Salmoncon XXI
July 11-12, 2026

About Salmoncon

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 XXI will be held over the weekend of July 11 and 12, 2026.   A few of the members will arrive as early as Wednesday, July 8, and our annual special event callsign, K7S, is active Wednesday, July 9 through Monday, July 13.

All interested ham radio operators are welcome. (We're a friendly bunch.) Please join the QRPp mailing list on groups.io and let us know to expect you. If you plan to camp, please also make a reservation with Valley Camp.

2026 Event Schedule - The schedule will be available for download below, as event time gets closer. Double click on the schedule file and it will take you to the pdf.  You can then download as desired.

We try hard each year to line up a series of presentations that will be of interest to everyone.  

In addition we hold a Tents On The Air Competition (TOTA) on Sunday afternoon with everyone using 5 watts into a three foot wire and a dummy load. We've done this two years in a row now, and it has been so much fun that it may well become a tradition.

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.

• The event schedule will be posted at the shelter entrance and we will have sign-up sheets and stick-on name tags there as well.  Please sign in with your callsign, name and home QTH. 

• Each operator should keep their own digital log and at the end of the event email it to Bob, AF9W, at: af9w@bobandgloria.com

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

Operators are welcome to 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/ to make it easier for others to make contact us.

• SOTA operators are encouraged to get out to the summits on Friday, and coordinate with those in camp for contacts as well as with others elsewhere.

• 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 both Saturday and Sunday.

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, other formal presentations follow.

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

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 8 and is good through Monday, July 13. 

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.  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 River 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@bobandgloria.com, so we can add some to this website for next year.  

See the Map to Valley Camp Below