History:
It's a CARA tradition on Labor Day
weekend! Pack
up the radio stuff and head out to Paradise, an old ghost town in
southeastern AZ. We set up a special event station next to the
cemetery and work as many contacts as we can while enjoying the cool
mountain air.
Note: We have a special agreement with
the tenants in the cemetery; we don't disturb them, and they don't
disturb us!!! This agreement has worked well since 1979!
We will be on the air from approximately 1900Z on Saturday through approximately 1600Z on Monday (Labor Day.) Our call sign is K7RDG, and we plan to be active at various times on the following frequencies: 21.315, 18.115, 14.315, 7.230 kHz. If you make a contact with us and would like to receive one of our angelic certificates, please mail a self-addressed 8 1/2"x11" envelope to:
Cochise Amateur
Radio Association
P.O. Box 1855
Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-1855
How to get there:
The main group normally convoys out to the site
together after departing Green Acres at 07:30 on Saturday
morning. We normally use the Mule Mountain Repeater frequency
until we enter the San Bernardino Valley, then switch to 146.52 simplex.
If you are driving solo, head over to Douglas; then take Highway 80 East through the San Bernardino Valley to Rodeo, New Mexico.
About 2-3 miles north of Rodeo, turn left on SR 533 towards Portal.
About a mile later you enter Arizona again after crossing a cattle guard and bearing right about 45 degrees on Portal Road.
Continue up Portal Road about 5.5 miles; as you come into Portal you will see the Portal General Store on your left, the fire station is to the right but not readily visible.
About mile past the General Store continue straight on the dirt road to Paradise, the paved road turns to the left. Follow the dirt road about 5 miles through some narrow twists and turns until you get to the Cemetery on your left.
Start in towards the cemetery but bear to the right up a small hill to the meadow where we will be parked. You should be able to see us from the road (If you miss the turnoff to the cemetery and go all the way to the intersection at Paradise, turn around and double back towards Portal - the cemetery will be about 1/2 mile).
Click here for a satellite image of the campsite
and cemetery.
GPS Coordinates: 31 deg 55.907min N, 109 Deg 12.503 min W
Camping Facilities:
The facilities are dry camping only and you must
plan on
carrying in everything you need and carrying out everything you bring
in. CARA normally
carries out more than they bring in, assuring the continued cooperation
of the Forest
Service in obtaining permits!
Traditions:
You
may want to bring a side dish for the Sunday night bean feed, and
ingredients to toss into the skillet for the Monday morning Eggs
Paradise.
Page updated 9 September
2009.
