The Valley of the Moon ARC (VOMARC) held their annual picnic at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in 2025. The weather cooperated and there were plenty of shady spots to get out of the Sun. In addition to some grilling and chatting, the club did another Parks on the Air (POTA) activation. We made a total of 36 QSOs on CW and FT8.
This shady area with some comfortable chairs was the most popular spot of the picnic.
No fewer than 2 hidden transmitters were placed within the park to give members a chance to test out their direction finding equipment. In 2024 the club held a 2M Yagi build event and many of those antennas were put to good use.
Darrel (WD6BOR) served as the able grillmeister for the club once again.
Table with all of the fixings and sides. The many desserts were on another table.
Over the last few years the club has registered four POTA activations at Sugarloaf adding up to 145 contacts. As a park hunter we have 72 QSOs made with stations in 54 parks. In 2024 we made 49 contacts.
Ed (W1EJ) helped activate W6AJF as a Park On The Air (POTA). He also made some contacts for a straight key operating event.
My FT8 setup used to make contacts under the club callsign (W6AJF) for a POTA activation. Best DX worked was Japan and the Philippines.
Mike (WB6TMH) and Dan (WA6CRB) enjoy the shade of a canopy. The club’s HF radio sits on the picnic table.
Erecting and analyzing an HF antenna.