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

October 29, 2024

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It’s one other stunning cloudless day in southern British Columbia (16 Sept, 2024). My purpose for at the moment is to activate Buse Hill Lookout, situated 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 stay. The final ¾ hour of the drive is on gravel vary roads. My spouse Alexis (VE7LXE) is accompanying me on this journey, as at all times.

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 time passion and the BC Mineral Titles on-line maps had been important for figuring out 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 troublesome 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.

Meaning having two ready POTA again packs; one with the KX3 for close to automobile activations, and my KX2 backpack for mountain 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 suppose exhausting about whether or not to only park right here and backpack it up or threat driving-up an unknown uphill again nation gravel highway with unknown dangers.

Over the previous few weeks, we have now already accomplished 4 backpacked activations. From what I can see from the place we presently are, I’m pondering why not give this 2016 Subaru Forester an opportunity to point out what it’s product of? (gulp)

I don’t make this choice calmly. Whereas I don’t contemplate my Forester a real backcountry 4-wheeler, I’ve been actually impressed with most of the locations it has been in a position to get me to in previous years of distant activations and gold panning outings that traverse quite a few distant forestry roads. So, at the moment I determine to go along with my intestine and drive up – realizing that we might solely make it half approach, after which backpack up the remainder. Right here we go….

I’m glad for the dry climate currently. If there had been a lot rain not too long ago, this largely dust highway wouldn’t be viable for me to drive in any respect. The opposite cause I’m slightly hesitant of this drive-up is that my Nokian All-Climate tires are 4-years previous 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).

Attempting 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. Properly, I’m attempting to obey the principles, however some spots I have to drive round (simply sufficient to not get caught).

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

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

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

Nonetheless straddling the trenches, and hi there free-range cattle.

Whereas nonetheless straddling trenches on the left facet, we’re greeted by among the native free-range cows. This entire space outdoors the park is free-range ranchlands. Free-range cows are literally a typical 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 seems to be. I walked uphill first to the crescent to verify it was protected for the Forester to proceed up (in case there’s no room for turning round). I concluded that it’s doable though it’s filled 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 centered on safely navigating the steep rocky slopes that had been borderline doable for the Forester. That ultimate 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 among the alternating deep trenches we needed to navigate round. A few of this space was stable rock mountain outcrops.

Success!
Lastly, we safely made it to the highest – and what a tremendous view! Well 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 considered one of their advert campaigns? Okay, so it’s a 2016. With the magic of contemporary AI, they will in all probability overlay a 2025 model, and nobody would be the wiser. 😊

2016 Subaru Forester taking a nicely deserved relaxation.

Now that we have now 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 feel the additional weight of all this gear helped with traction on the steep inclines (and having all-wheel drive doesn’t damage both).

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

As we speak, as soon as once more I’m utilizing my not too long ago acquired Chamaeleon CHA Porta-Mount Wheel Mount to help my Gigaparts 34’ (really, ~ 32’) carbon fiber telescopic mast.

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

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 airplane. I verified this once I was tuning the antenna at house with assistance from my Rig Skilled 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 facet).

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 have now an issue!
After 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 can 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 at the moment.

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 might be an important alternative to check 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, hooked up to its facet.

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 can be working with the KX3 at 10W CW and utilizing it with KXPD2 hooked up paddle for keying.

As at all times, I begin on 20m, the bread & butter band, till I get at the very 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 feel 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 replacement for some time. This can be a swap from a vertical polarized antenna to a horizontal polarized antenna. Though, as a result of lack of tall bushes for finish helps, it’s actually an Inverted Vee configuration, which I suppose is a mixture between vertical and horizontal polarization. And, as at all times, 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 superb (for me at the very 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 notice that my RST stories 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 at all times 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 on. I’ve at all times had usually 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 dangerous for the 17m band. Right here, I pick-up AL, UT, CO, ON, MO, VA, ON, TX, and KD4JO in MD (I not often get Maryland contacts). However wait – there’s extra… my ultimate 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 cause 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 lots there and must 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. Undecided why I didn’t strive more durable 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 approach as much as 10m, I usually work my approach again down simply to see if band circumstances have modified very a lot. It’s round 22:50 UTC, so I don’t have plenty of time to spend on every band on the best way again down.

Again to 12m.
Between 22:54 and 23:01 I choose 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’ll be able to click on on the picture for a greater view)

It’s been an important day taking part in POTA whereas Alexis loved her time enjoyable, studying, and simply taking-in the gorgeous views on such an exquisite 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.

Notice: This picture on the best way down makes the automobile look stage, however in actuality, we had been on a tilted slope of a couple of 15° angle. (Discover the bushes are slanted to the fitting by about 15 ° angle) Blame the photographer (me). 😊