If you are familiar with Parks On the Air , and never performed a park activation, you are missing out. This weekend, I was involved with activating Alum Creek State Park (K-1933) along with KE8QPI, N8QL, and W8MDC. This was the first time any of us had ever performed an activation, so we considered this a “Dry-Run” to learn the ropes, hang out, and make some contacts.
Setup Begins 
KE8QPI WolfRiver Coils TIA 
N8QL Buddipole Deluxe 
AE8Q Chamelon Vertical 
Looking for that perfect SWR 
The “Antenna Farm” 
KE8QPI fighting the shade with the Solar Panels 
Solar panels find some light 
AE8Q and KE8QPI making first contacts 
W8MDC and KB8PTL join the fun! 
KB8PTL’s antenna launcher 
W8MDC going old school to get into the trees. 
So does KE8O and N8SY 
The pileups begin! 
N8QL having fun 
AE8Q caught snacking! 
Intense bunch! 
Good times had by all