Radiation King and Queen

Promotional photo from "Lucy Hunts Uranium".  Seriously, Lucy and Desi go looking for uranium.

Hannah has a tremendous fear of nuclear explosions and radiation; it has seriously kept her up at times, especially when Fukushima happened.  A luck would have it, just before the disaster, I bought Hannah a old Civil Defense Survey meter and some radiation badges.  When the fallout finally reached Kansas, we were seeing the fallout on our survey meter and badges.  This started a little hobby and interest in radioactive materials that Hannah used to learn about and understand the object of her fear.  Since we are traveling through some of the country's radioactive sites, we decided to use it to explore the radiation that was left behind by America's nuclear early years.

CD-715 survey meter and badges

The first step was to acquire some actual Geiger counters.  The survey meter we had was good for Gamma radiation in fairly large quantities, but not good for looking for little traces.  It's low level readings are higher than the highest levels on the Geiger counter.  A survey meter measures in roentgens per hour (R/h) and Geiger counters measure in milliroentgens per hour (mR/h).   So, I started looking for equipment that would fit the bill and our budget.  The American made civil defense models are expensive; for the reason that they are of American historical importance, and that they look really cool.  They are also expensive with good examples costing over $200 a piece.  I discovered the Soviet models were very affordable, if a person could find one.  It seems that the Soviet DP-5V kits are all over the eastern bloc countries like Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.

The DP-5V kit with extension wand, car adaptor, and carry case 

The Polish models were not complete and in questionable working order; a person of Polish origin apparently can't figure out how to test it.  The Russians want too much for them and the shipping is outrageous.  The Bulgarians seemed to have the right stuff, but couldn't seem to be bothered to answer their emails.  The Ukrainians were helpful, knew how to test the gear, could answer questions about the equipment, and the price was right.  I saved the money and sent off my order... then the truce collapsed and the fighting really heated up.  I sent a message to the company expressing my concern about their safety and encouraging them in their fight.  After a time of no contact, a message came across my email that thanked me for the support in their fight and informing me that they managed to get my order out.  Denis at www.sovtube.com has been nothing but friendly and helpful; I recommend him and his shop for all of your nuclear needs.

So we are going to be deploying the Soviet surplus DP-5V Geiger counters when we arrive in Moab, UT.  In Moab there are abandoned Uranium mines all over the place.  We are hoping to gather some fine examples of Uranium ore to  bring home with us.

Abandoned Uranium Mine in Moab, UT

Our second nuclear site is going to be North of Albuquerque, NM in a little place called Bayo Canyon.  Before they detonated the first atomic bomb they needed to test models of the bomb that were atomic in nature, but would not result in an atomic explosion.  These "test models" were essentially what we would call a dirty bomb today.  Some radioactive material and high explosives detonated in a little valley outside of Los Alamos, NM.  The site is open to the public and is a popular hiking and picnicking area, it is also completely covered in radioactive bomb fragments.  You aren't allowed to cut down the trees or use the wood in the area for a fire; everything is peppered with radioactive material and if burned put off radioactive smoke.  We are hoping to find some bomb fragments for the collection here while hiking.  Below is a marker on a concrete slab that they put the used radioactive big chunks in for safe keeping at Bayo Canyon; it gives the date when the area will be safe for general use.

Yes, it says do not open until 2142 AD

I love this aspect of our trip; it illustrates that Hannah and I are not afraid of anything.  We do not fear nature or mutants, we are visiting several sites that have been described as very "Hills Have Eyes" like.  We have our CCWs if we come across any cannibal mutants.

"The Hills Have Eyes"  He was the mayor of town... or the village idiot.