News - Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club

June 26, 2016
2016 Field Day
Photos by Markus Hehlen (KF5TJQ) and Jon Doorn (KG5CUK)

Field Day 2016 was a good success with a good number of contacts/points made and a nice time spent together outside at the North Mesa Picnic Grounds in Los Alamos. The 20m band took a surprisingly long time to open up on Sunday morning. A larger than usual number of contacts were made using digital modes. Below are a few impressions from Field Day 2016.

Denis Dimick (KC6AUP) at the controls.

Milan Gadd (KB0BED) at the second operating station.

One of the antennas of the mesh network connecting the station logs.

Breakfast is served on Sunday morning: pancakes and ham.

One of the two operating stations.

The second operating station on the east side of the picnic grounds.

Tom Beery (WD5CAW) and Denis Dimick (KC6AUP) operating CW.

Alan Hack (W5UO), George Randall (KD5HWA), and Richard Smale (W5IL).

Bill Boedeker (NM5BB) waiting for 20m to open on Sunday morning.

Generator provided reliable power throughout the event.

No Field Day without Alden Oyer's (AG5S) famous sourdough pancakes!

Alan Hack (W5UO), Bill Boedeker (NM5BB), Ted Karki (W5VXE), Tom Springer (K5YDX), and Milan Gadd (KB0BED).

May 21, 2016
Jemez Mountain Trail Run
Photos by Jon Doorn, KG5CUK

The annual Jemez Mountain Trail Run took place this weekend for the eleventh time. It was a picture-perfect spring day. As in previous years, LAARC provided radio communication at the numerous checkpoints along the trail route. Jon Doorn (KG5CUK) was one of the LAARC volunteers, and he shared some pictures and impressions from his shift at the event. Jon was stationed at the Pajarito Ski Lodge and handled radio traffic together with Joan Rogers (KC5BPI) who performed the logging. This particular checkpoint had to report 15 runners who dropped out of the race, and Jon also handled radio traffic for a few people who wanted to know where their spouses were located on the trail. Jon reported that the radio station at the Ski Lodge functioned very efficiently and effectively as they were positioned right behind the check-in counter.

Left: Checkpoint at the Pajarito Ski Lodge. Center: Jon Doorn (KG5CUK, left) and Joan Rogers (KC5BPI, right) at the controls. Right: Equipment and much needed hydration.