The 2008 7th Call Area QSO Party (7QP) marks my re-entry into HF operation. The email advertising the 3rd year of the 7QP triggered fond memories of portable operation during the MIQP a couple of decades ago with my father Norman (deceased N8AFS, ex-WB8SVZ, WN8SVZ). I'd pick counties with small populations and unlikely ham activity and activated Arenac & Keweenaw Counties in Michigan in separate years. I'd pick the county. Dad & I would either camp or rent a motel room/cabin, and I'd operate the contest. Dad seemed content helping set up the ham gear & antenna, and letting me do the operating.

Fast forward to 2008, this 7QP sounds intriguing. A quick glance at population data showed that Greenlee County had the least population in the state of Arizona. I've been through the county before, it is neatly bisected by the "Coronado Trail", a scenic mountainous, curvy highway between Alpine and Clifton. Though it is now called US-191, it was called US-666 the last time I took this road. I wonder why they changed the number??? Having been down this trail before, I remembered there being a lodge at Hannagan Meadow. A quick web search, and the Hannagan Meadow Lodge was found. Over 9000ft elevation before I get an antenna up! Fantastic!

Continuing my dream of activating Greenlee County for the 7QP, I note on the 7QP Planned Operations page that the Eastern AZ Amateur Radio Society is planning an operation at the Graham/Greenlee County border. This does not deter me, as I am fully engaged in this dream. Besides, the elevation at the border is low & the temperatures will be high(er). Good luck, guys!

I have the Kenwood TS-520 HF rig that my dad bought for "us" back in the 1970s. I also have an old Dentron antenna tuner and some miscellaneous cables. Needed: a portable antenna and a way to get it in the air! With a week to go until 7QP, I made a trip to Phoenix to Ham Radio Outlet and Frys Electronics. I was surprised that HRO was out of the antenna I wanted, and had low stock on cables. I got more of what I needed at Frys Electronics than I did at HRO. I was forced to make my own antenna, a G5RV style portable. In hindsight, I'm glad I did. I had time to assemble the antenna and set it up in the backyard. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to try it out prior to packing for the trip.

Got the antenna and ham gear set up with plenty of time to check out the antenna performance prior to the contest. I was encouraged when able to work some DX in South America and Europe. The G5RV tuned up fine on 80m, 20m, and 15m, but did not tune up well at all on 40m. Anyone have any ideas why?

In short, I had a blast during the contest. Over 200 QSOs, most US states, Canada and several other DX. 20m provided the most QSOs, followed by 80m, 40m (despite the >5:1 SWR) and only 5 QSOs on 15m. 15m had no QRM/N, it was a distinct lack of hams on the band that resulted in the low QSO count.

At the conclusion of the 7QP at midnight MST, I revelled in my achievement (my initial goal was to make 100 QSOs) for a couple of hours before retiring. The NEQP continues the next day, and I can join that contest as well! However, I decide sleep was more important than my NEQP score. I woke up at 2pm on Sunday, and didn't get operating until after 3pm, less than 2 hours to go until the NEQP end!

After the conclusion of the NEQP Sunday at 5pm local time, I did a little sightseeing in the immediate area. Against my plans (I had a lot of food left that I thought I'd get rid of), I ended up in the Hannagan Meadow Lodge Restaurant at dinnertime. The soup & salad bar fulfilled a hungry but not THAT hungry appetite. Of course, after hearing pie was coming out of the oven, I tried the Fruit of the Forest Pie (described as 5 berries & rhubarb), which was delicious.