Sunday, March 11 is the date of the next southern California on-foot transmitter hunting session. It will be at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale and will feature a five-transmitter radio-orienteering course of low-to-moderate difficulty. All ages are welcome, so bring the family. A ham radio license is not required. Experts will be on hand to teach you the basic techniques of on-foot radio direction-finding (RDF).
This event is a mix-in with a classic orienteering session of the Los Angeles Orienteering Club (LAOC). That's why it's on Sunday, not Saturday. Course-setter will be Marvin Johnston KE6HTS. Because Marvin has duties for LAOC during this event, there will not be an antenna and attenuator building workshop. However, if you want to pick up a kit for antenna and/or attenuator to take home, contact Marvin by e-mail (marvin@west.net) and he will bring it to the park with him.
The transmitter hunt will commence at 10 AM. Hunters may start out on the courses at any time until 12 noon. Courses close at 2:30 PM. Orienteering flags and electronic scoring will be used at each transmitter. If you have an "e-stick," be sure to bring it. For non-LAOC members, there will be a $12 donation for individuals ($14 for small groups) to cover expenses related to the use of Los Angeles Orienteering Club's e-punch equipment and maps. For LAOC members, the donation is $7 individual and $9 group.
Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area is in the city of Irwindale near the intersection of the 605 and 210 freeways. From 605 northbound, take the Live Oak Avenue exit and go east. From 605 southbound, take Arrow Highway exit and go east. In both cases, you will merge into Arrow Highway westbound. The park entrance will be on your left, opposite Azusa Canyon Road. Alternately, from the 210 freeway, exit at Irwindale Avenue, go south to Arrow Highway, turn right (west) and look for the park entrance on your right opposite Azusa Canyon Road. Vehicular entrance and parking costs $10 per vehicle. After the entry kiosk, continue to the first stop sign, go straight through the intersection and then turn left into the parking lot at the end of the short road. Talk-in is on 146.52 MHz simplex.
A map to the park is at www.homingin.com. If rain is forecasted, check the Web site for possible cancellation. Remember to set your clock ahead one hour Saturday night for Daylight Savings Time so you won't be an hour late!
If you have questions, send e-mail to homingin@aol.com. The park's business office will not have updated information about this event.
73, Joe Moell K0OV homingin@aol.com