Set up on the beach with the antenna within 30 feet of salt water and 20 meters wide open. That’s the day I keep thinking about.
I have a sister that lives in Quilcene, WA that I’ve been wanting to visit for a few years. I hadn’t activated any parks in Washington or Oregon, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone. The trip was from September 30th to October 9th. I stayed in Quilcene while in Washington, and Portland and Hood River while in Oregon.
Whoops
Getting there started with an early morning flight from the Cincinnati airport (CVG). No sooner did I make it to the airport than I realized I forgot my LiFePO4 battery! Amazon to the rescue, I was able to find a 10Ah battery with a 20 amp BMS and have it delivered to my Airbnb the next day. Cheap battery, but it held up fine for the whole trip.
October 2nd
We drove up to Crescent Lake in the Olympic National Forest. We first visited the Marymere Falls, then I broke off and went to the boat ramp parking lot to activate while my sister and her husband did some more hiking.
I called CQ on 20m SSB for 10 minutes, never could get anyone so decided to switch to FT8. After about 40 minutes, I got 11 contacts and decided to call it quits. This wasn’t the worst performance I ever experienced in a park but it was rough.
October 3rd
Long drive out to Shipwreck Point Natural Resources State Conservation Area. From there we kept going all the way to Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States. Windy up on the point, but worth the drive.
Back at Shipwreck Point I set up on the beach. No struggling for contacts this time, 68 SSB QSOs in 45 minutes on 20 meters. Working on the salt water is amazing. Everyone can hear you loud and clear.
October 4th
Stayed a little closer to the home base in Quilcene. Went out to Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island. The weather was perfect, clear blue sky and 70 degrees.
Made 15 QSOs from the beach at Marrowstone Point on 20 meters SSB. Between contacts I kept looking up, whales sunning themselves no more than a quarter mile from shore, seals and sea lions swimming around. Very cool, and a little distracting.
October 5th
Said goodbye to my sister and brother-in-law and headed to Portland, OR. I was able to activate two parks along the way, both in Washington.
The first park was Potlatch State Park. You can tell by the absence of me in the pictures, I’m going it alone now. The park setting is beautiful, but there was a lot of band noise. Looks like we did have some C & M class flares, so I shouldn’t be disappointed with the 13 QSOs on 20m SSB!
The second park was Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, no picture (I normally don’t remember to take any pictures). Conditions weren’t as bad but still an elevated amount of band noise, stopped after 11 QSOs on 20m SSB. I was able to work off a picnic table.
While in Portland, I just had to make a stop at Powell’s Books.
October 6th
On the drive from Portland to Hood River, I stopped at two parks along the Columbia River.
I passed a few parks, but Rooster Rock State Park was the first one I stopped at. There was a lot of fog coming out of Portland and I didn’t want to get wet! I found a picnic table to work off, and it included a resident squirrel that was disappointed I didn’t have anything for him to eat.
Radio conditions weren’t the best. I figured it was because I was at the bottom of the valley (still got my 11 contacts on 20m SSB though). So for the next park I decided to do a little climbing.
Seneca Fouts-Vinzenz Lausmann Mem State Natural Area features a rugged trail, with steep switchbacks leading to the Mitchell Point Trail. I made it up most of the way but hit a scree field that I didn’t feel like contending with (I’m not a real climber and don’t want to injure myself with a couple days left on this trip). I literally setup the antenna on the side of the mountain, and worked 12 QSOs using FT8 on 20m.
October 7th
I decided to get away from the Columbia River, so planned a trip down to Mount Hood and loop back to The Dalles. I was able to fit in four parks.
First stop, Mount Hood Meadows located within the Mount Hood National Forest. I chose Mount Hood Meadows to try and get out of the valleys. Found a clearing with Mount Hood right there, and got 11 20m SSB QSOs with a little work.
Next stop, White River National Wild and Scenic River. This was an easy spot to get to with plenty of room beside the river to setup. Got 13 SSB QSOs on 20m but not the easiest.
White River Falls State Park is south of Mount Hood, the landscape really changes. Coming out of the Cascade Mountains and starting to see more farming and less valleys to get caught in! Look at this view from the picnic table.
The only problem was there was a lot of RF noise. I saw at least a couple solar panels around and a few RVs so I assume that was the cause. FT8 to the rescue, I made 14 contacts on 20m.
Last park of the day was Mayer State Park. I was able to find a secluded spot on a seldom-used roadbed. Finally, propagation was working in my favor! I made 82 20m SSB contacts, and got to talk with a buddy from back home. A good end to a great day.
October 8th
Last day of operating, multiple solar flares throughout the day but still managed to activate five parks!
Started out at Trout Lake State Nature Preserve, walked to the end of the path before it turns into private property and there was a bench with enough clearance around it to put up the antenna (radials were routed weird to stay out of the path). I started out on 20m SSB but was only able to get two QSOs after 10 minutes of calling CQ, time to switch to FT8. Got 12 more QSOs on 20m FT8 to complete the activation.
Next up, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, since I was on a rove I tried to find the first place to operate as soon as I got in the park. That happened to be Guler Ice Cave, I didn’t go in but the area around it is beautiful.
I scanned thru the band and could hardly hear anything on 20m SSB so didn’t even try. Completed the activation with 11 QSOs on 20m FT8.
Driving back toward Hood River, I stopped at White Salmon National Wild and Scenic River. A nice little park in BZ Corner. Band conditions were getting better and was able to get 24 QSOs on 20m SSB.
Back near the city of Hood River, I stopped at Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. I found a spot overlooking Hood River, up off the Columbia River so was easy to bag 44 QSOs on 20m SSB.
Last activation of the trip was at Memaloose State Park. This was unique in that the entrance to the park is in a rest area!
I setup at one of the RV spots and got 22 SSB QSOs on 20m.
Trip Summary
Sixteen parks, eight in Washington and eight in Oregon, for a total of 376 QSOs.
I’m used to activating in the East, where it is relatively easy to do any time of the day, plenty of hunters and not all these mountains to block paths! Out west you notice when you’re down in a valley versus over salt water or up higher.
It was great to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law, and this is absolutely beautiful country. I’m glad I got the chance to go.