When our household wants a change of surroundings with out a lengthy drive, Mount Mitchell State Park is our go-to vacation spot. I’ve talked about earlier than that it’s my “blissful place” right here in North Carolina. Mount Mitchell is simply about 6 miles from our dwelling because the crow flies, but it surely takes about 50 minutes to drive there, and it’s not within the course of any of our common locations. Heading up the Blue Ridge Parkway and watching the flora change with elevation makes it really feel like a correct getaway.
On Sunday, June 16, 2024, we needed simply such a getaway, as my spouse and daughters had been treating me to some Father’s Day enjoyable. After visiting my father-in-law within the hospital within the early afternoon, we drove to Mount Mitchell.
Sundays on Mount Mitchell are typically busy, particularly in the summertime. Nevertheless, on this explicit Sunday, it was wet, foggy, and there have been storms in and across the space.
Climate like this by no means bothers us on Mount Mitchell, as it will probably shift right away, so long as thunderstorms don’t intrude.
As quickly as we arrived, I grabbed my radio bag from the automobile and located an empty picnic shelter. I’d been hoping for a free shelter because it was raining, and luckily, we bought our decide!
One of many first issues I did after dropping off my pack was to tie Hazel to a picnic desk as a result of she was laser-focused on a chipmunk she noticed run up a tree subsequent to the shelter. That canine drives chipmunks and squirrels loopy, I’m positive.
My spouse and daughters dropped off some artwork provides at one of many shelter tables, then went on a brief hike whereas I carried out my POTA activation.
Be aware that Mount Mitchell can also be a SOTA summit, however the picnic space just isn’t throughout the activation zone. I might have simply gone to certainly one of my go-to SOTA spots on the summit and knocked out a SOTA activation rapidly (solely 4 contacts are wanted), however I needed to avoid wasting that for one more day. Plus, being within the shelter meant that I might have a pleasant leisurely, dry activation!
I introduced alongside my Penntek TR-45L and deliberate to pair it with a random wire antenna for the activation. Nevertheless, because the climate was iffy—once more, my major concern was any thunderstorms that may sneak up on us—I made a decision to skip the wire antenna and go tabletop as a substitute.
Fortuitously, my Elecraft KH1 lives in my EDC bag always, so I set it up for tabletop mode.
KH1 “tabletop mode” gave me the right excuse to check out an adjunct my buddy Joshua (N5FY) despatched me: his model of a KH1 right-angle antenna adapter.
You would possibly recall that I’ve used the Elecraft KH1 adapter in earlier activations and I feel it really works brilliantly. The primary model of Elecraft’s adapter had one problem: the elements would disintegrate in case you weren’t cautious with the way you connected it to the KH1.
Joshua designed his right-angle adapter with captive parts in order that it’s multi function piece and may’t come aside.
I ought to word right here that Elecraft really up to date their right-angle adapter design in order that it additionally has captive parts as effectively—so you’ve gotten two selections! I’ll use the brand new Elecraft adapter in a future video and discipline report.
Joshua’s Tufteln design works very well (it’s additionally inexpensive than the OEM adapter), and I like that it’s shiny pink, which suggests I’m much less prone to go away it within the discipline!
Gear:
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I assumed that 20 meters is perhaps the most efficient band that afternoon, in order that’s the place I began calling CQ POTA after snagging a Park-to-Park with K9NUD.
Total, the band was moderately wholesome. At the very least, we weren’t experiencing a radio black-out like I’ve been on a few of my most up-to-date POTA outings!
The KH1’s wee antenna and 5 watts was definitely placing out a sign, however QSB (fading) was deep, exhibiting that the ionosphere wasn’t terribly steady.
I labored my first ten stations in 13 minutes. Not unhealthy in any respect!
In that first ten, I snagged native stations in addition to some in Washington State.
I continued calling CQ POTA till I’d logged a complete of 15 stations–solely certainly one of which (on the finish of the activation) was on 17 meters.
Right here’s what this five-watt activation seemed like when plotted out on a QSO Map:
For enjoyable, I additionally added the mileage of every contact. It’s spectacular a lot may be completed with so little (click on picture to enlarge):
Right here’s my real-time, real-life video of your complete activation. As with all of my movies, I don’t edit out any elements of the on-air activation time. As well as, I’ve monetization turned off on YouTube, though that doesn’t cease them from inserting adverts earlier than and after my movies.
Be aware that Patreon supporters can watch and even obtain this video 100% ad-free via Vimeo on my Patreon web page:
Click on right here to view on YouTube.
Though working with a 4 foot whip connected to a 13 ounce radio on a tabletop beneath the roof of a picnic shelter appears like lots of compromise (trace: it’s), it additionally embraces what I like about QRP.
It makes these stations on the opposite facet of the continent really feel that rather more particular.
Had I been utilizing earphones as a substitute of an exterior speaker (for the good thing about my YouTube video) this may have been about as stealthy and low-impact as a POTA activation could possibly be. Nobody would have recognized that the man hanging out together with his household and canine was utilizing Morse Code to make contacts together with his radio household some 2,100 miles away!
I like that.
My daughters, Hazel, and I took a fast hike within the rain after the activation.
Mount Mitchell is an exquisite park when it’s wet and foggy.
Additionally, I do love the no-nonsense path warnings on the head of the Black Mountain Crest Path.
Right here’s the very best half:
FYI: I totally intend to hike the size of the Black Mountain Crest Path someday sooner or later and, doubtless, with a SOTA buddy. We’ll pack for in a single day tenting.
Listed below are a number of further images I snapped:
Thanks SO MUCH for becoming a member of me throughout this activation!
I hope you loved the sector report and my activation video as a lot as I loved creating them!
After all, I’d additionally wish to ship a particular because of these of you who’ve been supporting the location and channel via Patreon, and the Espresso Fund. Whereas not a requirement, as my content material will all the time be free, I actually respect the assist.
As I discussed earlier than, the Patreon platform related to Vimeo makes it attainable for me to share movies that aren’t solely 100% ad-free but in addition downloadable for offline viewing. The Vimeo account additionally serves as a 3rd backup for my video recordsdata.
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me! Have enjoyable on the market, keep protected, and play radio!
Cheers & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
