Salmoncon XVIII, 2023

Salmoncon is an annual gathering of low power (QRP) ham radio operators held at beautiful Valley Camp in North Bend, WA. Usually held the first full weekend after July 4th,except when the 4th falls in the middle of the week, the event provides a venue for QRP operators to share knowledge and experiences related to low power operating.

Salmoncon XVII will be held over the weekend of July 8 and 9, 2023. A few of the members will arrive as early as Wednesday, July 5, and our annual special event callsign, K7S, is active Wednesday, July 5 through Monday, July 10.

2023 Event Schedule - After being updated, can be downloaded below. Stay tuned for details.

We try hard each year to line up a series of formal presentations that will be of interest to everyone. This year's lineup is yet to be determined.

New this year

Bill, WA7NCL, is organizing a group SOTA event to take place on Saturday, July 8, that will be an adjunct to our normal Salmoncon activities. In the past we have had SOTA activities taking place on the Friday of Salmoncon, but in the interest of including more ops who work and can't participate on Fridays we will hold the group event on Saturday.

SOTA ops can either gather at Valley Camp on the morning of July 8 to coordinate rides and share activation info or can go directly to their first chosen peaks. After the activations, SOTA ops are invited back to Valley Camp to socialize and to partake in our traditional salmon burger meal.

In addition, SOTA ops are encouraged to take advantage of the camping facilities available at Valley Camp (contact Teena at info@valleycamp.org) and are invited to join in Salmoncon activities on Sunday.

Click on the SOTA document below for further details.

Friday

· Early arrivals check in with Teena and set up individual campsites and stations.

Valley Camp offers unique opportunities for setting up and testing antennas, with its wide fields and surrounding trees.

· We will not use paper sign-in sheets so as to limit person to person contact. Sandra, W7SKM, will keep an attendance log. Please contact her at RV space 1 or anywhere on the grounds so she can record your info.

· Each operator should keep his or her own digital log and at the end of the event email it to Bob, AF9W, at: af9w@arrl.net

· On-the-air operation is encouraged and is a main feature of the event.

Operators should use the special event callsign K7S while operating from Valley Camp during Salmoncon. Operators are encouraged to post their operation times and frequencies to http://www.qrpspots.com/ so as to make it easier for others to make contact us.

· Evening Meal – A group effort meal is planned, check the main schedule for info.

Saturday

There will be a mix of outdoor activities and formal presentation on Saturday, and somewhat the same on Sunday, depending on the number of formal presentations available.

We start the day on Saturday with a welcome and info talk in the main shelter. Then we roam the grounds hunting for hidden 30 Meter CW and 2 Meter FM transmitters.

In late morning a formal presentation is held in the main shelter.

After lunch, there is another formal presentation, and possibly a third one a bit later.

There will be opportunities to roam the grounds and check out individual operating stations at the various campsites.

Sunday

Sunday's format will be the same. Again, check the main schedule for more detailed info.

Meals

Each campsite or individual will provide their own food and drink, except for the provided items for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening meals. See the main schedule for info on evening meals.

Operating

There is a tower and beam with rotator available for us, as well as tall trees with pulleys already installed, both near the group shelter and near the RV camp ground so we will have the opportunity to get several portable stations on the air. There is a Triplexer also, which means that the beam can be used on 20, 15 and 10 at the same time. Note that our special event call sign, K7S, is active beginning Wednesday, July 6 and is good through Monday, July 11.

Do bring either complete portable stations, antennas, favorite paddles, or any other radio related items that would help provide the variety of rigs, stations, and station equipment that we all enjoy seeing and trying out.

Fees

No fees are charged for the event other than camping fees for staying overnight at Valley Camp. Donations are accepted and are especially encouraged so as to help cover the operating costs of Valley Camp. Due co Covid, this has been an especially lean year for them. A donation mailbox is located at the Group shelter.

Overnight Camping

Valley Camp has tent and RV sites available. Please make your reservations early with Teena at Valley Camp. Information on Valley Camp facilities can be found at https://valleycamp.org/

Location

Valley Camp is located in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley outside of North Bend, WA. The address is 49515 SE Middle Fork Road, North Bend, WA 98045. The camp can be reached at 425-888-1852 or info@valleycamp.org

Photos

If you take photos during the event, or have photos of previous events, please email them to Bob, AF9W, af9w@arrl.net, so we can add some to this website for next year.

See the Map to Valley Camp Below