows was substituted, which was a nice trip and hike.
Different hikes were taken by different groups.
PHOTO - Don's Airstream and Les' pop up
Wednesday was the last full day there. The SRH meeting was in the morning. Don, KO6CO, joined
Sam's Radio Hams, making four families from our Sacramento group. Our other guest, Judy, had
made new friends in the SRH and was interested in a Ham license. The meeting was followed by
a chance to tour the Alabama Hills with Chris Langley of the film festival. All the signs
and photos were in place for the film festival that weekend. It was very good. After lunch and
ladies' crafts, Frank, W6GZI, and Jan, KD6HYE, got us interested in geocaching and we found
GPS coordinates on the web page for several geocaches near Lone Pine. We looked for one in
the Alabama Hills, but didn't find it. There was a catered dinner that night in the clubroom,
instead of a pot luck or club-cooked meal. We all left for home on Thursday morning.
PHOTO - Guided movie location tour in Alabama Hills
| Radio frequency used for Whitney Classic and campout - 147.51 MHz. FM simplex. |
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