After the 100 mile drive to the starting point for this hunt at the Oak Hill off ramp of I15, I had a 25 degree reading for the signal. Seems others had 0 degrees. After a quick reposition of the 4-Runner, I also had 0 degrees. This pointed up the Owens Valley through Death Valley. I found it interesting that the reading to  Bob Miller’s main T just happened to pass over Miller Mountain in Nevada. It also pointed to a mountain range north of Death Valley.

After a quick lunch at the AstroBurger in Kramer Junction, I proceeded to a place north of Johannesburg where I had a clear view to the north and the first strong signal of the day. The reading was 350 which now pointed up the Owens Valley and not toward Death Valley. As I arrived at Owens (Dry) Lake I had the Icom 760G in attenuate mode with another 20 DB in the attenuator in front of the radio. This must be da place.
 
The signal pointed to Cerro Gordo Peak. As I started up the 7-mile, 3000 foot climb I heard the talking “frog” T and also passed N6AIN and WB6JPI as they were coming down. After a couple of miles the road gets steep. I overshot the T and found myself in the mining town of Cerro Gordo in front of the hotel. I had to take a break as the transmission overheat light on the 4-Runner had come on. I never knew it had such a light. After a pleasant chat with the proprietor of the town the 4-Runner was ready for action. Not far down the mountain I found T1.

               

                  Steep road                                                                           Hotel

Once reaching the bottom, I headed up hwy 136 toward Lone Pine. I could hear the KD6CYG T but it was difficult to get a bearing between the main T and the almost continuous talking T. The readings were weak to moderate and came from the west and east. I decided I needed a better location so I took hwy 395 south to Lubkin Cyn Rd. and after gaining a little altitude I had a strong signal for the CYG T that pointed in line with hwy 190 toward Death Valley. This explained a great many things. The signals to the west were bounces and the signal on hwy 136 was shielded from direct reception.

I decided to track down the talking T. Going south on hwy 395 I came to a wide dirt road that headed west in the same direction as the now strong signal. Everything was going well until I came across a pair of no trespassing signs with the signal strongly pointing between them. This would have been easier if I had an AAA map that covered this area. Each of the three maps I had covered a different part of the general area where the talking T was but none of them actually show the location of the T. I returned to Lubkin Cyn. Rd. and this time took it to Horse Meadows Rd. Going south I found the talking T and a spectacular view.
 


           Can’t go this a way
            

              Talking T                                                                Looking north

Now all I to do was drive back down to hwy 395, jog up to hwy 136 which connects to hwy 190 and take it to the area where I guessed the KD6CYG T was. After getting on hwy 190 I noticed that the main T was now on continuously with just a carrier. Fortunately I already knew what area I wanted to check next. The CYG T was where I expected it.



           KD6CYG T in the rocks

Lots of driving, spectacular views, overheating transmissions, bouncing signals, failing T’s, these are the things great hunts are made of ! Thanks Bob and Cathy for a great hunt.



WA6RJN
Doug