Gee, the title nearly tells the entire story. However probably not. The title is the place I ended up; how I acquired there, is the story.
Right here’s the story.
As we speak, I hope to activate Fintry Protected Space CA-3505 in southern British Columbia.
One among my aims since I began POTA final 12 months is to attempt to activate as many parks as I can within the Okanagan area of BC that haven’t but been activated by anybody. Nothing like an excellent problem. I count on that almost all of them haven’t been activated as a result of they’re fairly distant and troublesome to entry until one has a real off-road all-terrain automobile. Even at that, generally it nonetheless requires backpacking-in, in addition (no pun meant). That is partially as a result of lots of the Protected Areas and Ecological Reserves usually are not at all times instantly accessible by automobile. The roads typically don’t enter the park boundaries in any respect. They get you shut, after which you should hoof-it in to be POTA legit contained in the park boundaries.
Fintry Protected Space has by no means been activated earlier than, by anybody. I’m questioning why? In comparison with a lot of my previous activations, it isn’t almost as troublesome to entry as some others I’ve been to.
The situation in Fintry CA-3505 that I shall be activating at this time is positioned a couple of 1-hour drive north of Kelowna, BC (the place I dwell) by way of West Kelowna. The final part of journey is by way of tough gravel roads.
Driving north of West Kelowna on the Westbank Rd, overlooking Lake Okanagan, is a little bit of a curler coaster trip with little or no room for error subsequent to steep cliffs. I actually dread driving this street. I even equate a part of this street to a go-cart monitor which could be very twisty-windy.
That is the place we exit Westside Rd onto Terrace Mountain Rd, which ends up in Fintry Protected Space. We comply with the gravel street for one more ~2.2 Km.
This bumpy gravel street has its share of twists and turns subsequent to steep drop-offs.
As this signal factors out, we’re at present contained in the Protected space boundaries. Nevertheless, this location simply doesn’t attraction to me in any respect, for varied causes. I don’t assume it’s an excellent location for radio propagation functions, and the surroundings is nothing to jot down house about. I’m going to hunt a bit extra elevation with a view that I can get pleasure from whereas I function for five hours or so.
The following 1.5 Km on this street is definitely exterior the protected space boundary. So, I must discover a street entry level to get me again into, or very near the boundary. As soon as once more, I closely depend on my Garmin GPS for locating my method round.
Some time later, I discover entry into the protected space.
A really quick distance in, we discover a spot to drag over and park. Not a very good working spot for my part.
Then, we decide to hoof-it in a brief distance to a hill crest that gives attractive views overlooking Lake Okanagan, dealing with East.
It’s round 09:00 PDT because the solar begins to work its method up the horizon. The mornings are a bit on the cool facet as we enter the second-half of September.
My spouse Alexis (VE7LXE) assists with packing-in the lounging furnishings, meals and water.
That Ponderosa Pine tree on the left is my prime suspect for launching my antenna system.
This hill crest location ought to present good radio propagation to the south and east horizons.
As Alexis units up the Helinox furnishings, I begin unpacking my POTA pack.
Choice time; what antenna ought to I deploy at this time?
The N9SAB 20m or 17m dipoles, or my 17m novel homebrew coaxial-sleeve vertical dipole?
The N9SAB dipoles have served me properly prior to now 12 months. However at this time I’m going to go together with my homebrew coaxial-sleeve dipole. It’s experimental and I’m nonetheless making an attempt to resolve if it’s definitely worth the area it takes up in my pack or SUV. It’s coiled-up within the higher proper nook of the picture.
Time to boost the antenna system.
It took me three or 4 tries to get the throw bag and arbor-line up as excessive as I can probably throw. I’m guessing I made it up about 35’ with the 8 oz throw bag.
I slowly hoist-up the vertical dipole.
As soon as up, I at all times elevate and slant the underside of the vertical in direction of the SE to barely elevate the radiation angle for presumed finest protection of the south-east USA.
Okay; the 17m band antenna is raised and oriented and the Helinox furnishings is located.
As traditional, I begin on the 20m bread-n-butter band to seize my first 10 contacts. Then I discover the opposite HF bands. The KX3 doesn’t appear to have any drawback tuning throughout any of the bands, 40m by way of 10m. So, I’m good to go.
I’ll be working the KX3 CW at 10W and utilizing the KXPD2 paddle for my keyer; that is my typical MO.
Within the meantime, Alexis shall be spending the remainder of the day stress-free, studying her eBooks, and having fun with the views whereas I disturb the peace with plenty of CW noise.
Right here is my play-by-play account of how the subsequent 5 hours went.
My first 20m contact was at 17:04 UTC (10:04 PDT) with W4SK in TN. Off to an excellent begin with 5 contacts in 5 minutes. Then the band took a flip (or the chasers took a nap), and it took nearly an hour to seize my subsequent 5 contacts. The tenth contact of the morning got here at 18:13 UTC (11:13 PDT) with N0HC in CO (P2P). I had a good unfold of protection together with NC, TN, MA, IL, ON, UT, and CA.
Now that I’ve fulfilled my 20m quota, it’s time to maneuver on to 17m and see who’s hanging-out there. 17m is changing into my favourite band. It might be good if extra folks hung-out there, too.
The primary 17m contact is at 18:31 UTC with KG2MM in FL.
Over the subsequent 40 minutes I log 15 contacts on 17m together with NJ, FL, OK, NC, WI NY, SC, NM, GA, MN, MD, and VA.
However wait, there’s extra! My bonus contact for this band is with IK4IDF in ITALY. Did I point out 17m is changing into my favourite band?
Half-way by way of my 17m session, my Pixel cellphone misplaced Web, so I couldn’t do any extra self-spotting. However that didn’t appear to matter as propagation appears excellent at this time and the reverse beacons had been incessantly recognizing me.
Now I’m questioning – may 15m band be simply nearly as good? Let’s discover out….
I log my first 15m contact at 19:17 UTC with KF9LI in TX.
Seems that 15m is treating me excellent at this time with 16 contacts over a 40-minute interval protecting TX, ON, FL, OH, MI, WI, IN, and LA. I appear to be getting good easterly hops at this time.
However wait, there’s extra! My 15m bonus contacts at this time are ON4VT in Belgium, and DL1AX in Germany.
I’m undoubtedly getting good easterly hops now.
It’s time to see if the 12m band is exhibiting any promise this afternoon.
I’m Impressed – 12m is hopping too.
Beginning at 20:01 UTC, I land KB3AAY in MD. Numerous good propagation to the east coast… and past. Over a 20-minute interval, I landed 11 contacts in complete for the 12m band with MD, VA, SC, LA, NY, GA, and DE. Nonetheless nice propagation to the east coast from the pacific northwest.
However wait, there’s extra! The bonus contacts for 12m are EA1AF in SPAIN, and OH1MM in FINLAND! My first Finland!
For the ultimate frontier of todays’ journey – 10m.
In latest weeks, I haven’t had any contacts on 10m throughout my different activations. Will at this time be any totally different?
Sure, 10m is open for enterprise!
Beginning at 21:02 UTC I log W2QL in VA. Over the subsequent 1-hour and 10-minutes I log a complete of 10, 10m contacts together with SC, NC, VA, TX, UT, and NJ. Coast-to-coast propagation is sort of good this afternoon.
However, wait, there’s extra! I used to be so shocked once I heard Thomas, K4SWL, reply my CQ. I didn’t know Thomas frolicked on 10m!
(Word: This journey passed off earlier than Hurricane Helene hit the Gulf states and NC. Our ideas and heartfelt finest needs exit to Thomas, household, and communities affected by this tragedy.)
Then, as my remaining bonus contact for the day on 10m, I bagged CE3FZL in Chile!
I don’t have rather more time left earlier than I must pack-up and head out. So, I rapidly head right down to the 30m band simply to see if I can decide something up there. I haven’t had a lot luck on 30m on latest activations.
On 30m, I rapidly land 2 contacts. First with KN7D in UT at 22:12 UTC after which W6ZKH in CA.
It’s time to name it a day.
The tally for the day is 64 contacts spanning 6-bands, 8-countries, and 3-continents. (In fact, that features USA and Canada.)
Nice coast-to-coast propagation and past (and Thomas, K4SWL).
Not a foul POTA days work, in any respect. Even when it did take me simply over 5-hours to finish. That is a mean of just about 13 contacts/hour. Not a pace data set right here, for certain.
I believe this, to this point, has been my finest POTA day for DX. Photo voltaic cycle 25 gave the impression to be doing its job at this time.
The contact maps under present a close-up view and an expanded view.
This map exhibits nice propagation to the SE and east coast of the USA.
This contact’s map view exhibits the propagation to Europe and South America. 17m – 10m had been the DX bands of the day.
It’s time for Alexis and me to pack up and head again to Kelowna.
Thanks for studying.
(That is seemingly my final submit for this 12 months.)
Cheers/72/73,
Jeff (VE7EFF) and Alexis (VE7LXE)
Kelowna, BC
Canada
Gear Record:
Elecraft KX3 with inside antenna tuner
Elecraft KXPD2 paddle
17m ½λ Coaxial Sleeve Slanted Vertical Dipole, house brew
Bioenno 4.5 Ah LiFePo4 battery
Helinox Desk One Exhausting High
Helinox Pace Stool
Helinox Sundown Chair
