[pct-l] Radio Reception in the Sierras

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

Wild Fire and Wounded Knee write:

A quick  question - when we hiked the AT we always carried a tiny FM radio 
for weather  forecasts, our weekly Prairie Home Companion dose, and such.  Will 
we be  able to get any FM reception on the JMT, or will it be limited to the 
Yosemite  / Mammoth areas?
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I have found radio reception is  great at night.  Even in deep canyons for FM 
and shortwave.  Lots of  fun to listen to the radio in the tent at night.  I 
used to pick up the  rebroadcast of old radio programs of the 1930's and 40's 
out of LA.  Super  fun to listen to.  If I am carrying my super small Sony 
shortwave, then I  can listen to lots of stuff.  Sometimes it is hard to go to 
sleep with all  the entertainment on.  For the shortwave I throw a long wire out 
and hook  it to a pine tree for better reception.
 
In the daytime reception is cut down  due to the sun being up.  But at night 
it is the big show on the headset -  noise canceling headphones of course.  
Oops.  Sorry.  I was not  supposed to say those words again.
 
I guess between bear patrolling (trying to find some  bears to harass), local 
camp spot exploring, and radio listening, those are  my three most fun things 
to do in and around camp.  Really makes for  fun camping and an enjoyable 
night.
 
Cheers, Switchback
Bear Baiter & Guglielmo Marconi of the Trail