A long wait. I've been procrastinating. This might be one of the more interesting mountain radio scans I've done since I moved to Idaho.
Summit Lake is a small lake 50 feet above the Warm Lake Summit pass between Warm Lake and Landmark, Idaho, 25-30 miles east of Cascade. There is a campground there and a short hike to the lake, which is in a burn zone. Numerous small lodgepole pines and firs are growing back, so the forest will be healthy in the years to come (as long as we don't see any massive wildfires in this area). There is an unnamed summit called "Peak 7740" (see Peak 7740 - IDAHO: A Climbing Guide) that involves a mile or so of bushwhacking from the lake through numerous downed timber. Once up on the summit, it provides a nice viewpoint of the Johnson Creek, Warm Lake and Log Mountain regions of the Boise/Payette National Forest, as well as views out towards the west flanks of the Frank Church/River of No Return, some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48. There's HUNDREDS of square miles with no civilization, rough 4WD roads, wolves, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and even occasional Canada lynxes! Some peaks in this wilderness have never been climbed by a human.
Brought the TEF for some FM fun. Many of the Boise FMs were on low-power auxes this day, which REALLY helped!! I had several new stations from this point for the logbook with the constant aircraft scatter.
Coordinates: 44.65N, -115.594W.
88.1 KRRB Kuna (107 mi, 45KW) RDS
88.3 KGSY McCall (36 mi, 400W) RDS
88.5 KDPI Ketchum (90 mi, 105W) 'Drop-In Radio' still surprised this little signal from Sun Valley gets out and NOT the several-kilowatt stations like KSKI or KECH...
88.7 KOAY Middleton (66 mi, 6KW) RDS
88.9 KOBK Baker City OR (107 mi, 600W) / KEFX Twin Falls (145 mi, 100KW)
89.1 KAVY McCall (36 mi, 320W) RDS
89.3 one of the KPBX-91.1 rebroadcasters. I can't tell if this is KLGG Kellogg (relog) or K207EY Enterprise OR (10W, 102 mi).
89.5 KTSY Caldwell (66 mi, 8.3KW)
89.7 faint UNIDs, probably KBXC Challis and ???
89.9 KBSK McCall (36 mi, 450W) RDS
90.1 fadeups of KOLU Pasco WA (199 mi, 39KW), had another station at times
90.3 KBSU-FM Boise (66 mi, 17.5KW) WAS ON LOW POWER, couldn't pull anything else in...
90.5 weak unid fadeups of Christian music (Jon Reddick, etc.). presumed Butte MT, would be new.
90.7 KBSQ McCall (36 mi, 220W) RDS / KBSP Stanley (44 mi, 205W) NEW!! w/ BSPR Music // 91.7 KBSM.
90.9 KGCL Jordan Valley OR (126 mi, 1KW) RDS, complete flamethrower. Ten-watt Cascade translator 22 mi away couldn't be found.
91.1 KRSO Huntington OR (83 mi, 450W) RDS
91.3 K217BO Halfway OR (KOBK) (72 mi, 48W)
91.5 KBSX Boise (66 mi, 3.7KW) was on low power, couldn't pull anything IDable underneath.
91.7 KBSM McCall (36 mi, 220W) RDS
91.9 KBSC Cambridge (53 mi, 200W)
92.1 KWVR-FM Enterprise OR (102 mi, 32W flamethrower)
92.3 KIZN Boise (66 mi, 48KW) but on low power, no RDS.
92.5 KZHR Dayton WA fadeups (156 mi, 54KW) plus probably KAAR Butte MT mixed at times
92.7 K224CV Cascade (KOAY...or KAWS Marsing, depending on the day) (30 mi, 10W)
92.9 KHKF Island City OR (114 mi, 900W) / tentative KZZU Spokane (219 mi, 81KW)
93.1 KBOI-FM New Plymouth (66 mi, 48KW)
93.3 KGGL Missoula MT (181 mi, 43KW)
93.5 K228CZ Cambridge (KBSX, 30 mi 190W) RDS
93.7 KDRK-FM Spokane (214 mi, 60KW)
93.9 KZBQ Pocatello (197 mi, 100KW) / KTAC Ephrata WA (265 mi, 18KW)
94.1 KBXL Caldwell (66 mi, 39KW) / KOPR Butte MT interfering (179 mi, 58KW)
94.3 KBYI Rexburg constantly fading up (190 mi, 99KW)
94.5 K233BJ McCall (KAVY, 36 mi, 10W - now relays KDZY-98.3) / KHTQ Hayden ID (218 mi, 83KW with local ads)
94.7 K234AD Enterprise OR (KMBI, 102 mi, 10W)
94.9 KRVB Nampa (66 mi, 49KW) LOW POWER / which resulted in NEW!! KIOK Pasco WA "94.9 the Wolf" over KRVB. (201 mi, 100KW)
95.1
95.3 KPND Deer Park WA (tentative, with Rolling Stones as Spokane was fading up. 201 mi, 100KW if so)
95.5 KUJJ McCall (30 mi, 2.7KW easily the strongest FM here)
95.7 K239DB Stanley (KBSK 'BSPR Jazz', 44 mi, 250W) / KEZJ-FM Twin Falls (145 mi, 100KW)
95.9 KBCK Columbia Falls MT (273 mi, 55KW) never faded at all...constantly in and out with their Classical music format after the Classic Country music went to AM 1240 KSAM and their FM translator on 102.7.
96.1 KSRV-FM Ontario OR (66 mi, 47KW) LOW POWER that day. Couldn't pull out needed KWFI Idaho Falls or KFOO Opportunity/Spokane, even on LP they were too strong.
96.3 KBAZ Hamilton MT fadeups (168 mi, 50KW)
96.5 KLIX-FM Twin Falls (155 mi, 100KW) / KOZE Lewiston (142 mi, 25KW)
96.7 positive fadeup from KZIN-FM Shelby, MT. (305 mi, 100KW!) Weather and ad for a Conoco station in Galata MT (Toole County). All on tape!! This is a relog, heard on the summit of Jughandle Mountain SE of McCall last October.
96.9 KKGL Nampa (66 mi, 48KW)
97.1 KXRX Walla Walla WA (155 mi, 100KW) / KALS Kalispell MT (240 mi, 26.5KW)
97.3 KLCE Blackfoot (166 mi, 95KW)
97.5 KNLR Bend OR (286 mi, 97KW w/ New Life mention, didn't record it. But this is now the furthest I've heard this big Bend signal. They are constantly in all day on the 4-element, 264 miles from Cascade, sometimes strong enough to trigger the RDS.)
97.7 (had a faint UNID or two here, Anaconda MT is needed)
97.9 KQFC Boise (66 mi, 48KW) LOW POWER, couldn't find 2-3 wanted targets from MT and OR.
98.1 KISC Spokane WA (218 mi, 92.1KW)
98.3 KDZY McCall (36 mi, 500W)
98.5 KLGW Grand Coulee WA (271 mi, 100KW constantly in) / TENTATIVES on KBBZ Kalispell MT (273 mi, 61KW) and KLLP Blackfoot (197 mi, 7.4KW)
98.7 KARO Nyssa OR (66 mi, 11.5KW) RDS
98.9 KKZX Spokane WA (219 mi, 10KW)
99.1 KUJ-FM Burbank WA (198 mi, 52KW) / KXTA Gooding (145 mi, 35KW)
99.3
99.5 KLXI Fruitland (76 mi, 100KW) RDS
99.7
99.9 KXLY-FM Spokane (237 mi, 37KW) RDS
100.1
100.3 KQXR Payette (73 mi, 99KW) RDS
100.5
100.7 KPDA Mountain Home (97 mi, 64KW) RDS / very likely KIBG Bigfork MT equaling them at times with obscure classic hits. But no ID, no log. They are one of my most-wanted stations from here.
100.9 K265EY Cascade (30 mi, 10W, KEFX)
101.1 KWYD Parma (76 mi, 100KW) RDS
101.3 KGDN Pasco WA (201 mi, 2.75KW) as the old ACN religious talk format. Now KAKP, Air1.
101.5 KCVI Blackfoot (166 mi, 95KW)
101.7 KZXR-FM Prosser WA (with Spanish commercials, 228 mi, 3.5KW RELOG)
101.9 KQBL Emmett (52 mi, 66KW) RDS
102.1
102.3 KWRL La Grande OR (112 mi, 25KW) RDS
102.5 KMGI Pocatello (197 mi, 100KW)
102.7 KZMG Melba (66 mi, 50KW) RDS
102.9
103.1 K276GE Notus (80 mi, 250W KTRP-AM 1450) / KEDJ Jerome (145 mi, 71KW)
103.3 KWLN Wilson Creek WA (244 mi, 25KW) / KFTZ Idaho Falls (199 mi, 100KW)1
103.5 KSAS-FM Caldwell (66 mi, 54KW) LOW POWER
103.7
103.9 KCNU Silver City (126 mi, 380W)
104.1 KXDD Yakima WA (265 mi, 100KW) / KORR American Falls (197 mi, 56KW)
104.3 KAWO Boise (66 mi, 52KW) LOW POWER but even then, too strong to pull in KHTR or others.
104.5 KKVU Stevensville MT (168 mi, 12.5KW) fade ups
104.7 KCMB Baker City OR (112 mi, 100KW) RDS
104.9 KIKF Cascade MT (280 mi, 94KW) NEW!! w/ Payless Furniture commercial, central MT mentions. On tape. Awesome to find Great Falls FM stations in central Idaho. I believe KIKF was heard from Saint Mary Peak (over 9,300 feet) in MT's Bitterroots last year.
105.1 KJOT Boise (66 mi, 53KW)
105.3 KONA-FM Kennewick WA (201 mi, 100KW)
105.5 K288HG Boise (66 mi, 99W) // KFXD-630
105.7 KKQX Manhattan MT (222 mi, 12.3KW) with Floydian Slip promo and SW MT weather. On tape. NEW!!
105.9 KCIX Garden City (66 mi, 49KW) on low power
106.1 KZFN Moscow ID (155 mi, 62KW) / KKMV Rupert (188 mi, 25KW) / also had a hard rock station, very likely needed KQDI Great Falls MT, was listenable while it lasted.
106.3 KDBI Homedale (107 mi, 100KW) RDS
106.5 KEGX Richland (198 mi, 100KW)
106.7 KIRQ Hailey (119 mi, 97KW) / KXDR Pinesdale MT (168 mi, 38KW) very listenable at times
106.9
107.1 KTHI Caldwell (66 mi, 52KW) LOW POWER that day
107.3 KIMO Townsend MT (240 mi, 86KW) Country music, Mighty Mo, Helena mentions NEW!! Got "audio" but it was so windy that it was unlistenable.
107.5 K298AC Ontario (KOBK, 85 mi, 62W)
107.7
107.9 KXLT-FM Eagle (66 mi, 45KW) LOW POWER / which resulted in positive fadeups from KMBI-FM Spokane WA (214 mi, 64KW) NEW!!
If I can find my way up here again, I oughta find a way to lug a larger antenna up here for a mini-DXpedition. I think there's potential for other Hi-Line, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena FMs from this location. The northeast horizon is wide open, especially when international flights are flying back to SFO/LAX.
Pictures attached. I believe the shot in "P1130579" is looking towards Chilcoot Peak and the Big Baldy region, which is in the Frank Church River of No Return.
Summit Lake is a small lake 50 feet above the Warm Lake Summit pass between Warm Lake and Landmark, Idaho, 25-30 miles east of Cascade. There is a campground there and a short hike to the lake, which is in a burn zone. Numerous small lodgepole pines and firs are growing back, so the forest will be healthy in the years to come (as long as we don't see any massive wildfires in this area). There is an unnamed summit called "Peak 7740" (see Peak 7740 - IDAHO: A Climbing Guide) that involves a mile or so of bushwhacking from the lake through numerous downed timber. Once up on the summit, it provides a nice viewpoint of the Johnson Creek, Warm Lake and Log Mountain regions of the Boise/Payette National Forest, as well as views out towards the west flanks of the Frank Church/River of No Return, some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48. There's HUNDREDS of square miles with no civilization, rough 4WD roads, wolves, mountain lions, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and even occasional Canada lynxes! Some peaks in this wilderness have never been climbed by a human.
Brought the TEF for some FM fun. Many of the Boise FMs were on low-power auxes this day, which REALLY helped!! I had several new stations from this point for the logbook with the constant aircraft scatter.
Coordinates: 44.65N, -115.594W.
88.1 KRRB Kuna (107 mi, 45KW) RDS
88.3 KGSY McCall (36 mi, 400W) RDS
88.5 KDPI Ketchum (90 mi, 105W) 'Drop-In Radio' still surprised this little signal from Sun Valley gets out and NOT the several-kilowatt stations like KSKI or KECH...
88.7 KOAY Middleton (66 mi, 6KW) RDS
88.9 KOBK Baker City OR (107 mi, 600W) / KEFX Twin Falls (145 mi, 100KW)
89.1 KAVY McCall (36 mi, 320W) RDS
89.3 one of the KPBX-91.1 rebroadcasters. I can't tell if this is KLGG Kellogg (relog) or K207EY Enterprise OR (10W, 102 mi).
89.5 KTSY Caldwell (66 mi, 8.3KW)
89.7 faint UNIDs, probably KBXC Challis and ???
89.9 KBSK McCall (36 mi, 450W) RDS
90.1 fadeups of KOLU Pasco WA (199 mi, 39KW), had another station at times
90.3 KBSU-FM Boise (66 mi, 17.5KW) WAS ON LOW POWER, couldn't pull anything else in...
90.5 weak unid fadeups of Christian music (Jon Reddick, etc.). presumed Butte MT, would be new.
90.7 KBSQ McCall (36 mi, 220W) RDS / KBSP Stanley (44 mi, 205W) NEW!! w/ BSPR Music // 91.7 KBSM.
90.9 KGCL Jordan Valley OR (126 mi, 1KW) RDS, complete flamethrower. Ten-watt Cascade translator 22 mi away couldn't be found.
91.1 KRSO Huntington OR (83 mi, 450W) RDS
91.3 K217BO Halfway OR (KOBK) (72 mi, 48W)
91.5 KBSX Boise (66 mi, 3.7KW) was on low power, couldn't pull anything IDable underneath.
91.7 KBSM McCall (36 mi, 220W) RDS
91.9 KBSC Cambridge (53 mi, 200W)
92.1 KWVR-FM Enterprise OR (102 mi, 32W flamethrower)
92.3 KIZN Boise (66 mi, 48KW) but on low power, no RDS.
92.5 KZHR Dayton WA fadeups (156 mi, 54KW) plus probably KAAR Butte MT mixed at times
92.7 K224CV Cascade (KOAY...or KAWS Marsing, depending on the day) (30 mi, 10W)
92.9 KHKF Island City OR (114 mi, 900W) / tentative KZZU Spokane (219 mi, 81KW)
93.1 KBOI-FM New Plymouth (66 mi, 48KW)
93.3 KGGL Missoula MT (181 mi, 43KW)
93.5 K228CZ Cambridge (KBSX, 30 mi 190W) RDS
93.7 KDRK-FM Spokane (214 mi, 60KW)
93.9 KZBQ Pocatello (197 mi, 100KW) / KTAC Ephrata WA (265 mi, 18KW)
94.1 KBXL Caldwell (66 mi, 39KW) / KOPR Butte MT interfering (179 mi, 58KW)
94.3 KBYI Rexburg constantly fading up (190 mi, 99KW)
94.5 K233BJ McCall (KAVY, 36 mi, 10W - now relays KDZY-98.3) / KHTQ Hayden ID (218 mi, 83KW with local ads)
94.7 K234AD Enterprise OR (KMBI, 102 mi, 10W)
94.9 KRVB Nampa (66 mi, 49KW) LOW POWER / which resulted in NEW!! KIOK Pasco WA "94.9 the Wolf" over KRVB. (201 mi, 100KW)
95.1
95.3 KPND Deer Park WA (tentative, with Rolling Stones as Spokane was fading up. 201 mi, 100KW if so)
95.5 KUJJ McCall (30 mi, 2.7KW easily the strongest FM here)
95.7 K239DB Stanley (KBSK 'BSPR Jazz', 44 mi, 250W) / KEZJ-FM Twin Falls (145 mi, 100KW)
95.9 KBCK Columbia Falls MT (273 mi, 55KW) never faded at all...constantly in and out with their Classical music format after the Classic Country music went to AM 1240 KSAM and their FM translator on 102.7.
96.1 KSRV-FM Ontario OR (66 mi, 47KW) LOW POWER that day. Couldn't pull out needed KWFI Idaho Falls or KFOO Opportunity/Spokane, even on LP they were too strong.
96.3 KBAZ Hamilton MT fadeups (168 mi, 50KW)
96.5 KLIX-FM Twin Falls (155 mi, 100KW) / KOZE Lewiston (142 mi, 25KW)
96.7 positive fadeup from KZIN-FM Shelby, MT. (305 mi, 100KW!) Weather and ad for a Conoco station in Galata MT (Toole County). All on tape!! This is a relog, heard on the summit of Jughandle Mountain SE of McCall last October.
96.9 KKGL Nampa (66 mi, 48KW)
97.1 KXRX Walla Walla WA (155 mi, 100KW) / KALS Kalispell MT (240 mi, 26.5KW)
97.3 KLCE Blackfoot (166 mi, 95KW)
97.5 KNLR Bend OR (286 mi, 97KW w/ New Life mention, didn't record it. But this is now the furthest I've heard this big Bend signal. They are constantly in all day on the 4-element, 264 miles from Cascade, sometimes strong enough to trigger the RDS.)
97.7 (had a faint UNID or two here, Anaconda MT is needed)
97.9 KQFC Boise (66 mi, 48KW) LOW POWER, couldn't find 2-3 wanted targets from MT and OR.
98.1 KISC Spokane WA (218 mi, 92.1KW)
98.3 KDZY McCall (36 mi, 500W)
98.5 KLGW Grand Coulee WA (271 mi, 100KW constantly in) / TENTATIVES on KBBZ Kalispell MT (273 mi, 61KW) and KLLP Blackfoot (197 mi, 7.4KW)
98.7 KARO Nyssa OR (66 mi, 11.5KW) RDS
98.9 KKZX Spokane WA (219 mi, 10KW)
99.1 KUJ-FM Burbank WA (198 mi, 52KW) / KXTA Gooding (145 mi, 35KW)
99.3
99.5 KLXI Fruitland (76 mi, 100KW) RDS
99.7
99.9 KXLY-FM Spokane (237 mi, 37KW) RDS
100.1
100.3 KQXR Payette (73 mi, 99KW) RDS
100.5
100.7 KPDA Mountain Home (97 mi, 64KW) RDS / very likely KIBG Bigfork MT equaling them at times with obscure classic hits. But no ID, no log. They are one of my most-wanted stations from here.
100.9 K265EY Cascade (30 mi, 10W, KEFX)
101.1 KWYD Parma (76 mi, 100KW) RDS
101.3 KGDN Pasco WA (201 mi, 2.75KW) as the old ACN religious talk format. Now KAKP, Air1.
101.5 KCVI Blackfoot (166 mi, 95KW)
101.7 KZXR-FM Prosser WA (with Spanish commercials, 228 mi, 3.5KW RELOG)
101.9 KQBL Emmett (52 mi, 66KW) RDS
102.1
102.3 KWRL La Grande OR (112 mi, 25KW) RDS
102.5 KMGI Pocatello (197 mi, 100KW)
102.7 KZMG Melba (66 mi, 50KW) RDS
102.9
103.1 K276GE Notus (80 mi, 250W KTRP-AM 1450) / KEDJ Jerome (145 mi, 71KW)
103.3 KWLN Wilson Creek WA (244 mi, 25KW) / KFTZ Idaho Falls (199 mi, 100KW)1
103.5 KSAS-FM Caldwell (66 mi, 54KW) LOW POWER
103.7
103.9 KCNU Silver City (126 mi, 380W)
104.1 KXDD Yakima WA (265 mi, 100KW) / KORR American Falls (197 mi, 56KW)
104.3 KAWO Boise (66 mi, 52KW) LOW POWER but even then, too strong to pull in KHTR or others.
104.5 KKVU Stevensville MT (168 mi, 12.5KW) fade ups
104.7 KCMB Baker City OR (112 mi, 100KW) RDS
104.9 KIKF Cascade MT (280 mi, 94KW) NEW!! w/ Payless Furniture commercial, central MT mentions. On tape. Awesome to find Great Falls FM stations in central Idaho. I believe KIKF was heard from Saint Mary Peak (over 9,300 feet) in MT's Bitterroots last year.
105.1 KJOT Boise (66 mi, 53KW)
105.3 KONA-FM Kennewick WA (201 mi, 100KW)
105.5 K288HG Boise (66 mi, 99W) // KFXD-630
105.7 KKQX Manhattan MT (222 mi, 12.3KW) with Floydian Slip promo and SW MT weather. On tape. NEW!!
105.9 KCIX Garden City (66 mi, 49KW) on low power
106.1 KZFN Moscow ID (155 mi, 62KW) / KKMV Rupert (188 mi, 25KW) / also had a hard rock station, very likely needed KQDI Great Falls MT, was listenable while it lasted.
106.3 KDBI Homedale (107 mi, 100KW) RDS
106.5 KEGX Richland (198 mi, 100KW)
106.7 KIRQ Hailey (119 mi, 97KW) / KXDR Pinesdale MT (168 mi, 38KW) very listenable at times
106.9
107.1 KTHI Caldwell (66 mi, 52KW) LOW POWER that day
107.3 KIMO Townsend MT (240 mi, 86KW) Country music, Mighty Mo, Helena mentions NEW!! Got "audio" but it was so windy that it was unlistenable.
107.5 K298AC Ontario (KOBK, 85 mi, 62W)
107.7
107.9 KXLT-FM Eagle (66 mi, 45KW) LOW POWER / which resulted in positive fadeups from KMBI-FM Spokane WA (214 mi, 64KW) NEW!!
If I can find my way up here again, I oughta find a way to lug a larger antenna up here for a mini-DXpedition. I think there's potential for other Hi-Line, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena FMs from this location. The northeast horizon is wide open, especially when international flights are flying back to SFO/LAX.
Pictures attached. I believe the shot in "P1130579" is looking towards Chilcoot Peak and the Big Baldy region, which is in the Frank Church River of No Return.
