Ray and Deryl's Story



At the start point of Cajon Summit, Doug WA6RJN was the only other Hunter. We did hear from Bob WA6JPI recuperating at home and said he could hear the signal. From the bearings, Doug indicated he thought Yucca Valley might be where they were at, Deryl thought Big Bear. As we headed toward Big Bear from the backside, it appeared to us that Big Bear was the general area we would be hunting in. We have not done well in this area on the last couple of hunts that were there. We have had difficulty determining whether the real signal was in front or behind us. Unfortunately this was once again to be the case. After spending a long while on a several mile long dirt road, going behind Onyx Peak and coming around Onyx on the paved road and hearing little to no signal from there, we determined we were on the wrong side. But not before double checking on the dirt road we had been on previously. After a short ways we were satisfied we needed to get to the other side of the lake.

We eventually found Don & Steve at their vehicles (Don had a new FJ). Deryl got his sniffer out and we found the beam and the impressive looking transmitter equipment. We went in search of another transmitter, along the way we had passed some hardcore 4X4's, mostly Jeeps. We were on the John Bull Trail, so the road was getting interesting and difficult to traverse at points with only automatic 4WD with standard road clearance that Deryl's Escape has. Don and Steve were following us in Don's FJ, so we could be rescued if we got into trouble. Eventually we got to a point that had boulders on the the trail that were about as large as Deryl's Escape. We pulled over. We were close. Deryl got his sniffing device out, I had left mine at home. Above the rocky trail ahead was a fairly steep slope, Deryl indicated it was up the slope. I went up the slope and tried looking for it visually with no luck. I was feeling a bit light headed and dizzy. Deryl gave his sniffer to Don who was on the slope with me and Don handed me the sniffer. It wasn't much help because it was in a mode I could not get it out of. At the steep angle of the slope and my dizziness, I had to quit. I went back down by the vehicle and heard some vehicles coming down the trail over the rocks. There were several modified Jeeps and one brand new Jeep Wrangler 4 door, that the owner only had for a few days. We had a great show, watching them coming over the rocks and a couple getting stuck on their front differentials. We all took some pictures and video of the spectacle.

We did not find that t, nor the other two. We did go looking for the other two. Ending up at the other end of John Bull Trail that was even worse and without Don behind us to get us out of any predicaments. As we were driving along we heard a loud BANG that sounded like a rock had hit a window along the drivers side of the vehicle. A couple minutes later we heard another BANG and saw an element from the antenna come sliding down the windshield and resting in the cowl on the drivers side by the wiper. Upon investigation it was the front element of the antenna. Deryl had repaired it in the past. Hmmmm.... could this have been the front to back problems we have been having? We headed home. Interesting hunt on some challenging roads, with a great off road show. Thanks Don and Steve.

We only signed in at one t because it is the only one we found. We have been accused of not signing in at t's we have found. I can assure you this has never been the case and it certainly wasn't this time either. At least one location we have Don and Steve as witnesses that we did not find the transmitter. If we find 'em we sign in.


-Ray