Rooftop VHF/UHF Antenna

I finally got around to installing a VHF/UHF/GMRS antenna on the roof.  Since our roof is so high, I had to get an extension ladder and luckily found one at a local thrift store.  I did get stuck on the roof and had to have Jyoti hold it but I figured it out eventually.  After several trips up and down, I had the antenna installed next to the internet dish.  I was nice to get the LMR-400 feedline down the tube into the shack so I didn't have to string along the house.

Antenna mounted on roof

'Merica

I was up at Compass to zero some rifles and had a though.  There were a bunch of folks on the pistol range.  The rifle range had AR's, FRT's and even a .50.  'Merica!

Chili Cookoff

We hosted the 2025 Highland Pines Chili Cookoff!

I also joined the POA board.

Jeep Trip - Camp Wood Rd and Bagdad

With the great weather lately, we spend the day taking a jeep trip.  We started up Williamson Valley Rd and turned onto Camp Wood Rd.  Camp Wood is very well maintained and there were several vehicles on it.  The terrain started with ranch land, then juniper forest then pine forest.  The western end went through a very nice canyon area.

In Bagdad, we checked out the outdoor mining display and had a nice protein iced coffee.  We also did a short hike along Bridle Creek.

We left Bagdad southbound along 96, then 97 west to 93.  After a few miles south, we turn eastware onto Santa Maria Rd.  This easy trail had some very nice wildflower fields.  He ended up back on 96 and then took the highway to Skull Valley.

We finished up by taking Copper Basin Rd and then Thumb Butte Rd (which was very bumpy) back home.

Wildflowers along Santa Maria Rd

Dump truck shovel in Bagdad

Great weather and views

Great weather and views

Prescribed Burns

Here in Arizona, they take preventative measures for fires.  In California they just wait until entire towns are destroyed.

Local prescribed burn

Snow Camp 2026

Had another awesome time at snow camp.  There was enough snow to camp at French Camp so we made the walk to Tom's Place for breakfast and watch women's Olympic curling.

While we were gone, a bobcat stalked our patio

Tom's Place bar

Great weather

Camp

Getting geared up for the snowshoe in

Snow in Atlanta

Atlanta got ice and snow the week I was there.

Snow in Smyrna