A Trip To West Branch SP

Some POTA sites feel a little more personal than others.

Back To My Roots

I am a big fan of West Branch State Park - US-1999 in Ohio. It’s a place I spent a lot of time as a kid. We didn’t do a lot of vacations, but we did go to West Branch to swim and have picnics on the beach most weeks in the summer before I hit Junior High School. Going out to the point where I usually operate is peaceful and full of fond memories.

A few years back, they demolished the pavilions in the area where I usually operate. I was confused and reached out to the park. They had a really good reason for everything that they did and I’m 100% behind it. I detailed it here: https://www.kc8jc.com/2023/10/12/west-branch-state-park-update/

All this is to say that I understand that things change. But there are planned changes made by people who care about the place in question and then there are more “organic” changes that might come from the people who spend time there. I think that’s what I ran into on this adventure.

I pulled into the area that has largely been reclaimed by grasses and native plants. It looks fantastic! Lots and lots of pollinators as planned. But what there wasn’t was the picnic table I sit at to do my activations. It was at a point, under a tree that was great for putting up an end-fed wire antenna. That had been the plan for the day. As I walked up, I figured I’d just sit on the ground. I’ve done that before. No problem! But as I got closer, I saw what had happened.

Picnic Panic

A mowed path leading to a point near the water. Under a large tree there is a permanent park bench but NO picnic table.

Someone(s) decided to relocate the picnic table closer to the water.

A picnic table at the bottom of a 3 foot drop near a rock barrier on the reservoir.

Look, it’s a great spot! I love everything about it! But the only way to get there is to jump, skedaddle, or take your chances with a natural “step” made from a couple of loose rocks.

A couple of large rocks at the bottom of a large drop creating makeshift steps to the waterline.

As I age, I become increasingly aware of the fact that every one of us is only able-bodied for a limited time. This isn’t a great setup for a lot of folks and honestly if my son had been with me, I would have insisted that we move it back up to where it belongs because I’m an Eagle Scout and a parody of the paladin who can’t break the rules. My family makes fun of me for it pretty mercilessly.

All of that said, it’s a pretty awesome spot to sit and play radio!

A TR-45L next to a deployed AX1 antenna. There is a set of paddles and a clipboard with log book in the foreground. Everything resting neatly on a gorgeous canvas tarp.

That’s an amazing view.

Set Up and Gear

I really, really, really love the Penntek TR-45L. If I hadn’t picked that up when they were still being made, I don’t think that I’d ever forgive myself. It’s just such a cool rig. It has quirks - like all rigs! - but it also has style. All those knobs and switches and the analog meter…makes an operator happy to be on the air. Today was a day where I felt like taking it into the field for some good clean fun while the weather is nice and I don’t have to rush.

The original plan, as mentioned above, was to put a wire in a tree. That wasn’t going to work if I wanted to sit at the table. And I very much wanted to sit at the table. So I dug into my bag and pulled out my Elecraft AX1. I still swear that this antenna is better than it has any right to be. I’ve heard it derided in several forums and that just tells me that the person running their mouth hasn’t used it. It works. Every time. And I’m surprised by it. Every time. That’s why I carry it with me on every activation. If I can’t get something in a tree or the whip isn’t going to work, the AX1 has me covered. Compact, inconspicuous, and efficient.

Side note: I’ve been watching Thomas K4SWL with that AX4 over on the other side of the pond and I’m paying close attention. Putting one of those into the kit seems like a great idea.

On The Air

I got on the air and it was slow. It was Monday. It was roughly 1300 UTC. I was running 40-meters. It was going to take a minute. The bands were in pretty good shape. The sound of the water nearby was so relaxing. There was a light breeze and it wasn’t even 70dF. Everything was perfect. I could have sat there for quite some time even if I wasn’t making any contacts. I did knock out my 10 fairly quickly. Then I took a nice walk around the area to see what was growing and to just enjoy the scenery. It’s a beautiful park especially when it’s quiet.

QSO Map

I was getting out pretty well for under 5 watts into the AX1. Here’s what it looked like on the map.

Final

It was the perfect morning for an activation at one of my favorite parks. I’ll be out there more as summer gives way to fall. It’s also my favorite park for winter activations. But we’re not going to rush it. We’ll take our time and enjoy the long, warm days.

Thanks for reading along! 73!