July 1, 2025 - Central Okanagan, BC
The Orchard City Amateur Radio Club had plans to do some maintenance on the Little White VE7ROC repeater (146.82- T88.5). Mike VE7KPZ joined in on the fun - a 6 km return, 400 m elevation gain hike. The plan was to assist as a pack mule and then activate for both SOTA and POTA while at the summit. Little White mountain, SOTA reference VE7/OK-001, is located in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park, POTA reference CA-3863.
The group gets ready at the trailhead cut block parking.
Following Gary Cooper VE7GCP's great instructions, Mike drove to the trailhead the day before and camped out. At 8:30 AM the main group arrived and hiking commenced 9 AM.
The group stopping for a break just exiting the forest section.
Continuing up to the col.
A lovely trail.
Along the ridge to the summit top right.
Sandra packed the two new solar panels all the way to the top like a Nepalese sherpa.
Bug-covered Mike happy to arrive.
The group gained the summit just after 11 AM. The maintenance team, led by Chris Walter VE7EQN, got to work while Mike set up for both VHF and 20/40m HF operation.
Mike's operating position.
This was the first field test of Mike's new QRPLabs QMX. Mike had forgotten to bring headphones/speaker so HF operation could only be via FT8 using iFTx on his phone. 40m FT8 gave only one QSO with Steve Maidment VE7DBS in nearby Kelowna. Conversely, 20m FT8 was jam packed and a bit of a challenge to get heard at QRP power level. Over the next hour the QMX's 5 watts of RF power was able to make 8 more contacts with folks all over North America plus one notable contact in Japan, Kazuhiro "Kaz" Idenuma 7N1FRE.
Mike operating in the shade.
VHF FM operation yielded 11 contacts. Wilf Mulder VE7OHM was the farthest QSO north in Vernon while Orin Beebe VE7BEE was the farthest south in Keremeos. Many Kelowna locals were also added to the log.
SOTA Goat app confirmed the SOTA activation zone.
With a total of 20 QSOs the activations were sufficiently complete so Mike tore down the station and headed over to other repeater site to see if any assistance could be rendered. Mike assisted with a bit of fibreglass work on the comm shell before loading up some of the maintenance supplies to carry for the trip down.
The group heads down.
The group made it back to the vehicles at the trailhead in just over an hour. Down is always easier than up, especially for Mike as he was 4.5 litres of water lighter for the return trip. Mike decided to camp out at the trailhead another night before heading home to Vernon the next day.
July 2 sunrise heading home.
You can see the official OCARC report (with more details of the service work done) for this event here: https://www.ocarc.ca/node/624
It was a great hike with a great group,
Mike VE7KPZ
Ps: if you are interested in mixing amateur radio with hiking, shoot Mike an email via his QRZ email address.
May 18, 2025 - Falkland, BC
Big thanks to this year's Falkland Stampede Parade organization volunteers:
Jake VE7WEA with YL Caitlin
Ritchie VA7RLX
Colin VA7EEH with YL Donna
Howard VA7PWF
Bud VE7KBK
Doug VA7CPS
Mike VA7XDM
Felix VA7VOL (lead)
The weather cleared up just before the event. The event organization went smoothly. Many hands/handhelds made for light work.
In total, with each club member volunteering a half day of their time plus Felix's prep time, this adds up to approximately (10 x 4 hours + 6 hours) 46 hours of community service work.
On May 10, 2025, NORAC lost it's founding president, Dennis (Denny) Warner VE7ASY.
Denny became NORAC's first president on November 6, 1975 and built the club's first 146.880 VE7RSS repeater - a vacuum tube unit - in 1976. For more about Denny and his role in the early days of NORAC see the Club Early History page.
In recent years Denny was noted for his incredible morse code skills, staying on the key late into the night at every club Field Day event.
Above we can see Denny VE7ASY on the key alongside Aaren VA7AEJ logging while Jane VE7WWJ looks on. In the background we have Watty VE7WTE (also recent SK), Doug VE7VZ, Phil VE7PAZ, Terry VE7TRZ, Bud VE7KBK and one of Phil's kids by the snack table at NORAC Field Day 2018.
Denny's obituary on Castanet can be found here: https://www.castanet.net/obituaries/WARNER%2C_Calvin_Charles_%22Dennis%22/33912/
May 2-4, 2025 - Fintry Provincial Park, Central Okanagan, BC
The life of silent key Cary VA7MXY Benson was celebrated at Fintry Provincial Park group site 3 this first weekend in May, 2025. Radio friends, childhood friends and family attended a wonderful weekend at the park topped with a decadent pot-luck dinner Saturday night. In total, nearly 30 people came together doing what Cary loved, camping. Stories were shared throughout the day and around the fire each night to ensure Cary's memory is preserved.
For NORAC members in attendance we remember Cary as being one of the most brilliant on-air operators, an instigator of many club camping trips, a regular club service volunteer and an all-round amateur radio enthusiast. At this event the hams in attendance tested out some of Cary's old gear as well as got on the air in his memory.
Group site 3 just before the pot-luck dinner on Saturday afternoon.
Mike VE7KPZ prepares for some FT8 digital mode communications while David VA7DRS looks on.
Colin VA7EEH's DX Commander Expedition multi-band vertical antenna setup at the edge of the site with Tao the dog in foreground.
Jane VE7WWJ working some FT8 to overcome the challenging HF band conditions.
Colin VA7EEH prepares his famous ribs for the pot-luck dinner while Tao the dog looks on with anticipation.
Good times around the campfire with Paul VE7PDE, friend of Cary's, Colin VA7EEH and Lorne VE7LWK.
Hams also in attendance but not pictured were Ritchie VA7RLX with YL Rose, Michal VE7TMZ/VE7MHX with YL and John VE7JWS.
John VE7JWS produced some fantastic laser-enscribed "dog tags" to mark the event.
It was great to see Cary's YL Maggie and son Aiden surrounded by so many great folks, some coming from as far as the lower mainland for the event.
Colin VA7EEH has already booked the group site for spring 2026 as it was such a well-attended event.