Wow, the first SLAMS Blog entry for 2026! Sunday, January 18th. The first half of the week was nice, weather wise, with temperatures near 60 degrees. Then came Saturday's cold front with arctic air behind it. Sunday is the pick day with highs in the upper 20's. Way too cold for me.
I hesitated the entire weekend as to whether or not I was willing to venture out in the cold WX. My "rover companion in arms, " Debbie KC9ULA decided to wait this one out. I almost decided against getting out, but the sun was starting to peak through the clouds, and I felt like getting out and about. So, instead of loading up my VHF-SHF yagis, I opted to use my tarheel antenna for 6 meters and a halo for 2m and 70cm. I brought my tri-band HT for 222 FM. KO0Z/R finally made it for part of the contest!
Around 2:15 pm, I worked my wife Debbie KC9ULA from my mobile and then I made my way to the park near St. Charles Community College EM48 and worked Herbert AF4JF 6m to 70cm. Next, I made my way up Hwy 79 to Foley, MO on top of a hill in EM49. I worked Herbert AF4JF (EM48) on 6m, 2m and 70cm. I was also able to put Mel K0PFX (EM48) in my log on 2m and 70cm. I was just about ready to leave the hill when I heard K1HTV FM18 in VA booming in on 6 m SSB! BTW, temp on top of the EM49 hill...a balmy 27 degrees F.
By this time it was late evening and I stopped by a Casey's in Winfield to surprise Debbie with a Casey's taco pizza. Yummy! Tooling down Hwy 79 I heard K8MR in EL87, Florida coming back to my CQ from EM48 which necessitated I pull off along side the road to safely work and to log him!
No more Qs for me the rest of the trip home. All-in-all, a fun 2 hour outing. My claimed score is 160 pts. I worked 4 grids.
Microwave site, a SLAMS fav for EM49 near Foley, MO
On top of the EM49 hill, a "balmy" 27 degrees F...Burrr...
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