It’s your weekly sweep of roves, milestones, misadventures, and irresistible stories from across the POTAverse! Grab your coffee (or something stronger), and let’s dig in._ 🪶
🦍 K4CAE Joins the 10,000 Club — Cross River Gorilla Award Earned!
We open with a thunderclap: David Livingston K4CAE smashed through the 10,000 Unique Park Hunter milestone, earning the ultra-prestigious Cross River Gorilla Award.
His post drew audible gasps across Facebook:
“With the help of tens of thousands of activators, I made it today!!!”
An early Christmas gift, served with bananas. 🎄
🇺🇸 VK4CZ Works All 50 States from Queensland
From the “Propagation Really _Is_ Magic” department:
Scott VK4CZ posted his shiny All States Hunter Award, proving that from Australia, you _can_ get there from here.
The U.S. may be 9,000 miles away, but a determined op with good ears can flatten continents.
🥾 KE2CIE’s Mega-Weekend: 6-Park Friday, 10-Park Saturday — AND a First Activation
Talk about momentum: KE2CIE powered through a three-day POTA marathon, finishing at Tracy State Forest (US-12778) — a park added to the program that _very_ day.
Messy trails? Check. SOS-mode cell service? Double check.
But the hunters found him anyway. Because of course they did.
🐣 A New Callsign Takes Flight — KR4HKX’s First POTA!
A newly licensed operator jumped into POTA with both feet — KR4HKX hit the road for a Florida vacation and decided that was the perfect time for her first-ever activation.
Ten meters cooperated, QSOs piled in, smiles were enormous.
Welcome to the hobby — we promise the fun only increases from here. 🌴📻
🇨🇳 BI1XJT Gong’s New DIY Cootie Key — Elegance in Motion
Beloved builder and CW minimalist Gong BI1XJT unveiled a new homemade cootie key, crafted from scavenged parts and pure Gong magic.
He’s QRV on 15m and 20m CW, sending beautiful music through the ether.
If craftsmanship had a WPM, this thing would clock at 35.
🎉 K8ZI’s BIG CW Milestone — First CW Activation!
Another celebration exploded across Discord when Ingrid K8ZI completed her first-ever CW activation from US-0060 Saguaro National Park Her QMX purred, her nerves held, and the cactus emojis flew freely:
“YES!!!!!” — K8ZI
“SUPER happy for you!” — W2DON
“QMX!! 💪🔥” — KCØUJC
Your News Hawk salutes along with the whole cheering section. 🌵
📚 WC1N Tames the New Bedford Whaling NHP (US-0748)
Bob WC1N tackled this tricky downtown site with tight parking and plenty of QRM, but in 45 minutes he pulled in:
- 11 countries
- 11 U.S. states
Not bad for a lunch break among the harpoons.
🏕️ Michigan Double-Trailhead Activation
KE8VRW Jason and the K8BRC Black River ARC ran a clever two-trailhead activation of Kal-Haven Trail (US-1511):
- South Haven: 40m & 20m SSB in a heated trailer
- Kalamazoo: FT8 from a separate trailhead due to weather
❄️ Maine Speed-Run: 50 QSOs in 45 Minutes
NV1U / K1SSN activated US-2413 in fresh snowfall — and still logged 50 QSOs in 45 minutes on 20 meters using a 40m OCF dipole. Who needs a vertical when you’ve got determination and wool socks?
✈️ SFO Layover POTA Fail (Through No Fault of His Own)
AB0YT Andy thought he _didn’t_ have enough time to activate Golden Gate NRA during an SFO layover, so he checked the radio as luggage. Then the connecting flight was delayed three hours. Plenty of POTA time! Except… the luggage had already flown “somewhere over the Midwest.”
The POTA gods strike again.
❗ Virginia WMA & Fishing Lake Warning
Thanks to W4BKR, Virginia operators get this important PSA:
- WMAs and State Fishing Lakes often require permits
- Enforcement varies — but the lakes are now strict
- You need 30 days notice to get the permit
- Don’t rely on a fishing license unless you’re actually fishing
-
Wear blaze orange in hunting season
Hunters (of QSOs) beware.
🔧 Gear Corner — Linked Radials Done Right
AI5NQ rebuilt his POTA PERformer radial system using linked radials from KJ6ER’s PDF.
No more hunting for “that one 17-foot wire.”
Field testing is coming, but the engineering alone warms the News Hawk’s heart.
🥇 K5HEP’s First Kilo — 120 QSOs on 20m
At US-0688 Lake Meredith NRA, K5HEP worked a _beautiful_ 120-QSO pileup with an FT-891 and Chameleon 17″ whip, pushing him across the 1000-QSO Kilo threshold. The celebration graphic was glorious.
Hawk wings salute!
☕ Tim Hortons & 20 Meters — N5TIT in the Finger Lakes
Bachelor party weekend? No excuse not to activate. N5TIT Jeff sprinted to US-5051 Hemlock Lake, only to have his logger crash. Solution? A Tim Hortons receipt. 28 QSOs and breakfast secured.
True fieldcraft.
📣 That’s a Wrap — Now We Need: Your Tips!
Got a rove, rescue, recipe, ridiculous antenna photo, or record-breaking run? Send your leads to tips@pota.news and join the conversation at the new PN&R Forum
Stay curious, stay caffeinated, and above all:POTA on!
73 from Your Nosey News Hawk Ada 🪶
