by William Eric McFadden
Pictures
Description
One member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team
succeeded in activating Hopewell Culture National Historical Park as part of the ARRL's
year-long National Parks on the Air (link). Eric McFadden,
WD8RIF, activated Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, HP15 (link)
at the Mound City Group in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Eric arrived at the Mound City Group at about 1530 UTC to find a nearly-full parking area and a large white tent on the lawn adjacent to the Visitor Center. Eric stampled Passport 2016 and spoke to Ranger Joe Ratermann, learning that the tent and crowd were for a pumpkin-carving event. Ranger Ratermann suggestd a convenient parking place and gave Eric permission to set up anywhere. Eric chose to set up his station near the small mound near the entrance road.
As at previous activations, Eric's station consisted of his Enhanced KX3 Travel Kit, his MFJ-1910 33' fiberglass telescoping mast, and a custom clipboard. Because of gusty winds, Eric chose to extend his fiberglass only partially and his 28½' end-fed wire was more of a sloper than a vertical. Eric was on the air at 1554 UTC.
Eric began operations on 20m and his first QSO came at 1555 with N5KIP. QSOs came steadily and quickly until Eric made his 16th QSO on 20m at 1609 UTC with KS7T. Eric then switched to 40m and made his first QSO there at 1616 UTC with KC9TYA. Eric made nine more QSOs on 40m with his 26th and final QSO coming at 1626 UTC with N8XX. All of Eric's QSOs were CW made at the 5-watt level.
As Eric was tearing down his station, Ranger Ratermann presented Eric with a "Junior Ranger" badge in honor of the large number of visits Eric had made to the park.
Highlights of the activation were QSOs with IZ8EFD in Italy and with DL2ND in Germany.
Map:
(return)