With POTA becoming more & more popular, can a DXpedition-style activation be far away?
There are still quite a few POTA sites that have never been activated...the majority of those in North America are in Alaska. Others, in the lower 48, are accessible only by boat.
But there are others that seem to be as-yet unactivated due only to their remoteness.
Amazingly, a state park (island) in Lake Champlain (NY) has never been activated. It's a mile off-shore from Plattsburg. Could you walk to it in the winter or would a summertime kayak trip be best?
There are currently over 300 POTA sites in the US that have never been activated.
Here is a sample:
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We camped at the end of the season last year at Aloha State Park in Michigan. It turned out to have been activated only briefly a few times prior, so when I got on I was an instant celebrity. Such fun! We found the park because the Michigan State Parks had just opened a new section in the campground with full hookups, make it only the 4th state park in Michigan with full hookups. Most of the state park camping in Michigan is what you would call 'rustic', which my wife no longer goes for. I use my Eagle One 33 ft. vertical antenna which is mounted on the RV ladder, with counterpoise wires from my Super Antenna kit, and my KX2. When needed, I can add my KXPA100 to the mix. Works great on CW, SSB, and digital modes.
ReplyDeleteDave, you have the perfect vehicle for POTA activations. I miss having an RV and, every now and then, we ponder getting back into it. Then we see the price of diesel ;-)
ReplyDeleteHere's some food for thought:
K-0348 Huron National Wildlife Refuge (MI) has never been activated
K-6756 Peterson Pond Flooding Wildlife Management Area (MI) - never activated
73,
John
We have a hi-line 5th wheel, not a class A, but nevertheless, pull the 5th wheel with a 2022 RAM 3500 crew cab long bed dually (phew!), so I feel your pain regarding the price of diesel. On the other hand, I've been working from home the last three years, so the mileage on the truck is miniscule compared to when I was commuting 115 miles round trip every day. I got my fuel credit card bill for December, and it was ZERO. Guess I hadn't driven the truck enough to need to fill up the 50 gallon tank last month.
DeleteWhen the camping season starts up again, we'll be out at least once or twice each month for long weekends, mostly at Michigan state parks. Once of our favorites is Sterling State Park near Monroe, MI, which has full hookups, and is on the west shore of Lake Eerie.
73,
-- Dave, N8SBE
My wife says we are now Car V'ers but, every now and then, I catch her looking at used Class C's online. The fever won't go away and we may well do something about it...
DeleteBreton Island K-0303 and Delta K-0308 Are reachable by boat - low-lying islands. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteW5OHM
(who doesn't have a boat any more)
Nice callsign! It looks like you could *almost* drive to Delta - but yep, it's that last half mile.
Deletehttps://www.fws.gov/refuge/delta
I would think that someone from Sulphur LA has a friend who knows a Cajun with a boat...just sayin'...
73,
John
Hi John
DeleteThe Cross Island Wildlife Refuge in Maine is near my QTH. There are two issues that may complicate an activation. I need to find out if there is a beach that will safely allow my skiff access and the refuge is closed until September due to nesting bald eagles on the island. Then there is the 15 foot tide issue in the Bay of Fundy! Not quite Bouvet Island issues though!
73
Steve KB3SII ... .. ..
Hi Steve - you must be in the northern-most part of ME if the Bay of Fundy is an issue. I never made it more north than Acadia (several times). I wanted to retire to ME but the Little Lady wouldn't hear of it!
DeleteI'll be making an exploratory activation tomorrow - activating a park near an off-shore park that's half an hour kayak's ride from Florida's west coast. If it looks do-able, I'll be rowing out to it in Feb.
ReplyDelete