It was a great day for a T hunt...but then again even a suck ugly stormy
day is a good day for a T hunt. At the start I couldn't hear squat until I
finally moved to a specific 1 foot square area in the church parking lot where I
could hear the main T. I was almost convinced that the T was hidden there under
the asphalt. Left the hill for a look see at Green River. Headed out for the
Whitewater area. Along the way, from the 91/215/60 interchange I start hearing
4 distinct transmitters coming from the east end of Big Bear Mtn. In spite of
this fact I continued to drive to the big signal from San Jacinto....Something I
was punished for later.
From Whitewater I was getting indications that the signal was coming from
the Onyx Peak area, so it's off to Hwy 62. On the way there I find out that
Steve's Durango is overheating badly. I stick with Steve and Deryl for the trip
through the worst of the dessert drive and into Big Bear. Steve and Deryl call
it quits and head off to find Don and I go off after the main T. I'm convinced
that the Main T and another are somewhere just southeast of Onyx and started off
to find the road in. I find Rainbow road...and a big black gate.....I look the
gate over and come to the conclusion that it's a derelict and continue down the
road...until I run into a huge timber ranch entrance. Now even though there was
not a NO TRESPASSING sign I had to make the assumption that the area was private
based on the huge marked entrance and the map showing that it was not forest
land. Don wouldn't hide in a private area would he? No, he wouldn't do that.
So it's up to Onyx peak for bearings and a look see. What a great, suck ugly,
rocky, and bumpy road. So bumpy in fact that it loosened my tow shackle, which
is now somewhere along it.
If I may digress for a moment. On the Monday before the hunt I needed to
remove my steering column which necessitated the removal of my hand controls,
which also resulted in the slight repositioning of controls when I reinstalled
them. Now in and of itself this was not a problem.......until of course you get
on a violently bumpy road, just like the road to Onyx peak. During the bouncing
I slammed my left elbow into a hard part of the driver's seat...three times in
as many minutes. Folks....There is nothing funny about a funny bone. The
resulting pinched nerve made my entire arm quite numb and almost useless. Which
made for an interesting drive back into town and later, home.
Up on Onyx I had indications that the main T was out beyond that ranch I
turned back at. My numb arm was not up for much more off roading, so it was
carefully off to Big Bear to find Don, Steve, Steve, and Deryl. After a short
layover at the cabin it was off to home and an elbow ice bath.
Sore arm
and all it was a good hunt. 73! K6SNE