2025 Stomp results have been posted.

  Check them out below.  

We had much better conditions this year, and the much larger submission of score sheets, and the much higher scores themselves bear this out.  Already looking forward to the next Stomp.

The Sasquatch Stomp is an amateur radio contest sponsored by the Pacific North West QRP Group and is designed to get QRP operators on the air for a fun event similar to the Zombie Shuffle. As you will see, this event was inspired by the Zombie Shuffle and we would like to thank Paul, NA5N, and Jan, N0QT, for giving permission to copy their ideas.  The main point of this contest is to get on the air and have fun. The event is scored, but unlike other contests the final score for each participant will be a negative number with the object being to get the lowest number below zero.

The Sasquatch Stomp will be held annually, on the last Friday in March.

Why do Sasquatches Stomp? Because we can, and because it confounds those who are looking for us!

Hours of operation: From 19:00 UTC Friday until 03:00 UTC Saturday

For those on the West Coast, that translates to 12:00 Noon local to 8:00 PM local. On the East Coast that translates to 3:00 PM local until 11:00 PM local time. Work as little or as much as you care to of that time frame.

To that end, remember that this is not a high speed CW contest.  Slow down and enjoy helping others improve their skills.

Bands of operation: 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 Meters, near the QRP watering holes on each band. 

Frequencies of operation:  Operation will be centered on the QRP Calling Frequencies for each band.  We should leave the exact calling frequency open, but find an open spot just above or below the calling frequency.

Method of operation:  There's a saying among contesters that goes like this:  "If you aren't running, you aren't winning".  Which means that probably the best way to success is to get on a clear frequency and start calling CQ STMP.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't tune up or down a little from time to time when contacts slow.  You should do that too so as to catch others that are "running", but mainly  keep calling CQ STMP so that you continually put your signal out there.

When you are looking for a clear frequency to begin with, that's a good time to scan the band up and down a few KHz from the calling frequency to look for activity.  If you hear a STMPer, make a contact, then briefly scan for others and work them.  Once you've contacted all you hear, pick a clear spot close to the last one worked, especially if that one was a Yeti, as others will want to work that one too, and if your CQ STMP is going out right next to the Yeti's frequency you are more likely to be found and contacted.

If you hear no STMPers don't be discouraged, pick a clear spot and start sending out CQs.  After all, if no one else is sending you'll be the one signal on the band that ops will gravitate to. 

If you've had no activity for a while it might be time to switch bands.  Because of the way normal propagation works, we usually start on the higher bands and work our way lower as time goes on.

When you switch bands, tune up and down a little from the QRP calling frequency and look for STMPers.  Work what you hear, and again settle in next to one and start calling.  Again, if you hear nothing, settle in and start calling anyway. 

Mode: CW Only  

TX Power: 5 watts max

Initial Call: CQ STMP

Exchange: RST, SPC (state, province, or country), Sasquatch Number and Name.

If you don't yet have a Sasquatch Number, use the last three numbers of your ZIP Code, or, if you are Canadian, the numbers included in your Postal Code. This event is open to all licensed Radio Amateurs.  

QSOs with stations other than "Stompers" count too.  Use the three numbers of the signal report you receive in place of the Sasquatch Number for scoring.

Instead of SK, end contacts with STMP

REBIRTH RULE: So as to provide more action, work previously contacted stations again on the same band as previously worked as long as one hour has passed since the prior contact. Obviously, the same station can be worked on different bands with no time constraint.

Some select stations will be signing themselves as Yeti or Yetina. QSOs with these stations will be worth -999 extra bonus points. YLs are encouraged to sign as Yetina.  If you have operated as a Yeti or Yetina in previous Stomps, please continue to do so.

 Examples: 599 WA 999 Wayne

                 599 WA 998 Yetina

Sasquatch Numbers: Begin at 999 in descending order.

Grand Sasquatch: Wayne, NB6M, Sasquatch # 999

Grand Cryptid and Contest Recountant: Sandra, W7SKM, Sasquatch #998

Bonus Point OPs, Yeti or Yetina: -999

Straight Key All Night: -9,999

Bugs, cootie keys and other manual keys count as straight keys for the Stomp.  Electronic keyers or keyboards do not.

Poor Band Conditions: -9,999

We always add in the -9,999 points just to add a little kick to everyone's score.  Even now with sunspot numbers peaking we still have interference from solar flares and other atmospheric phenomena, as was true for at least the last two Sasquatch Stomps.

Getting a Sasquatch Number:

Please email the Grand Cryptid (skmcfee@att.net) to secure your own Sasquatch Number (good for life).

You can view and download the "official" scoresheet below.  When you first click on it, a viewable only file will be displayed.  Download a copy and then open that copy from your downloads folder (or wherever you put it) and that copy is fully editable and will do all calculations for you.

There is no need to send your log, unless requested to do so in case of a tie.

On the score sheet, fill in the year of the event in the green box on line 4, fill in your callsign in the green box on line 7, and fill in your QTH (State, Province or Country if DX) in the green box on line 8. 

Enter the exchange YOU sent, SPC, Sasquatch Number, and name in the green boxes on line 11. If you are a designated Yeti station, please use Yeti or Yetina, which ever is appropriate, in place of your name on the form and when making contacts.  

Add up all of the Sasquatch Numbers you received, plus the three digit ZIP code numbers sent by those Stompers who don't yet have a Sasquatch Number, and add the three digit RST numbers received from stations contacted who were not participating in the Stomp.  Enter the total with a minus sign in front of it in the green box on line 15 of the score sheet.

Here's an example log:

CALL        RST        SPC        Sasquatch #        NAME

K7NAW    599        WA               814                    YETI

K4BAL      559        GA                936                    JIM

N7KG       599        WA                363                    LEN

KJ4KPZ    559        MD                                         JAMES

The first two entries have assigned Sasquatch Numbers.  The third entry is Stomping and using the last three numbers of his ZIP code because he doesn't yet have an assigned number.  The last entry is a non-Stomper, so we will use the received RST in place of a Sasquatch Number..

So we add 814, 936, 363 and 559 to get the total needed for the green box on line 15 of the score sheet.  This total is 2,672.  We enter that number in the green box on line 15 with a minus sign in front of it to indicate that it is a negative number, like this -2,672, and hit enter.

Next we add up the number of Yetis and Yetinas we worked and enter that number as a regular positive number in the green box on line 16 of the score sheet.  In this case we worked just one, so we enter a  1  in that box and hit enter.

Next we add up how many contacts we made and put that number as a regular positive number in the green box on line 17 of the score sheet.  In this case we had a total of four contacts so we enter a  4  in that box.  Once we hit enter, the form calculates our raw score.

Lastly, if we used a straight key for the whole event, we enter -9,999 in the green box on line 23 of the score sheet  and hit enter.  If not, we enter nothing.

Our final score is shown on line 27 as a large negative number.

If you care to check the math, here is what happens on the form.  The number of Yetis and Yetinas worked is multiplied by -999 and that sum is added to the negative number which is the sum of the Sasquatch Numbers you worked.  The total is then multiplied by the number of contacts you made, resulting in your RAW SCORE.  Then -9,999 is added for Poor Band Conditions and another -9,999 points is added if you used a straight key.  The result is your negative Total Score.

See the example score sheet downloadable below.  You can even use it as your own, just change the info and numbers.

Score sheets must be submitted within two weeks after  the contest.

Score sheets can either be emailed to:

nb6m (at) att (dot) net or mailed to:

Wayne McFee NB6M

18345 Osprey Court

Mount Vernon, WA

98274

Thanks for participating.

Wayne NB6M, Sasquatch # 999

Sandra W7SKM, Sasquatch #998