From the park's website:

Although relatively small, 106-acre Jackson Lake State Park boasts some of the most scenic country in Ohio. The park's serene lake is a focal point for excellent fishing and provides the ideal setting for a peaceful retreat.

Pictures

The park sign
"Road Closed" to Eric's planned operating location
The view from Eric's operating location
Two views of Eric's station on the river bank: 1 | 2

Description

On Friday, April 23, 2021, one member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team performed a successful activation of Jackson Lake State Park in Ohio as part of the Parks on the Air (POTA; link) program. This was only the third POTA activation of Jackson Lake State Park and the second CW POTA activation, the first being Eric's activation on August 10, 2019. Eric was accompanied by the two small dogs, Theo and Mindy.

Eric and the dogs arrived at the entrance to the swim-beach and picnic area, Eric's planned operating location, only to find it gated shut. Exploring a bit further, Eric found the entrance to the campground to be similarly closed for what looked like a re-paving project. Driving back along the lakeside toward Ohio Route 279, Eric found a nice, unoccupied fishing area which looked perfect for his activation. Parking his car away for the three overhanging the small parking area, Eric quickly deployed his 28½' wire antenna on his 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast and drive-on base and, because of the slight chill and the breeze, decided to set up his KX3 inside the car. Eric was on the air at 1900 UTC.

Eric was pleased to find he had excellent cell-signal at this location and he was able to use the POTA Spots website (link) to spot himself and to look for possible park-to-park (P2P) QSOs.

Eric began operations by looking on POTA Spots for possible P2P QSOs and almost immediately made a P2P QSO on 40m with WA3TMR who was activating Clemmons Educational State Forest (K-4853) in North Carolina.

Moving to 80m, Eric spotted himself on POTA Spots and was rewarded with a QSO with his friend K8RAT in central Ohio.

Eric switched to 40m and spotted himself to POTA Spots, and it was quickly apparent that propagation had gotten worse since his earlier activation of Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area (link). Eric called "CQ POTA" for many minutes before his first he got his first response. Thereafter, QSOs on 40m came steadily enough, and Eric made five QSOs in about four minutes.

Eric paused during a lull in his run on 40m to consult POTA Spots and switched to 20m to make a two-fer P2P QSO with K4NYM who was activating Fort Foster State Historic Site (K-3621) and Hillsborough River State Park (K-1878) in Florida.

Returning to 40m, made three more QSOs in about three minutes.

Finally, Eric checked POTA Spots again and made a P2P QSO on 40m with KU8T who was activating Brookfield Township II State Game Land (K-6635) in Michigan.

In all, Eric made thirteen QSOs, including four P2P QSOs, in about thirty minutes. All of Eric's QSOs were CW and were made at the 5-watt level.

Eric also submitted his log to the World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio (WWFF; link) program for an operation at KFF-1938.

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