As many of you know, I’m proud to be a regular on the Ham Radio Workbench podcast.
Last week, we published an episode focused on emergency communications, specifically my first-hand experiences in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
When we recorded, our road was still without power, and we had no mobile data service. I was able to join the recording thanks to a high(ish)-speed internet connection via HughesNet and our whole-house solar power backup.
HRWB podcast episodes are long-format, allowing us to dive deeply into topics like this one. If you’re interested in listening, I encourage you to check it out on the HRWB website and even subscribe via iTunes, Android, and other platforms.
The next episode will also cover emergency communications, focusing on the question, “How would you plan for the next emergency?” It’s a roundtable discussion including Josh (K7OSH). It’ll appear here when published (likely, later this week).
I’d also add that joining my friends on the HRWB podcast recording was truly good for the soul. At that point, we were still in the early stages of cleanup after the disaster, and spending time with them in real-time was incredibly therapeutic.
As many of you know who’ve been following my Post-Helene updates, I simply haven’t had time to do POTA or SOTA activations. And even if I wanted to, most of the POTA sites around me are temporarily closed due to damage from Helene.
Truthfully, I didn’t start my day expecting a POTA activation. I’d planned, if anything, to make a short field radio video somewhere on my property, chase some POTA/SOTA stations, and make any other random contacts.
However, my daughter’s Shakespeare class decided to meet in person, so after dropping her off at 12:30, I had about two hours of free time. Before leaving home, I packed a couple of radio bags just in case I could find a spot for a POTA activation, or at least visit a local park to play radio for a bit.
I realized I was only a 20-minute drive from the Sycamore Flats picnic site in Pisgah National Forest (US-4510), where I’ve activated many times before. This site is in Transylvania County, which wasn’t hit as hard by Helene.
Google Maps showed the site as open, so I decided to drive over. Thankfully, it was correct! When I arrived, the front gate was open and there were a few visitors around.
I could tell the site had some storm damage—some tree limbs down and evidence of flooding from the Davidson River, which wraps around the area. The park service recently upgraded the picnic table pads, but the gravel had washed away, and many tables had either shifted or washed away.
That said, this site fared well compared to parks in Buncombe County. (Chimney Rock State Park is still inaccessible due to major flooding in the town of Chimney Rock.)
I hopped out, grabbed my backpack and TR-45L, and started recording my activation video.
Since no one was using the picnic shelter at the northeast end of the park (and it had no reservation sign), I set up there. I deployed my MM0OPX End-Fed Half-Wave antenna on a nearby tree, connected it to my TR-45L, and was ready to go!
Gear
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When you have activated the same park nearly 160 times, it starts to get a bit routine. Certainly, any day that you’re alive and able to participate in ham radio is a day to be thankful for, but I have to admit that lately I’ve gotten rather bored with activating from the Presidio of San Francisco US-7889.
Not a bad view from the activation location.
What could I do to spice things up a little bit? Recently, the W6CSN shack welcomed a new member into the QRP radio lineup, the venerable Heathkit HW-8. This got me to thinking about the days when the HW-8 was new, QRP was a niche part of the hobby, and the Internet was something that connected mainframes at universities.
Heathkit HW-8 Front Panel
That’s an idea! Try to activate a park for POTA without using the internet tools on which we’ve come to rely. The rules are: no self spotting on the POTA website and no looking at the POTA spots page to find stations to hunt. If you want to hunt, you’re going to have tune around and listen for stations calling CQ.
The stainless steel vertical mounts to a fence post which provides a good counterpoise.
The HW-8 would not debut on this activation as it’s waiting on a power cord and we haven’t really gotten to know each other yet. Instead, the trusty KH1 would be the radio choice today, coupled to a quarter wave vertical on 20 meters and sending via the Bencher BY-1.
It is only fitting to use the BY-1 on a park bench.
I set up camp on 14.059 MHz and began calling CQ POTA with no prescheduled activation, no spot on pota.app, not even looking at my phone to see what the propagation numbers were saying. In fact, I only used my phone as a camera to take pictures for this field report.
Within a few minutes I got my first call, from Ken VE7HI. The next 40 minutes were spent calling CQ and hunting other stations until I had six contacts in the log. Then came the long, desolate hour of calling with no responses and being unable to break through any of the “pileups” around other activators. The drought ended with a P2P with NR1D/0 at Barr Lake State Park in Colorado and 15 minutes later the activation was complete with K6BBQ coming through for QSO number 11.
Map of “offline” POTA activation QSOs.
While the internet certainly makes it so much easier, this activation proves that the QRPer can be successful in POTA with just a 5 watt radio and a half decent antenna. If you are looking to spice up your POTA routine, why not give an “offline” activation a try?
Many thanks to Bob K4RLC who shares this report on mixing vacation with ham radio with us. If you have an article in your head and want to have it posted here, let’s keep this community going while our friend Thomas continues to help his neighbours in the wake of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Draft up your story in an email with reference points to the pictures you want embedded and their captions, attach photos to the note and send it my way to vincedeon at gmail dot com and note QRPer in the subject line to get my attention.
By Bob Conder K4RLC and V4/K4RLC
Our interest in a trip to Saint Kitts began pre COVID, after my buddy Dale W4AUV and I saw an ad in the back of QST magazine by W5JON, John, for his rental villa with a complete ham radio station on this Caribbean island. What could be wrong with this scenario? Being on a beautiful Caribbean island with a complete ham radio station?
Fast forward almost five years later, when Dale and I, along with our spouses, leave Raleigh for St. Kitts. The timing was really bad for me, as at the same time Western North Carolina was devastated from Hurricane Helene. In the past, I worked with the American Red Cross Disaster Services after hurricanes and tornadoes in my home state, as well as being deployed to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana immediately after Hurricane Katrina. We have friends and family who live in upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina Including my best friend from high school and his family. All we could do was reach out to them with support, and donate money through reputable organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief and the American Red Cross.
St. Kitts only has three POTA sites and no SOTA sites. I had hoped to activate at least two of the POTA sites. CW is my preferred modality. These POTA sites had only been activated by phone and dubious digital.
Saint Kitts is an unquestionably beautiful tropical island, but it is still a third world nation. The driving is British style, further complicated by having only three stoplights on the island and roundabouts every few miles. We rented a Honda CRV from Bullseye Rentals, recommended by John W5JON, the owner of the villa. Given the ancient small roads where everybody drives like your drunken old aunt with dementia, this was a good vehicle choice. Since my first and primary activation was to be Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO site built starting in 1690 with guarded entryways made to fit horse drawn wagons in the 1700’s, we were relieved to have passed up the large Ford Explorer rental in favor of our little Honda SUV that barely made the entryway.
Brimstone Hill Fortress“Stairway to Heaven” at Brimstone Fortress
Brimstone Hill Fortress, also known as the Gibraltar of the Caribbean, is an expansive stone fort originally built by the British in 1690 with African slaves. It has been through many modifications over the years, and different owners, but is essentially British. In fact, its construction reminded me of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. (I was later told that Brimstone was designed and built by the Royal Engineers from the UK). Now, it is a National Park, a POTA site (KN-0003), and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sometimes you need a break. My sweetie Glenn W4YES booked two Airbnbs, one in North Carolina and one in South Carolina, the second weekend in October as my son’s school was on break for four days. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a planner. However, it was a nice surprise for me to NOT plan this trip. Glenn picked out the places to stay as well as scouted nearby potential POTA sites. My job was to show up and enjoy the surprise.
Our first two nights were at a property between Uwharrie and Troy, North Carolina. This property borders the Uwharrie National Forest (US-4511). All I had to do for a POTA activation was walk out our front door to the road on the mountain and continue a short distance uphill where the national forest property begins. The road continues past a locked gate to the Buck Mountain Fire Tower, the highest point in the area.
Saturday is my day off from everything including ham radio. However, Glenn and I took a leisurely paced walk to the fire tower just to check it out.
road up to the tower
The Buck Mountain Fire Tower was built in 1936 and is likely the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Given the narrowness of the stairs, it is obvious the structure was not built in modern times. The tower base is covered in chain-link fencing but the metal door into the tower base area to access the tower stairs, is not locked.
We returned to the tower at sunset to climb it . You cannot access the top floor as it is padlocked. But one can see for miles from the stair platform below the top floor. The sliver of color on the horizon as the sun dipped below was worth the climb to the top.
red oak acorns with my hand in the photo for comparisonnuts also covered the ground near the Airbnb
Not being one to squander an opportunity for POTA, the next morning I woke at 6 AM and was out the door at 6:45. Light was just beginning to show in the sky. The walk up to the fire tower was not that difficult despite having a backpack of POTA and camera gear and gaining 152 feet in elevation. This is why I walk the stairs at a local parking garage two days a week – so I am not unprepared for some elevation change.
I arrived at the fire tower right before sunrise and had the site to myself! As I figured out where to set up, I thought to myself no one was likely to hear me due to the tall, large metal structure with antennas in front me. In fact, I didn’t bother setting up any video equipment.
fire tower at first light
I chose a spot off to the side of the tower with my back to the woods so I could see anyone coming up the access road . (When you are a woman alone in the woods, you have to think of such stuff.) I opted for the Chelegance MC-750 as there was not much time to operate. I set the Chelegance for 40 meters. The sun was just beginning to rise (7:24 AM) so I figured 40 would be a better band given the early hour.
Chelegance MC-750woods behind me
I settled into my Helinox chair with a blanket wrapped around my legs (the temp was 49 degrees – cold for this Georgia girl), spotted myself (cell service at a POTA site is always a plus!), and steeled myself for a failed activation. If I encounter noise when I do POTA, it is almost always on 40 meters. I figured with the antennas on site and the large metal object in front of me, no one would hear my QRP signal and there would be too much noise for me to hear anyone who did happen to respond to my CQ. I couldn’t have been more wrong!
operating with blanket wrapped around my legs & wool shirt on for warmth
There was noise on the band but not nearly as bad as I anticipated, partially due to the great filters on the KX2. There was a pulsing noise at 7.056 and some sort of signal on 7.054, but 7.049 was clear. It wasn’t long after spotting myself that Ronny WB2MQQ answered my CQ. That began a steady stream of calls over the next hour. The signal I heard originally on 7.054 moved to 7.049 about 25 minutes into the activation so I switched to 7.054 when it vacated that frequency.
set-up
At 8:27 AM, I called QRT because Glenn and I had plans to meet old college friends in Charlotte later that morning. I had 39 contacts at a location I was certain would result in none! It just goes to show you never know what the bands or a location will give you. Better to set up and try than quit before you start, right?
QSO Map for Uwharrie National Forest (US-4511) 10-13-2024
We had a pleasant drive to Charlotte. Glenn met his friend Mike and I, my friend Jennifer. (I call her Jennaboo and she calls me Teridactl.) Afterwards, satiated from lunch, conversation, and laughter, we headed southward into South Carolina for my next activation. Where? Stay tuned…
Jennaboo & Teridactl!
P.S. Want to get to know Glenn and I a little better? Check out my video from our stay near Uwharrie National Forest on YouTube:
Equipment Used
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Gee, the title almost tells the whole story. But not really. The title is where I ended up; how I got there, is the story.
Here’s the story.
Today, I hope to activate Fintry Protected Area CA-3505 in southern British Columbia.
One of my objectives since I started POTA last year is to try to activate as many parks as I can in the Okanagan region of BC that have not yet been activated by anyone. Nothing like a good challenge. I expect that most of them haven’t been activated because they are quite remote and difficult to access unless one has a true off-road all-terrain vehicle. Even at that, sometimes it still requires backpacking-in, to boot (no pun intended). This is in part because many of the Protected Areas and Ecological Reserves are not always directly accessible by vehicle. The roads often do not enter the park boundaries at all. They get you close, and then you need to hoof-it in to be POTA legit inside the park boundaries.
Fintry Protected Area has never been activated before, by anyone. I’m wondering why? Compared to many of my past activations, it isn’t nearly as difficult to access as some others I’ve been to.
The location in Fintry CA-3505 that I will be activating today is located about a 1-hour drive north of Kelowna, BC (where I live) via West Kelowna. The last section of travel is via rough gravel roads.
For those who haven’t followed my previous posts, we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, and were hit hard by the unprecedented destruction caused by Hurricane (later Tropical Storm) Helene. I’ve been sharing regular updates to chronicle our recovery efforts and, naturally, to highlight the vital role amateur radio has played throughout.
Since things have stabilized on our road, we’ve shifted focus to the administrative side of disaster recovery—insurance, FEMA, and contractors for repairs. I’ll dive into that in a future post.
Community Radio Update
It’s been a busy week. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been evaluating options for the best off-grid communications network for our rural community. My VHF handy talkies were incredibly useful after the storm—when we had no other way to communicate between households—so much so that our neighbors want a permanent solution that everyone can access.
I truly appreciate all the helpful feedback from my last post.
Meshtastic
Some of you suggested Meshtastic as a great option, and I agree. Here’s why:
1. It requires no license.
2. It’s effective if enough nodes are deployed in the neighborhood.
3. It’s affordable.
Meshtastic is an off-grid, text-based communications network. I first experimented with it during Hamvention 2024, where hundreds of nodes were deployed across the Dayton, Ohio area. (Thanks again, N5FY, for the Meshtastic device!) I plan to introduce it to our community by setting up a few test nodes.
While Meshtastic is a great supplement to our off-grid communications, our neighbors prefer portable radios and voice communication. This allows us to run nets and pass traffic more easily while on the move.
Although Meshtastic is relatively simple for electronics hobbyists and makers, it’s still a bit quirky for the average person and not entirely user-friendly yet. I’m confident the system will evolve, but for now, I’ll hand-pick a few neighbors to experiment with it.
Other radio services
Many of you suggested MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) as a good alternative, and I agree it’s better than FRS (Family Radio Service) for several reasons. However, our valley has significant elevation changes and is heavily forested. We need a system that supports higher-powered mobile/base units and external antennas, plus the option for a repeater, which MURS doesn’t allow.
CB Radio is also a great option except that the CB bands are a bit crowded and unruly here. I think it could be difficult finding a clear channel to run a neighborhood check-in net, for example. Still a good back-up comms option for any household.
Why Not Ham Radio?
Of course, many of you encouraged me to consider getting the neighborhood licensed with Technician class licenses. While I’d love for everyone to become ham radio operators, it’s a big ask, especially in the aftermath of Helene, when most people are focused on rebuilding their lives. That said, I’m thrilled that two neighbors have already expressed an interest in studying for their exams!
However, we need a more accessible radio solution that can be deployed immediately, and that’s where GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and PLMRS (Private Land Mobile Radio Services) come in.
The two contenders
I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of both GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and PLMRS (Private Land Mobile Radio Services). Both allow for a repeater, mobile/base stations, and external antennas with power levels up to 50 watts if needed. A well-placed repeater would ensure reliable communication throughout our valley, even with the 1,000-1,200 foot elevation changes, and allow us to expand the system to more households.
I was about to submit the paperwork for PLMRS frequency coordination when I realized I should consult with our local fire department first. If they had a strong preference, I needed to know before investing.
I put out a call on the Mount Mitchell (N2GE) repeater for Dennis (N4DIN) who is typically stationed at our main Swannanoa Fire Department. I couldn’t reach him, but I did get a call back from Dan (N2DMG) who just so happened to be in the Swannanoa area for the day.
Dan was the primary net control during the critical first 10 days after Helene, so you may recognize his voice if you listened to the Mitchell repeater on Broadcastify.
We arranged to meet at our mutual friend Ed’s (N4EDX) home. Ed has been a key figure in our community’s recovery efforts, and Dan also invited Randy (N2GE), the owner of the Mount Mitchell repeater.
Our community relied on all three of these fine hams post-Helene. It was pure serendipity that we were all able to meet on short notice yesterday morning.
A compelling case for GMRS
Here’s the funny part: Dan and I arrived at Ed’s house first and after catching up a bit, I asked for his advice about using either GMRS or PLMRS. He agreed that PLMRS might have a slight advantage over GMRS, but both were good options.
Then Randy arrived.
Dan asked him what he was up to that day and Randy said, “I’m going to install a new GMRS repeater on a summit here in Swannanoa.”
I asked Randy if the repeater would cover our valley and he replied, “Oh yeah. Easily. It’s an ideal location.”
Dan and I looked at each other and said, “Well, that settles it.”
I mean, what are the chances that I’d wake up yesterday morning and meet with the Mount Mitchell repeater owner, who just happens to be installing a new GMRS repeater to cover our community? Crazy, right?
From L to R: Thomas (K4SWL), Dan (K2DMG), Ed (N4EDX), and Randy (N2GE)
On top of that, Randy is the reason the Mount Mitchell repeater is so reliable and effective. If he’s installing a GMRS repeater, we know it’ll be done right.
So GMRS it is!
Randy mentioned the repeater would be up and running by Friday (!!!), and just like that, the burden of sourcing a repeater, a site, and licensing was lifted.
Thank you, Randy!
GMRS Radios
Now, here’s where I could use your help.
I’ve been researching GMRS radios, but the market is flooded with options, and reviews (websites and YouTube) are often unhelpful—many are just glorified product brochures based on free product. I’d love to hear from those of you who have actual experience with GMRS radios, especially handheld models that are:
• Easy to use and program (via USB or Bluetooth)
• USB-C rechargeable
• Rugged, possibly water-resistant or waterproof
• Have a standard antenna connector
• Well-reviewed by users
While I know some in our community already have GMRS radios, I’d like to standardize on a single model that I can recommend to neighbors. This way, I can program them consistently (via USB or Bluetooth), ensuring they all function the same. It will also make it much easier to teach everyone how to change channels and use the repeater effectively.
I’ve ordered a pair of Baofeng UV-5G Plus GMRS radios (this pair from Amazon–affiliate link) and plan to order a Tidradio TD-H8 based on Randy’s advice. I’d appreciate any additional suggestions!
Once I’ve selected a radio model, I’ll set up a series of community meetings/classes to teach everyone how to use the radios and how to participate in a community net.
Final thoughts…
As always, I’m deeply grateful for the kindness and support we’ve received. If I haven’t had a chance to reply to your emails or comments, please know it’s because I’ve been focused on helping my family and neighbors during this challenging time.
A huge thank you to Vince (VE6LK) and all the amazing contributors on QRPer.com! I’ve been enjoying all the guest field reports—it’s been a wonderful escape.
Thank you all for being such an incredible community and support network!
Many thanks to Rod VA3MZD who shares this five park POTA bicycle rove report with us. If you have an article in your head and want to have it posted here, let’s keep this community going while our friend Thomas continues to help his neighbours in the wake of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Draft up your story in an email with reference points to the pictures you want embedded and their captions, attach photos to the note and send it my way to vincedeon at gmail dot com and note QRPer in the subject line to get my attention.
By Rod Murray VA3MZD
Last year I reported, in a guest post here on QRPer, on the five POTA parks near my QTH that are linked by the Elora-Cataract Trailway, a rail trail that runs east from the quaint tourist village of Elora, Ontario, through the town of Fergus, where I live, through Belwood Lake Conservation Area and continues for approximately 45 km to the village of Cataract, on the Niagara Escarpment, well to the east. The trail passes through or near four POTA parks in my immediate vicinity, made easily accessible by foot, bicycle or vehicle, as one chooses. The Trailway is also part of the Great Trail of Canada CA-5082. In one of these nearby parks, Belwood Lake, it’s a 2-fer, making 5 parks in total.
POTA Map showing the location of the four nearby POTA parks near my QTHThe All Trails Map of the Elora-Cataract Trail/Great Trail of Canada from Elora to Belwood Lake
In my original report I had also set a goal of one day activating the one nearby park I had yet to visit, and also to activate all five local parks in one day. With the summer quickly coming to a close here in South Western Ontario, and the fact that the one park I had yet to visit would close for the season in just a few days, it was time to attack my two goals with a rove! So I made plans to rise early, hope for cooperative weather and complete my 5 park cycle trip. Could I do it?
For those who haven’t followed my previous posts, we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, and were hit hard by the unprecedented destruction caused by Hurricane (later Tropical Storm) Helene. I’ve been sharing regular updates to chronicle our recovery efforts and, naturally, to highlight the vital role amateur radio has played throughout.
As I mentioned in my last update, now that we have a road open to all vehicular traffic and our community has been reconnected to the grid, we’re all looking toward the future—our new “normal”—focusing on returning to work (those of us who have work to return to), repairing our property, and helping those in our community who are still in need.
The Vast Impact of Helene in WNC
Over the past three days, we’ve ventured further from home, and we’ve seen the broader impact of the storm in our county.
Many local businesses we relied on are simply gone. Grocery stores are still struggling to replenish refrigerated and frozen items, which means we must drive 35-40 minutes (one way) to find these essentials. Due to damaged or wiped-out bridges and road closures, the trip is longer than it used to be. All traffic is now concentrated on the functional roads, so driving times are extended even more.
Two local grocery stores, our pharmacy, post office, hardware store, produce store, and numerous restaurants were all flooded. Some have announced they will not re-open.
A woodworking shop my wife and I visited the day before Helene—where they were making a sign for us—was completely washed away. Only part of their cinder block walls remain.
The tire shop where we bought tires the day before the storm was severely damaged by flooding, as were the dozens of shops and stores nearby, including two grocery stores. Even our local Lowe’s in east Asheville was severely damaged by floodwaters. See photos here.
On Friday, I took my car to the dealership for a safety inspection follow-up and alignment. They were also flooded by about two feet of water, but were able to continue most operations. Their building had been stripped from the floor up to two feet for future repairs.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t perform the alignment because that machine was damaged. Fortunately, the general manager moved their entire inventory of cars to higher ground.
While driving through north Asheville a few days ago, I saw numerous historic homes split in half by large, old-growth trees.
The storm was selective. Areas within a 500-year floodplain were devastated. Some communities, like ours, faced tornadoes and high winds that downed many trees. Yet just a few miles away, there might be little sign of wind damage. Isolated communities along rivers—Chimney Rock, for example—were completely wiped out. Simply erased from the face of the planet.
Everyone I know has friends or family who lost their homes or businesses. Some even know those who lost their lives. The stories are heartbreaking and hard to process.
Our Booth Fairy in downtown Swannanoa. She was located opposite our World Central Kitchen center and offering free advice, compliments, hugs, slow claps, thumb wars, and more!
Despite everything, the community here is strong and resilient. I haven’t spoken to anyone who plans to leave permanently. Frankly, there are few places where you can be sure you’ll never face a natural disaster. Meteorologists believe big storm systems like Helene will become more frequent.
Back to (Some) Normalcy
At home, my daughters will return to their community college classes (they’re dual-enrolled as high school seniors) next Monday. It will have been a full month since they’ve been in class. One of my daughters’ Shakespeare classes resumed rehearsals last Friday after ensuring everyone could travel to the venue safely.
A few friends have pointed out that I’m starting to relax a bit, noting that I wrote an email that was all about radio. A good sign.
POTA and SOTA Plans?
This weekend, I told my wife, “You know? Maybe I could fit in a POTA activation this week. I think I’m ready.”
Of course, she fully endorses the idea.
There’s a small issue, though: to activate a POTA park, I’ll need to drive at least an hour away.
I checked this weekend, and all my local POTA sites are temporarily closed. This includes national parks, state parks, and historic sites. Even some trails I often activate, like the Mountains to Sea Trail, are only accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is also closed.
Pisgah National Forest is vast—tens of thousands of acres—so I might be able to find an accessible spot that isn’t barricaded. But I’m hesitant to activate a site that’s technically closed due to Helene–no matter how accessible.
One possibility is to combine a POTA activation with visiting my father in Hickory, NC. Most of the parks east of Hickory are open, as storm damage was minimal in those areas.
Someone recently suggested I take this time for a little SOTA, but that’s even more complicated than POTA. Many of the local summits I enjoy activating are either accessed via the closed Blue Ridge Parkway or trailheads on rural roads that have been damaged.
Even if I could reach a trailhead, most trails are likely littered with blowdowns, making the trek slow. Later this year, I hope to help with trail clean-up crews once more trailheads are accessible and my right shoulder has fully-recovered.
That said, I can reach some of the smaller summits in the foothills of NC when visiting my father. While there will likely be some blowdowns, I expect fewer than in the high country. If timing works out, I might be able to hit one!
If all goes well, I plan to make a video this week regardless—perhaps something from my property as I hunt stations. Who knows?
One thing’s for sure: I could use some proper radio therapy. Although I’ve been using radio heavily these past three weeks, it’s been all about emcomm and community organization. It’ll be nice to play radio just for the fun of it again!
Four Words…
Thank you so much!
Last night, we met with some of our amazing neighbors and did a little astronomy. My daughter Neva (K4TLI) took this photo of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS with my iPhone.
As always, we are deeply grateful for the kindness and support we’ve received. If I haven’t had a chance to respond to your emails or comments, please know it’s because I’ve been focused on helping my family and neighbors during this challenging time.
A huge thank you to Vince (VE6LK) and all the fantastic contributors on QRPer.com! I’ve read every comment and message, though I haven’t had the time to respond to each one.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying all of the guest field reports! What a wonderful escape! Thank you!
You are an amazing community and support network. Thank you so much!
It’s another beautiful cloudless day in southern British Columbia (16 Sept, 2024). My goal for today is to activate Buse Hill Lookout, located in Buse Lake Protected Area CA-3287, before the weather turns too cold and wet to venture into the area.
Buse Hill is about a 2.5-hour drive NW from Kelowna, BC where I live. The last ¾ hour of the drive is on gravel range roads. My wife Alexis (VE7LXE) is accompanying me on this trip, as always.
While planning for the activation, I closely studied Google Maps Satellite view, as well as Garmin GPS Birds Eye views of the activation area. This helps me evaluate the terrain and access routes. I also study the Gov’t of BC Mineral Titles online maps which give both satellite views and topographic views (before POTA, gold panning was my summer hobby and the BC Mineral Titles online maps were essential for knowing where to legally pan).
Access to Buse Hill Lookout, CA-3287. Ecological Reserve south-end access route. Tip: Click on images to enlarge view.
From these maps I can see that the last 1.5 Km is an undefined off-road access route. From the satellite views, it’s very difficult to assess the viability of a route that my Forester can handle. So, I knew there was a 50-50 chance I may be able to drive all the way up that last 1.5 Km. With this in mind, we came prepared for two eventualities: 4-wheel it up, or backpack it up if necessary.
That means having two prepared POTA back packs; one with the KX3 for near car activations, and my KX2 backpack for hiking situations.
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