QRP in the Driftless

 So, filled with enthusiasm by my success a few days earlier, I went back to Mill Bluff S. P. on Tuesday, the 11th.     Same rig, same antenna, same location, but this time only 4 QSOs resulted. Did some useful stuff, like getting my new EFHW all ready to deploy, and learned that my abysmally cheap phone plan does not allow me to hotspot. I bought that 24 foot surveyor's pole at a hamfest back in the mists of time and it has been sitting in a corner of my workshop / shack ever since.  Maybe it will finally get some use!

Last Saturday morning, (October 8th, 2022) I was at Mill Bluff State Park , K-1463 to try for an activation.   Mill Bluff is a very nice park, not too far from home, that I often enjoy for hiking.    Its unique geological features make it a part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.     The trail around Camel Bluff is a pretty hike any time of year, the Nature Trail around the base of Mill Bluff is short, pleasant, and partially handicap-accessible, and the 223 steps on the stairway to the top of Mill Bluff offer great exercise as well as some fine views.   On a hot summer day, it's nice to refresh after hiking with a quick swim in the pond near the campsites.  I operated from the top of Mill Bluff on Field Day 2022 a few months ago.  Near the picnic shelter at one of the trailheads I found a table with two convenient trees, where I quickly set up the Xiegu X6100 and the simplest of wire antennas; 2 pieces of #26 silicone-co...

This was on June 12th, 2022 at Wildcat Mountain State Park , K-1480 , in Vernon County, WI; EN43rq.       I had been having only limited success with the end-fed random wire antennas in the 26' - 28' range I had been using on my last few hikes, so for a POTA activation attempt I brought out the Buddipole Deluxe set that I bought at Dayton years ago,  along with everything else I could think of; lots of room in a minivan ! Setup was lengthy because I hadn't actually deployed the Buddipole in a long time; on the spot I decided on making a 20 meter vertical from the Buddipole In The Field book: the 12 foot whip on top of 2 arms with 4 radials, all fed from the tee.   With the extendable pole and the tripod I could get it high enough without needing trees or other structures. Using 3 different colors of mason's line for guying helps keep confusion to a minimum!     (there will still be enough for everyone!)   ...