I usually have a hide scenario ready for when I win a hunt. Since the Beaumont/Banning/Palm Springs
has been a popular hiding place lately, I though a different venue would be a good idea. The Malibu hills
hadn’t been used for quite a while so I picked it.
Using my mapping software, I found parts of Pluma Rd would have a view and able to reach the starting
point. I planned out the small T locations around the Monte Nito area. This area was bounded by Las
Virgenes, Pluma Rd, Schueren Rd, Stunt Rd, and Mulholland Hwy. T1, T3, T5, T9, and T11 were all
hidden on these roads.
The site for T1 (main T) was on Pluma Rd. It was running 3W into one of my coat hanger 6-element
beams that was pointed at the starting point. The location was on the south side of the ridge next to a
large rocky area while all the smaller Ts were on the north side of the ridge. This created a problem
where the small Ts could not be heard at T1. This was solved by adding a “bridge” T9 (50mW) at the top
of the pass where Pluma changed from the south side to the north. T9 could be heard at T1 and T4 could
be heard at T9. This would lead the hunters to the larger area.
Pluma Rd runs along the ridge on the south side of the valley. From Pluma Rd T4, T5, T10, and T3 could
be heard. T11 ( 50 mW) was on the western section of Pluma before in descends. It was next to a wood
support on a guard rail.
Except for T3, none of the Ts were meant to be difficult to fine.
T4 (50mW with dipole) was at the end of Las Virgenes Cyn (comes off at the Hindu Temple).
T5 (50 mW with horiz dipole) was on Mulholland Hwy east of the S curve, east of Las Virgenes. It was
originally to be on a road at the top of a hill in the S curve, but the road turned out to be a hiking trail. T5
was in a bush on Mulholland Hwy.
T10 (50 mW simple whip) was on a hill in Monte Nito on the south side of Cold Cyn on Hilltop Climb Dr. A
poor choice of antenna kept this T from being heard better.
T3 was to be a little more difficult because it was on Stunt Rd on the eastern side of the valley at a hairpin
curve. It was in a bush on the side of the road. It was running a half watt into a whip. T3 had a great view
of the valley. It could be heard everywhere, including at my home QTH. Likely it was hard to find because
of the many canyons below where the direct signal was weaker than the bounces.
Three Ts determine the winner. Three teams found 5 Ts. They all found T1, T9, T11, and T5 but each
team found a different 5 th T (T4, T10, T3). KF6GQ/WD6LAJ found T10 and had the lowest mileage
making them the winners.
Another first was that I had four small Ts hid and the main T up and running before the 10AM start time
(first time ever I think). Unfortunately, there was no cell service in the area around these million-dollar
homes so I could not confirm that T1 could be heard at the starting point. I had to drive around until I
could contact N6MI to confirm a signal.
All the Ts were still running the next afternoon when I collected them.
Picture order:
T1 beam
T1 View
T1 Xmtr
T3
Tech checking fiber optic run next to T3
T4
T5
T9
Path to T10
T10
T11
Sinking pipes at T9 site after rain storm (went back to get sign-in sheet)
