POTA K-6078 Fort Pearce 1st Activation CW Back to QRP

 

The Fort as the sun peeks through

This was next on my list of first activations to be completed in the area I live. It's out in the desert, but I passed by it a few times doing SOTA summits, so knew exactly where the turn off was and what it would be like. It was cloudy with a small chance of rain, so cooler than normal thankfully. I had one whole activation going a full 100 watts--it was one of the tougher, longer activations, so I went back to what I like and know--4-5 watts QRP.

Old Hwy 91 Rec. Area within Beaver Dam Conservation Area--POTA 2fer/WWFF 1

 

Operating from the pickup

I went out to get an all-time-new-one (ATNO) activated, Old Hwy 91 (K-6094), which is in Beaver Dam Conservation Area, which I activated a while ago (K-6096) which is also KFF-4966. Since the highway itself was the area, I decided to operate from the pickup (and have A/C) and use 100 watts from my go-kit with a Yaesu FT-857.

Santa Clara River Reserve (POTA K-6084) and Lower Graveyard Trail (POTA K-6082) w/ New Wolf River Coil

 

My setup for the morning

This was a before-work, before school starts double activation really to test out the new antenna I got. Normally I make my own antennas, but I've been looking for a vertical I can use. I decided on this Wolf River Coil antenna (SOTA Special). These are the closest POTA places to my house and had never been done before.

POTA Little Black Mt. Petroglyphs (K-6071), 1st Activation QRP CW

 

Just south of St. George, and just across the border into Arizona, is this historical site. I've been there twice before (never for radio though). We've been under an extreme heat watch which continues on (supposed to be 100 degrees today). I knew I wouldn't stay on long. Plus, this is my first activation that is POTA only and is not a World Wide Flora & Fauna site.

Awesome Desert Scenery at Beaver Dam Wash, POTA/WWFF Activation

 

Out in the desert as the sun comes up, Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area (POTA K-6096; WWFF KFF-4966) for its first activation. I had been out there before on the way to SOTA summits, so I was familiar with the area and knew a couple of spots to use to set up. There aren't really trails out there so it would be close to my pickup.

Slow Day at Quail Creek State Park, UT POTA/WWFF CW QRP

 

Operating position

Another POTA/WWFF activation, K-3086, on a Monday morning since I have the week off work. This one is less than 1/2 hour from home and has been activated for WWFF, but not for POTA. I wanted to go when there wouldn't be many people, but I was worried about how many contacts I would get on a Monday morning.

POTA/WWFF Red Cliffs Conservation Area (Desert Reserve), It's First Activation

 

Shack near small spring

I can enter the Red Cliffs area in 5 minutes from my house, not the place I went today, but it's a huge area with a main artery into the city that goes right through it. I looked at a number of possible places to go. I decided on the T-Bone Trail, mostly because it's still close (15 mins) yet no one would be there. This is another that had never been done before. This one is POTA K-6077 and WFF KFF-4968.