1,000 Contacts in a Frozen Tent: K3KLB’s Winter Field Day

KF8AHK · Mar 24, 2025

W1DED said: ↑

Kody Beer, K3KLB, is no stranger to the cold—or the pileups. For his third consecutive Winter Field Day, he went all in, hunkering down in an Eskimo ice tent on the edge of Pymatuning Lake, Pennsylvania. With a Buddy Heater fighting off the single-digit temps, a BuddiHex antenna pulling in the stations, and an IC-7300 ready to go, Kody put in a full 12-hour shift on the air, racking up a staggering 1,000 contacts across bands from 70cm to 80m. Not bad for a guy who, just a few years ago, was stranded at a picnic table in the freezing wind.

Kody isn’t just about surviving Winter Field Day—he thrives in it. His Parks on the Air obsession runs deep, with over 600 activations and 40,000 QSOs logged since 2021. He’s methodical, always refining his portable setups, and when he's not running a frequency, he's behind the lens of a camera, capturing the wild places where radio and nature intersect.

This is ham radio at its most raw and rewarding—field operations, resilience, and the thrill of the hunt. If you’re into POTA, contesting in the elements, or just appreciate a guy who knows how to work a pileup from an ice shack, this conversation is for you.

Drop a comment, let us know your best (or coldest) field day story, and don’t forget to subscribe to W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio.

View attachment 1306874
Click to expand...

Way to go Kody! An outstanding example of perseverance and dedication. Always great to get you in the log. Hoping for a P2P one of these days.

K3KLB · Mar 25, 2025

Thanks, all. It was a good time! 73.

W8EMR · Apr 13, 2025

great guys ,looks like you could have set up a few tip-ups to for big pike ,great radio work 73.s

4G1KLG · Apr 14, 2025

I really haven't done IOTA / POTA and this interview has awaken me to give it try which I believe will be pretty great...

Thanks Kevin for sharing us very good interview knowing what happening around the hobby.

Warmest 73
4G1KLG / Sonny

K3FAZ · Apr 14, 2025

Congrats, well done Kody!
Summer field day...meh.
Winter Field Day is absolutely the best.

1,000 Contacts in a Frozen Tent: K3KLB’s Winter Field Day

KF8AHK XML Subscriber QRZ Page

K3KLB XML Subscriber QRZ Page

W8EMR Ham Member QRZ Page

4G1KLG XML Subscriber QRZ Page

K3FAZ Ham Member QRZ Page

Share This Page