Hi Everyone, Our attempt to activate DL88 on satellites in March as K5Z in Big Bend National Park was unsuccessful due to rain. We have a new plan now to pick multiple dates to activate DL88 and make a go / no go decision a few days earlier based on the current weather report. We are doing this to pick a date with favorable weather so we can get in and out of DL88 safely. We plan to activate DL88 in Big Bend National Park by driving in 30 miles on back country (dirt) roads. We plan to rent a vehicle with 10 inches of clearance as recommended by Clayton W5PFG.
Big Bend National Park is still closed, but we are hoping it will open June 1st for day use. Doug N6UA and myself Ron AD0DX are planning to activate DL88 on June 1st if there is no rain in the forecast and we believe we can get in and out safely. I have setup K5Z on qrz.com, please follow along there for updates. Finally, the AMSAT community has been very generous again to donate $1000 to help with our expenses for the trip. Doug and I really appreciate the generosity of everyone that donated. We love to rove and activate grids, and the financial assistance lets us travel more and make these grids available to grid chasers. Thanks to everyone that donated, we are very grateful for both the large and the small donations. THANK YOU! I post regularly on Twitter as @ad0dx and I will also keep the K5Z page on qrz.com up to date. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Big Bend National Park opens up on June 1st and that the weather cooperates as well. We plan to make the 3 hour drive in and out of DL88 in the same day. Look for us to be active approximately 10am local (1500z) to 5pm local (2200z)
This trip is mainly focused on DL88 but we will activate a few other grids on the way to DL88. We are still discussing our route and will post details regarding other grids when available. We will be active on both FM and linear satellites.
Please contact me offlist at ad0dx at yahoo dot com if you have any questions about the trip.
Cheers and 73, Ron ad0dx