Pushing My 2016 Subaru Forester to its Off-Highway Limits to Activate Buse Hill in CA-3287

October 20, 2024

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It’s one other stunning cloudless day in southern British Columbia (16 Sept, 2024). My purpose for in the present day is to activate Buse Hill Lookout, positioned in Buse Lake Protected Space CA-3287, earlier than the climate turns too chilly and moist to enterprise into the world.

Buse Hill is a couple of 2.5-hour drive NW from Kelowna, BC the place I dwell. The final ¾ hour of the drive is on gravel vary roads. My spouse Alexis (VE7LXE) is accompanying me on this journey, as all the time.

Whereas planning for the activation, I carefully studied Google Maps Satellite tv for pc view, in addition to Garmin GPS Birds Eye views of the activation space. This helps me consider the terrain and entry routes. I additionally examine the Gov’t of BC Mineral Titles on-line maps which give each satellite tv for pc views and topographic views (earlier than POTA, gold panning was my summer season passion and the BC Mineral Titles on-line maps had been important for realizing the place to legally pan).

Entry to Buse Hill Lookout, CA-3287. Ecological Reserve south-end entry route. Tip: Click on on photographs to enlarge view.

From these maps I can see that the final 1.5 Km is an undefined off-road entry route. From the satellite tv for pc views, it’s very tough to evaluate the viability of a route that my Forester can deal with. So, I knew there was a 50-50 likelihood I could possibly drive all the best way up that final 1.5 Km. With this in thoughts, we got here ready for 2 eventualities: 4-wheel it up, or backpack it up if needed.

Which means having two ready POTA again packs; one with the KX3 for close to automotive activations, and my KX2 backpack for climbing conditions.

The elevation acquire from right here to Buse Hill Lookout is about 200m, or ~656 ft.

Begin of uphill entry path to Buse Hill Lookout…. Choices to be made.

We arrived on the junction level 1.5 Km from Buse Hill Lookout. Right here I needed to assume laborious about whether or not to simply park right here and backpack it up or danger driving-up an unknown uphill again nation gravel highway with unknown dangers.

Over the previous few weeks, we’ve already accomplished 4 backpacked activations. From what I can see from the place we at present are, I’m considering why not give this 2016 Subaru Forester an opportunity to indicate what it’s made from? (gulp)

I don’t make this resolution frivolously. Whereas I don’t contemplate my Forester a real backcountry 4-wheeler, I’ve been actually impressed with lots of the locations it has been capable of get me to in previous years of distant activations and gold panning outings that traverse quite a few distant forestry roads. So, in the present day I resolve to go along with my intestine and drive up – realizing that we might solely make it half means, after which backpack up the remaining. Right here we go….

I’m glad for the dry climate recently. If there had been a lot rain lately, this largely dust highway wouldn’t be viable for me to drive in any respect. The opposite motive I’m slightly hesitant of this drive-up is that my Nokian All-Climate tires are 4-years outdated and solely have about half or much less of their unique tread left (I’m shopping for new Nokian WRG5 tires this fall earlier than the snow flies).

Making an attempt to keep away from the numerous cruxes within the highway.

There are a pair discover indicators alongside the best way that say keep on the highway and don’t drive off-road. Effectively, I’m making an attempt to obey the principles, however some spots I need to drive round (simply sufficient to not get caught).

We made it up about 0.5 Km with minimal points. Nonetheless, there are some vital washout trenches within the highway that we should be cautious of. If my wheels fall into a type of trenches, I might bottom-out and get caught. So, I rigorously straddle the trenches. I’m not a pace daemon – I’m touring gradual and punctiliously upward making an attempt to keep away from all of the little gotcha’s. (2D photographs don’t actually give a superb sense of depth.)

A neater part of the highway, however nonetheless straddling trenches on left-side of highway.

It appears to be like like free crusing forward, however I’m nonetheless straddling some low spots the left aspect.

Nonetheless straddling the trenches, and hiya free-range cattle.

Whereas nonetheless straddling trenches on the left aspect, we’re greeted by a few of the native free-range cows. This entire space exterior the park is free-range ranchlands. Free-range cows are literally a standard sight all through BC when driving the forestry roads.

Only a quick distance past the cows we’re greeted by the Buse Lake Protected Space Park signal.

Whereas we might park right here and function on this space, I actually need to get to the highest. The extra altitude the higher.

This part forward is steeper than it appears to be like. I walked uphill first to the crescent to ensure it was secure for the Forester to proceed up (in case there’s no room for turning round). I concluded that it’s doable regardless that it’s stuffed with little run-off trenches which should nonetheless be straddled.

Getting into the south perimeter of Buse Lake Protected Space, CA-3287

Tip: Clicking on a picture will enlarge it for higher viewing.

Sadly, I didn’t take any extra photographs of the highway up previous the crescent above. I used to be too targeted on safely navigating the steep rocky slopes that had been borderline doable for the Forester. That closing ascent was the true take a look at for the Forester. At one level, Alexis elected to get out of the SUV and assist direct me in order to keep away from a few of the alternating deep trenches we needed to navigate round. A few of this space was strong rock mountain outcrops.

Success!
Lastly, we safely made it to the highest – and what an incredible view! Definitely worth the effort for certain.

The picture under virtually jogs my memory of an commercial for a Subaru Forester. Maybe I can promote it to Subaru for one among their advert campaigns? Okay, so it’s a 2016. With the magic of recent AI, they’ll in all probability overlay a 2025 model, and nobody would be the wiser. 😊

2016 Subaru Forester taking a nicely deserved relaxation.

Now that we’ve achieved the primary half of our journey, it’s time unpack the POTA gear. As we didn’t backpack up, I’ll be unloading the KX3 shack-in-a-pack.

I believe the additional weight of all this gear helped with traction on the steep inclines (and having all-wheel drive doesn’t harm both).

As traditional, Alexis units up our Helinox furnishings whereas I erect the antenna system.

Immediately, as soon as once more I’m utilizing my lately acquired Chamaeleon CHA Porta-Mount Wheel Mount to assist my Gigaparts 34’ (really, ~ 32’) carbon fiber telescopic mast.

I hoisted the telescopic mast with my homebrew ½ λ vertical coaxial sleeve dipole reduce for 17m, connected. I’ll be working the antenna on the 20m-10m bands. The KX3 ATU does an incredible job of bringing the multi-band SWR all the way down to lower than 1.2 generally.

17m 1/2λ coaxial-sleeve dipole. (Defined in my earlier articles)

I connect a 3’ plastic tube on the backside to maneuver the antenna away from the carbon fiber mast. As carbon fiber masts do have some conductivity, mine considerably detunes the antenna if the antenna is allowed to drape too near it within the vertical aircraft. I verified this after I was tuning the antenna at house with the help of my Rig Professional Antenna Analyzer.

This view is dealing with to the NW (i.e. Alaska and the Arctic), however I’m hoping for good propagation to the SE the place I are likely to get most of my POTA contacts.

Alexis is comfortably enjoyable and taking within the views.

Later whereas I used to be working, Alexis took a brief stroll again down the highway to take a snapshot of the final 30 yards or so of our climb to the highest (This wasn’t probably the most difficult portion, however it’s a bit on the steep aspect).

View of the final leg as much as Buse Hill Lookout.

I’m all setup and able to begin calling QRL; after which CQ POTA.

Uh Oh…….Mission Management, we’ve an issue!
Once I plugged-in my Bioenno 4.5 Ah battery and turned on the KX3, I famous that the voltage was all the way down to ~10.5V. Not good. It often floats at ~13.2V. I didn’t need to be in the course of a contact solely to have my battery die. I will probably be up right here for the subsequent 5.5 hours, so I want a dependable energy supply.

Fortunately, I carry a transportable battery Go-box within the Subaru as a backup. It’s a Powerwerx PWRbox (older model from 6 years in the past). As an add-on, I put in my very own Dakota 18 Ah LiFePo4 battery within the Powerwerx energy field. So now that is my emergency comms energy supply for in the present day.

Within the meantime, as a result of I additionally carry contained in the field numerous cables, I occurred to even have a PowerFilm 10W Foldable Photo voltaic Panel in there too. I assumed, this may be an amazing alternative to try it out to cost the drained Bioenno battery whereas I’m busy activating. And a part of my modifications to the Powerwerx field was that I had beforehand added a Genasun 5A Photo voltaic Charger, connected to its aspect.

So, I connected the Photo voltaic Panel to the Genasun Charger and linked the Bioenno battery to the charger to let it cost the remainder of the day in full solar.

Photo voltaic charging the drained Bioenno battery.

Mission Management, all techniques are a go. Prepared for takeoff.

Okay, time to get all the way down to enterprise to do what I got here right here to do.
I will probably be working with the KX3 at 10W CW and utilizing it with KXPD2 connected paddle for keying.

As all the time, I begin on 20m, the bread & butter band, till I get at the least 10 contacts.

Right here is my play-by-play of the way it went:

My first contact was with VE3KZE in Ontario at 18:28 UTC (11:28 PDT) – not a foul easterly hop for starters from the Pacific NW.

Nonetheless, issues gave the impression to be off to a gradual begin this morning. It took about 55 minutes to log my first 10 contacts. This 20m session included contacts in UT, CA, AZ, MB, ON and a bonus contact in Alaska (AL7KC).

After some time I assumed, I believe I’ll briefly take down the 17m coaxial sleeve dipole and see how the N9SAB 20m ½ λ Rugged QRP Nano Dipole performs as a substitute for some time. This will probably be a swap from a vertical polarized antenna to a horizontal polarized antenna. Though, attributable to lack of tall timber for finish helps, it’s actually an Inverted Vee configuration, which I suppose is a mixture between vertical and horizontal polarization. And, as all the time, I orient the dipole such that it’s perpendicular to the SE path in hopes of finest USA protection.

With the N9SAB dipole erected, I make its first 20m contact at 20:15 UTC (13:15 PDT). Once more, this primary contact is in Ontario however this time with VE3XN.

OK, that is sort of wonderful (for me at the least); over a 15-minute interval, I logged 11 extra contacts within the following areas: ON, MN, UT, AZ, ID, CA, NE, WY, and TX. I be aware that my RST studies appear to be stronger than with the 17m vertical dipole. Maybe that makes some sense because the N9SAB is tuned for 20m and the 17m vertical dipole isn’t.

There are all the time so many components affecting propagation: time of day, photo voltaic exercise, the variety of hams which can be really chasing at a selected time, and so forth. I’ve all the time had typically good outcomes utilizing N9SAB dipoles. I’ve additionally used his 30m dipole multiband with good outcomes throughout all bands utilizing the KX3 with it b/i ATU.

Time to maneuver on to the 17m band; and swap again to my homebrew 17m vertical coaxial sleeve dipole hoisted again up.

Wow! Over the subsequent 28 minutes I log 12 contacts. Not unhealthy for the 17m band. Right here, I pick-up AL, UT, CO, ON, MO, VA, ON, TX, and KD4JO in MD (I hardly ever get Maryland contacts). However wait – there’s extra… my closing bonus 17m contact of this session is with JH1MXV in Japan! I’m getting psyched-up now.

To be sincere, 17m band is turning into my favourite band, which is one motive why I tuned the coaxial sleeve vertical dipole for 17m. I’m discovering that always 20m is simply too crowded – and I get stomped-on rather a lot there and should steadily QSY.

Time to take a look at 15m band.
15m wasn’t fairly as productive as 17m. Simply 3 contacts right here in SD, ON, and TX. Nonetheless, it solely took 10 minutes to get these contacts. Unsure why I didn’t attempt tougher and keep longer. Maybe as a result of it was getting later within the UTC day and I wished to see what 12m and 10m had been doing.

On to 12m band.
Over the subsequent quarter-hour I snag 6 contacts in IL, WI, TX, KS, AR, and OH.

On to 10m band.
Spent 21 minutes right here and reined-in 6 extra contacts in TX, OH, OK, PA, and AR.

When I’ve the time after I’ve labored my means as much as 10m, I usually work my means again down simply to see if band circumstances have modified very a lot. It’s round 22:50 UTC, so I don’t have loads of time to spend on every band on the best way again down.

Again to 12m.
Between 22:54 and 23:01 I decide up 4 extra contacts in ON, NM, MO, and IL.

Again to 15m.
From 23:08 to 23:14 I seize 5 extra 15m contacts in VA, TX, VA, and CT (Connecticut is one other uncommon state for me).

Again to 17m.
Between 23:20 and 23:30 UTC I nab 6 extra contacts in VA, LA, TX, MA, and WI.

And to complete off the day I seize 4 extra contact again on 20m with NY, OH, AR, and TX.

(You may click on on the picture for a greater view)

It’s been an amazing day taking part in POTA whereas Alexis loved her time enjoyable, studying, and simply taking-in the attractive views on such a beautiful day.

Time to descend again down the entry highway to the vary roads after which the two.5-hour drive forward of us to get again house.

Observe: This picture on the best way down makes the automotive look degree, however in actuality, we had been on a tilted slope of a couple of 15° angle. (Discover the timber are slanted to the suitable by about 15 ° angle) Blame the photographer (me). 😊