[ARDF] ARDF in east Los Angeles County January 8

[Homingin at aol.com]

Schabarum Regional Park will be the site of southern California's first 
international-style on-foot foxhunt of 2005 on Saturday, January 8.  Experts will 
be on hand to teach you the basic techniques of on-foot radio direction-finding 
(RDF).  If you are a beginner, there will be entry-level two-meter fox 
transmitters just for you, set by Joe Moell K0OV.  For advanced radio-orienteers, 
there will be a 5-fox two-meter course of about the same length as typical 
national championship courses, set by Marvin Johnston KE6HTS.  An optional 80-meter 
fox transmitter will also be on the air.

This event is being held in cooperation with the Los Angeles Orienteering 
Club (LAOC). The LAOC participation fee is $5 adult and $3 youth for individual 
LAOC members and $7 for non-members.  Groups of two to four persons can go out 
on the courses together, in which case the group fee is $7 for LAOC members 
and $9 for non-members.  Fees include a copy of LAOC's excellent orienteering 
map of the hunt area.

Bring any 2-meter RDF "sniffing" gear you have.  If you don't have any, just 
bring your HT or scanner.  Even if you don't have that, come out anyway.  A 
limited number of RDF sets will be available for loan.  Also be sure to bring 
anything you'll need while going after those radio foxes, such as munchies, 
bottled water and sunscreen.  Make sure all batteries are fresh.  For map 
plotting, bring your own compass, protractor and pencil.  Electronic punching will be 
used (on the advanced course only), so bring your "e-stick."  If you don't 
have one, you can rent one for the day at the start of the hunt.

Practice 2-meter transmitters will go on the air and registration will begin 
at 9:30 AM on Saturday, January 5.  The main 5-fox hunt will begin at 10:00 
AM.  There are picnic tables and BBQ grills nearby, so you can bring your lunch 
or cook up something if you wish.  Courses close at 3 PM.

Trails are primitive in some areas of the park, so wear sturdy shoes.  All 
ages are welcome, but young children must be accompanied by an adult at all 
times.  

The park entrance is on the south side of Colima Road, just east of Azusa 
Avenue in Hacienda Heights.  (Thomas Guide Pg678-G4)  Entry fee for the park is 
$4 per vehicle, so carpooling would be a good idea.  Upon passing through the 
entry gate, drive straight ahead (don't turn right) and continue to the end of 
the road (about 0.7 mile).  Park in the last parking lot near the restrooms.  
Look for the orange and white Orienteering flags and signs.  Call K-zero-O-V 
on 146.970 simplex if you have trouble finding the site within the park.

Maps to the start point are at www.homingin.com

Questions?  Send e-mail to:k0ov at homingin.com

Joe Moell K0OV
USA ARDF Coordinator