Many thanks to Brian (K3ES) who shares the following field report:

---

Recipe for a Failed Activation at K-0619?

by Brian (K3ES)

A couple of days before Christmas, high winds came, temperatures dropped, and 3 inches of snow made a real nuisance of itself by blowing around and re-covering anything that was swept or shoveled. With daily high temperatures below zero (Fahrenheit) and wind gusts over 40 miles per hour, the weather just didn’t make for much fun outdoors. In fact, we hunkered down and didn’t get beyond the end of the driveway for four days. So when the winds calmed and temperatures rose, I really needed to get out of the house for a bit. What better way than to walk up the road and activate K-0619? Even with temperatures in the low 20s, I should be able to finish a quick activation. And so it was planned…

Of course just before walking out the door, it is always prudent to check on band conditions…

Alright, I really need my outdoor time. Even if it means that I fail to activate the park this time, I’m going for it!!!

I walked down the driveway…

…up the road…

… and into the woods.

After getting to my spot, I set up my chair, laid out a trash bag to keep radio gear out of the snow, threw a line over a tree branch (it took two tries), and rigged the antenna.

I had brought my KX2 kit, and decided to use the Packtenna 9:1 random wire with 71 ft radiator to give myself the best chance to make contacts, given the poor predicted conditions for propagation.

Gear:

• Elecraft KX2
• Packtenna 9:1 Random Wire antenna paired with 71′ PolyStealth wire radiator
• CW Morse SP4 N0SA Paddles (QRPer affiliate link)
• Generic earbuds
• Rite In The Rain 946 top bound 4”x6” note pad
• Clipboard – 7-1/2” x 12” Lexan (homebrew)
• Arborist throw kit with Petzel 8.8 oz throw bag and 25m Marlow
• Excel line
• Pentel 0.9mm Twist Erase Pencil
• 15 ft RG-316 feedline with BNC male connectors
• Bioenno 3 Ah LiFePO4 battery
• Peacock Pocket Warmer
• World War 2-era M7 Lightweight Gas Mask Pouch
• Cliq folding chair

With everything in place, it was time to begin the activation.

On the Air

I started by hunting some park-to-park (P2P) contacts. I could hear them, they could hear me (this activation might not be a complete failure). With three P2Ps in the log, it was time to call CQ and get myself spotted.

There were lots of POTA CW operators on 20 meters, so it seemed like a good idea to begin there. It was. I got 18 more contacts in 24 minutes, and suddenly it didn’t seem like propagation was so bad.

The pace also didn’t leave much time to for warming my fingers between contacts, but still I could keep going for a bit longer. A dozen contacts on 30m, and 17 more contacts on 40m brought the total to 50 QRP CW contacts in 85 minutes.

It was also time to call QRT and get back to central heating!

Surprisingly, my fingers never got really cold until I started packing up to go. Untying knots and wrapping up cordage, feedline, and antenna wire really takes a toll! Ah, but so worth it. POTA in the woods is therapy for me.

Winter POTA in the woods can still be enjoyable, if you dress for it, and pack up before you get uncomfortable.

Oh… I am not sure this helped, but it sure didn’t hurt. During operation, the 3 Ah LiFePO4 battery that powered the station was tucked away in the inside pocket of my coat to keep it warm and energetic.

So, the doomed activation turned out to be a huge success in my book!

The moral of the story is: Don’t give up before you start. You can only be sure that conditions are bad after you start transmitting!

Best 73 de Brian – K3ES