[wicker]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll do that! I posted partly in hopes that somebody would reply and solve problems I didn't know I had. That's the joy of being totally new to this stuff. I don't know what I don't know. :D

Re: using mains power lines... I actually have a friend who might be able to answer that, so I'll ask him. We were also considering transmission towers, since plenty of the hikes I know will take me across a clearcut for the transmission lines, and I can get some altitude with good, unobstructed views.