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by Vince (VE6LK)
It’s time for one more return journey to the correctional establishment that I spoke about in my final submit. And meaning just one necessary element: extra time to POTA en route. This journey will carry me, through a ‘quick’ 325km detour from the direct route, into Citadel Provincial Park and Citadel Wilderness Provincial Park, with a cease or two alongside the best way.
The Analysis and planning
Citadel Provincial Park CA-2971 is throughout the bigger Waterton Biosphere Reserve CA-0109, so any activation I can do is routinely a 2fer. Wanting extra intently on the map, I see Citadel Falls CA-2969 is inside Citadel PP, and that makes it a 3fer. I printed off the park data sheets from POTA.app, studied some satellite tv for pc imagery, printed some, and bundled all of it collectively. I’ve been on this space as soon as earlier than, tenting in August (and the bugs had been terrible, yuck!), so at the very least I knew three issues…the place I used to be going, an expectation of cell service (not nice off the principle roads) and bugs can be minimal to non-existent, given it’s mid-November.
In occupied with a route that should get me nearer to my lodge and one which will increase the variety of distinctive parks I’ve activated, I made a decision upon Beauvais Lake Provincial Park CA-0632, one other 2fer with CA-0109. A satellite tv for pc view exhibits easy-peasy highway entry, and even when the principle gates are closed, I’m nonetheless on the property, so it will likely be a sound try/activation.
However I additionally actually need to get to the Citadel Wildland Provincial Park CA-2972, because it’s by no means been activated earlier than. And whereas there’s highway entry via all the Citadel space, I choose to take paved roads as winter driving and gravel (and no cell service) may be unpredictable at finest. I’ve additionally by no means been to Citadel Wildland, however in my thoughts, I’m imagining views paying homage to Waterton Lakes or Glacier Nationwide Park, given the very shut proximity. Because it turned out, I wasn’t too far fallacious.
I additionally tacked on one park on the final minute and was pleased I did so, even when I couldn’t activate it.
The drive
I’ve written many occasions in regards to the Cowboy Path in Alberta, primarily alongside Freeway 22, because it runs alongside the jap fringe of the Rockies. I’ll by no means tire of driving alongside this highway. With my final journey, I can say that I’ve now traveled alongside its complete size, and I’ve seen some wonderful surroundings and sampled some nice meals. So it must be no shock that I ‘saddled up’ in my F-150 -complete with leather-based seat covers and heated seats- and headed south for the longest single stretch of the day’s journey headed to the Citadel space.
The activations
As a result of I used to be on this space two years in the past, I had an affordable expectation of mobile service for recognizing. There was none on the first web site, so earlier than I left civilization, I posted an activation plan to ensure that the RBN to select me up and create a spot. Upon arrival at Citadel Falls, the climate was chilly and minus 9C, so any thought I needed to hike, see the falls, and take pictures was deserted. I set about on 10m and did a CW-only activation. Given the time of day and my proximity to the mountains, I used to be tremendous happy with the result of working a contact in France amongst many callers within the USA. Pulling away and driving via a number of inches of contemporary snow, I headed again the best way I got here, as this was the safer choice than backcountry gravel roads coated in snow.
I grabbed a little bit of meals on the Beaver Mines Basic Retailer (the meat jerky is nice!) and headed in the direction of Beauvais Lake. This might be one other CW cease, nonetheless, on 20m as I needed to match circumstances between the 2, given the interval was lower than an hour. Earlier than I arrange my spot, I went looking and located none apart from K4SWL at his Lake James State Park (US-2739) activation. I attempted for a couple of minutes to get via however backed away once I stopped and listened to his big pileup. I shot him a fast SMS to let him know I used to be on the air additionally and started my activation.
And so many mates and DX got here by about then, together with, however not restricted to K3ES, N3XLS, W9AV, NE1D, KN7D, VE3LDT, VE9CF, K2UPD, N4EX, AE6Z, VA7LM, KJ7RPL, KE6MT, and NZ7Q. 20m was each lengthy and quick on this present day, one thing I not often see.
Beauvais Lake is a reasonably place with deer wandering round, however I had a schedule to maintain, so I moved on to the subsequent park. My route took me north via Pincher Creek after which southwards. Twenty minutes later, I used to be turning west onto the highway that will take me into the backcountry.
Alberta has a various economic system, however one factor that retains the lights on (no pun meant) is our vitality sector. And so it occurs that there’s a giant pure fuel plant alongside the route. Whereas I knew that it was there, the sheer magnitude of it caught me off guard. You’ll be able to take a peek at it right here, due to Google’s avenue view.
Simply three kilometres later, I used to be coming into the Citadel Wildland Provincial Park. It’s an space the place the trade co-exists with different backcountry customers. I ended on the first parking zone – Butcher Lake – the place I noticed a signpost with many wells listed and arrows pointing the proper means at this fork within the highway. This isn’t the norm and is robust proof of commercial use of the highway along with leisure customers like myself.
The climate was overcast, and the clouds had been very low. Nonetheless, I may see proof of magnificent mountains shut by. It was probably the most picturesque spot I’d been on this yr, and I’ve resolved to return there when the roads and climate are extra beneficial.
I labored many extra contacts right here, beginning on 20m CW and ending on 10m SSB. I used to be nearing the top of my CW portion when a really weak sign got here in – I may make out the ‘SWL’ however that was it. With a little bit of repetition from the caller, I may make out K4SWL! I swear half the contact was completed with cryptaesthesia, i.e., through ESP or Extrasensory Notion, as my quantity was wound up full, and the sign was simply on the sting of my listening to. I’d later be taught that Thomas was standing within the parking zone of the Lowe’s retailer in Marion, North Carolina, together with his KH-1. It’s all the time nice to work a buddy on air – it by no means fails to place an enormous smile on my face in the course of the contact!
Quickly after, I packed up and reluctantly headed eastwards in the direction of my subsequent activation, Woolford Provincial Park CA-1201. Woolford PP isn’t fairly on the best way in a direct “from right here to there” sense, however a small 20km detour from the place I used to be at versus the place I used to be headed. Because it seems, most of it’s alongside gravel roads, that are, fortunately, in good situation. It’s just about in the course of nowhere.
Earlier within the week, I had deliberate to deal with Woolford (and one different) on an out-and-back loop from the lodge after my workday had ended. It could be 2 hours of round-trip driving plus activation time, so a good bit of that will be at the hours of darkness, given the time of yr. However on the day of, I left work late and was working out of daylight, so my out-and-back journey was abbreviated, and Woolford, being the farther away of the 2, was left for one more time. That point was on this journey.
Nonetheless, once I arrived, I used to be immediately deflated. Whereas it’s no shock the gates had been closed at the moment of yr, my analysis on the satellite tv for pc imagery and limits failed to point out that the gate was on the property line, in contrast to others I’ve carried out not too long ago. I’d not activate this park in the present day. At that second, I used to be actually pleased I didn’t attempt to get to this place at the hours of darkness on my journey prior! Nonetheless, I used to be dejected as I drove away and headed to my lodge. Thoughts you, by this time, I’d been behind the wheel, save for a quick cease for lunch and bio breaks, for 7 hours, so possibly this wasn’t a nasty factor in spite of everything.
Woolford will await me till the confluence of it being open and me being within the space.
By the numbers, I logged 77 contacts that day, 35 by CW and 42 by SSB. I activated in 3 areas, which had been 5 parks, and added 325km onto my new-to-me truck’s odometer. I had a tremendous sandwich and a few beef jerky and bought an important evening’s sleep!
Record of substances used for these activations:
Abstract
Advance planning is every thing for a visit like this one. Hold your choices open, and don’t be afraid to chop your losses and transfer on when confronted with an impediment, like a closed park or a boundary, if you didn’t count on it. Benefit from the journey. Take pictures. Share them with others.
73 and dit dit,
…Vince
First launched to the magic of radio by a member of the family in 1969, Vince has been energetic within the pastime since 2002. He’s an Accredited examiner in Canada and the USA, operates on nearly the entire modes, and is frequently engaged on making his CW proficiency suck much less. He participates in public service occasions round Western Canada and is energetic on the air whereas glamping, cell, at dwelling, or doing a POTA activation. You’ll be able to hear him on the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, observe him on Twitter @VE6LK, take a look at his YouTube channel, and view the initiatives and articles on his web site.
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