by William Eric McFadden
From the State Park website:
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Ouabache State Park, pronounced O-bah-chee, is located along the Wabash River near Bluffton. Originally operated as Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve in the early 1930s, the park was once considered the "Greatest Wildlife Laboratory in the United States" for its raising of pheasant, quail, raccoon, and rabbit. Through the efforts of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the area was developed for wildlife management, forestry demonstration, and recreation.
Kunkel Lake offers excellent fishing. During the summer months, a naturalist will provide information about the natural wonders of the park. A lodge recreation building is ideal for special gatherings and is now available all year.
Pictures
Description
On Sunday, March 9, 2025, one member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team performed a successful activation of Ouabache State Park (US-2263) in Indiana as part of the Parks on the Air (POTA; link) program.
While enroute to Chicago for a work conference, and following successful activations of Limberlost State Historic Site and Limberlost Swamp Nature Preserve, Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, performed an activation of Ouabache State Park. Eric was accompanied by his wife, Vickie.
After doing a bit of exploration within the park, Eric chose the parking area near Kunkel Lake, the fire tower, and the bison exhibit for his operation. Finding an out-of-the-way parking spot, Eric deployed his 28½' end-fed random wire as a vertical supported on his 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast in a drive-on base. Despite gusty winds, Eric chose to operate outdoors, in a folding camp-chair at the base of the mast. Placing his Elecraft KX2 on folding camp-chair's flip-up table, he was on the air at 2048 UTC.
Eric's station overlooking Kunkel Lake.
Eric had good cell-signal and would be able to spot himself on POTA Spots (link) and to use POTA Spots to identify possible park-to-park (P2P) QSO opportunities.
Eric began his operation on 20m. Finding himself a clear frequency to run, Eric began calling "CQ POTA" and self-spotted himself on POTA Spots. His first QSO came at 2049 UTC with N0APX in Missouri. QSOs came steadily, with Eric's fifth QSO coming at 2056 UTC with N5IM in Texas. This run included QSOs with operators located in Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri (2), and Texas.
Pausing to hunt for P2P QSOs, at 2101 UTC Eric made a P2P QSO on 20m with W4LOO who was activating Rockport State Park (US-3088) in Utah.
Resuming his run on 20m, Eric's first QSO in this run came at 2102 UTC with K5COL in Iowa. As before, QSOs came steadily, with Eric's fourth QSO in this run coming at 2107 UTC with WQ1C in Texas. This run included a P2P QSO with KD7QOW who was activating Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (US-0824) in Washington and QSOs with operators located in Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington.
Eric finished his operation by again hunting for P2P QSOs. At 2111 UTC, he made a P2P QSO on 20m with WB0RLJ who was activating Chalco Hills State Recreation Area (US-4011) in Nebraska, Jim's 842nd activation of this park. At 2116 UTC, Eric made a P2P QSO on 20m with AB9CA who was activating Lake Bob Sandlin State Park (US-3023) in Texas.
In all, Eric made twelve QSOs in about twenty-eight minutes of on-air time. All of Eric's QSOs were CW and were made with five watts output.
Following his operation, Eric took the opportunity to view Kunkel Lake, to climb the firetower, and to make a short hike to see part of the park's bison herd.
Two views of Kunkel Lake.
Two views of the fire tower.
Three views from atop the fire tower.
Part of the park's bison heard.
Eric also submitted his log to the World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio (WWFF; link) program.
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