Nestled beside the bridge on the north side of the Golden Gate is Fort Baker, a former military post that is now home to museums, yacht clubs and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Getting on the air from Cavallo Point at Fort Baker is one of my favorite ways to activate the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (US-0647) for Parks On The Air.
For more on operating from Fort Baker, please let me refer you to the following blog post from November 2023:
The rest of this posting is simply pictures from todayβs activation. Enjoy.
73 de W6CSN
Back in May of 2023 I visited San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge (US-0212). At the time, I was escaping the cold and drizzly weather in San Francisco as described in this earlier blog post.
There arenβt facilities here to support large groups so I was pretty confident that the place would be overlooked by the Labor Day celebrating masses.
I was quite surprised when I arrived, finding what was a lush grassy field in Spring took on a desert look now in late Summer.
The photo above is from my springtime visit a year ago, while the photo below is from today, taken from roughly the same viewpoint.
The grasses are dried up and plowed under. This land is protected under the Sonoma Land trust, so while it may be under agriculture it will never be developed.
Not really excited about eating lunch and activating in front of a dry, dusty field of dirt we followed the Bay Trail for a short way, across the S.M.A.R.T. train right of way and up to the levee that overlooks San Pablo Bay.
The levee features some informational signs, a kayak launch, and importantly, several benches placed there for city folk that come out to the country to activate POTA.
I started out just using the whip on the KH1, but after hunting W5MTN in Arizona and getting a pretty weak signal report I concluded that a little more antenna was in order.
Not being in the mood to put up anything more elaborate, I bungeed a tenkara rod to the adjacent bench and ran up the Polystealth wire I use with my 20 meter EFHW.
I didnβt bring the 64:1 transformer and instead attached the wire to a BNC binding post. The internal tuner on the KH1 handled this just fine with a 1.7 to 1 SWR match. Good enough.
I donβt really know what propagation conditions were like today, but the activation was strictly a western states affair with QSOs mainly from the Pacific Northwest. Although there was cluster of Southern California contacts, which is unusual for me on 20 meters.
The main takeaway is that this particular location has a whole different character depending on what time year you visit.
73 de W6CSN
After all of the families and tourists decided to call it a day, it was time to head out to The Presidio of San Francisco (US-7889) for a little bit of POTA fun with the Elecraft KH1.
I parked on Lincoln boulevard across the street from the National cemetery. Here, an old pre-WWI gun battery has been uncovered and restored to βBattery Bluff Parkβ with green grass, nice picnic tables, and beautiful vistas of the Bay and Golden Gate.
The place was deserted, giving me a choice of operating positions. Taking one of the small square tables, I set up the Elecraft KH1 using the Tufteln right-angle adapter to hold up the 4 ft long whip antenna.
With such a short antenna and coming off some challenging solar conditions, my expectations for this activation were pretty low. I might struggle to get QSOs and maybe from only from across the Western states. I was fully prepared to come out again early the next morning if I failed to gather the 10 contacts needed before dark.
Despite persistent attempts, the ionosphere continues to defy my attempts to predict its behavior. Not only was the POTA activation complete in under an hour, I worked some east coast stations that were LOUD!
AD8J came back to my call on 20 meters with a signal that was so strong that I assumed he was a local, like line of sight local. When I asked for his QTH, he responded with βNC.β John was clear across the country in Asheville, North Carolina!
Karen in Virginia, Eric in New Hampshire, and Michael in Pennsylvania all had FB signals this evening, although QSB created limited windows of opportunity for these cross country contacts.
With 11 QSOs in the log, it was time to wrap this pleasant evening POTA activation with the KH1. Just a couple of minutes to pack up and I was on my way.
73 de W6CSN
This trip across Utah was on the return leg of our western states road trip that took us as far east as Colorado. Our first time in Utah, several days earlier, followed a route further north in the Logan area through the Cache Valley.
On this return leg, we spent the night in Salt Lake City and got started driving again around mid-morning. Back on I-80, we spotted the sign for Great Salt Lake State Park (US-3075) and my XYL requested we stop and have a look.
I already had Utah in the bag with my earlier activation of Bud Phelps WMA in Logan and didnβt really intend to collect another park in the state. But weβd paid the park entrance fee and it seemed silly to not at least attempt an activation. When am I going to be back at the Great Salt Lake?
After looking around a bit at the lake, which we found to be generally underwhelming, I grabbed the KH1 and setup up on a picnic table with a Tufteln right-angle adapter holding up the 4 foot whip. The counterpoise was simply tossed out toward the lake.
With deteriorating propagation conditions and a very short antenna, it took more than an hour to gather up the 10 QSOs needed for a complete activation. The last several contacts came from hunting other POTA/SOTA ops.
With the activation complete and the discomfort of the hot weather around the lake, we hopped back into the air conditioned car to continue our westward journey home.
73 de W6CSN
On our first trip across Wyoming a few days before, we did not stop for POTA because we had places to be and a lot of driving to get there. Nevertheless I had noted several potential historic sites that I could activate if I had the time and energy.
Our return trip was on a more relaxed schedule, although we still wanted to make it across Wyoming to Salt Lake City by the end of the day. On the outskirts of Laramie is Wyoming Territorial Prison Historic Site (US-6122).
Hmmmβ¦. a prison? Like the activation at the βMassacre Siteβ in Idaho, not really the vibe I was hoping for. But, the site was close to I-80 and had been activated many times, encouraging signs that this could be an easy win.
I paid the entrance fee and asked the person at the desk if I could setup a low profile ham radio station at the group picnic area just next to the wardenβs residence. She said this would be fine.
For this activation I again paired the KH1 with the GRA-7350T antenna, but this time used the GRA-GNT micro tripod kit with telescoping extension to raise the antenna feed point a couple of feet off the ground.
With βOkβ cell service here, I spotted myself on POTA and began calling CQ. The conditions were such that I was able to collect the needed 10 QSOs in about 20 minutes on the air. KG5WAW called right at the end for number 11.
With Wyoming activated, I quickly stowed the radio gear and took a quick tour of the prison and grounds before hitting the road again.
73 de W6CSN
This is the first in a short series of brief field reports on POTA activations while on a weeklong roadtrip through several states in the western U.S.
The trip would follow Interstate 80 from San Francisco, over the Sierras, through Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming to Fort Collins Colorado. And back, mostly retracing the same route.
The first occasion of outdoor amateur radio activity came on day three, a layover day spent in Logan, Utah about an hour north of Salt Lake City.
It was early and the family was sleeping in, enjoying a break from driving. Not far from our hotel was the Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area, POTA reference US-11044. This location looked promising so I looked up the WMA on my phoneβs navigation app and quietly slipped out.
Now, I am not sure if my phone didnβt know exactly where we were going or if Utahβs WMAs lack signage or other identifying infrastructure, but after driving the proscribed route, I found myself at the end of a dirt road surrounded by cows and sheep. There was no visible indication that this was, in fact, Bud Phelps WMA but my phone announced βYou have arrived,β so who was I to argue?
I fired up the FT-818 using an MFJ-1979 stainless steel telescoping whip antenna on a mag-mount base on the carβs roof. In this configuration the antenna presents a slightly higher SWR, but nothing the 818 canβt handle so I didnβt bother trying to improve the match.
I made a couple of contacts on 17 meters before extending the antenna fully and completing the activation on the 20 meter band.
Later the same day, after picnicking in and checking out natural beauty of Logan Canyon, I took advantage of some free time to make the short drive up into Idaho. If I could find a place to activate the Pioneer National Historic Byway (US-10420) then I could bag another state, even though Idaho wasnβt part of our planned travel route.
Driving the Scenic Byway, the first obvious stop we came to was the site commemorating the βBear River Massacreβ β not exactly the POTA vibe I was hoping for, but it was over 90Β°F outside and I wanted to try to complete the activation before 00 UTC rolled around.
I deployed the Gabil GRA-7350T vertical, again on the rooftop magmount and plugged in the Elecraft KH1. The black enclosure of the Yaesu FT-818 would absolutely burn up sitting on the dash in the direct sun.
It was hot enough that I kept the car running to provide air conditioning so that us pale San Franciscans wouldnβt expire in the Idaho summer heat.
Thankfully, the QSOs poured in pretty easily and the activation was complete in less than 20 minutes, a rare occurrence with the unstable solar conditions weβve seen recently.
Two new βparksβ and two new states in the activators log made for a successful first day of outdoor amateur radio on this road trip. Next stop on the POTA tour is Colorado.
73 de W6CSN
Angel Island State Park sits in San Francisco Bay, separated from the town of Tiburon by a ten minute ferry ride across Raccoon Strait. The island is also accessible by ferry from San Franciscoβs waterfront.
Nearly all of the island is part of the State Park, so you can activate for POTA US-1123 from almost anywhere. However, if you want to also try for the SOTA activation from Mt. Livermore W6/CC-075 then youβll need to hike up to the top of the island, by way of either of two trails.
My first activation of this summit and park combo took place two years ago, just before this blog begins. In that effort we used the recommended route of North Ridge trail up and Sunset trail down. This time my hiking buddy wanted the potentially spectacular Golden Gate views on the hike up so we did the route in reverse.
Sunset trail begins at the top of the access road that connects the perimeter road with the park HQ at the Ayala Cove area.
The trail follows a series of long switchbacks and is, in places, quite narrow with thorny vegetation overhanging the trail and parts of the trail collapsed on the downhill side.
However, as the βSunsetβ name implies, there are occasional vistas that reveal the Golden Gate, Sausalito, and the western waters of the Bay.
After climbing out of the oak tree covered canyon the vegetation becomes more grassy and sparse. A short while later you come to an intersection with a steep, unnamed trail that takes you up into the activation zone and the summit.
A short section of this summit trail is so dense with shrubbery that you could fairly call it bushwhacking. And, if you have collapsible mast strapped to your pack, you will undoubtedly get hung up a few times before emerging onto the first of several concrete platforms that once served the operation of the Nike missile defense system stationed on the island in the 1950s.
The concrete pads now sport picnic tables and conveniently situated fence posts. We chose the first picnic area we encountered because it was available and Iβd successfully operated from here before.
This site can be chilly as itβs exposed to the west winds coming from the Pacific. It turns out that just a short walk over the summit crest is another spot thatβs protected from the breeze, about 20 degrees warmer, and gives a clear radio view to the east.
The fence posts offer a convenient spot to use bungee cords to attach the carbon Tenkara style fishing rod supporting one end of my 20 meter EFHW. On the other end I routed a length of RG-316 from the Sparkplug 64:1 transformer to the Elecraft KH1 set out on the picnic table.
Last time we came here I packed an FT-818, external battery, fiberglass mast, and various station accessories, which was all very heavy. When planning for this outing I considered using just the KH1 with built in whip antenna to save pack weight, but decided on a wire antenna to give me the best chance at completing the activations in the limited time available.
Turning on the radio I discovered what must have been a high speed telegraphy contest on 20 meters. The band was wall-to-wall with rapid fire Morse QSOs. That was no place for a QRPer hoping to be heard doing POTA/SOTA, so I scuttled up to the relative peace of 17 meters, one of the contest-free WARC bands.
Using the SotmΔt SMS service I put a spot out for the SOTA activation and with the activation scheduled ahead of time the RBN caused a POTA spot to post for US-1123.
Calling CQ SOTA yielded eight QSOs in the first 20 minutes before 17 meters dried up. Another 20 minutes spent down on 14.069 MHz netted another four contacts calling CQ POTA.
Our goal was to catch the 3:20pm boat back to Tiburon, so we could not dawdle on the summit all day. Our route back down to Ayala Cove took us via the North Ridge Trail, which is wider and in much better condition than Sunset Trail.
Coming off North Ridge at the perimeter road, a prominent sign points the direction to the ferry dock.
The last section of trail has you descending a steep part of the island via a series of steps worked into the hillside.
After resting a bit and enjoying some cold refreshment from the snack bar we boarded the ferry for the return trip to Tiburon.
73 de W6CSN
Golden Gate Park is a 1,017 acre city park separating the Richmond and Sunset neighborhoods in the western half of San Francisco. Although large and internationally known, GGP is a city park and thus does not qualify for a Parks On The Air reference. The park is a two minute walk from my Richmond District QTH, so it would be incredibly convenient if it were, in fact, a POTA park.
A few months ago, a POTA Slack channel discussion of multi-park activation opportunities in the Presidio of San Francisco National Historic Site revealed a β3-ferβ that I had not recognized before. Activating from Mountain Lake would net you the Presidio US-7889, Golden Gate National Recreation Area US-0647, and de Anza National Historic Trail US-4571.
This got me thinking that if the Anza expedition traipsed north from Lake Merced to Mountain Lake, then they must have crossed what is now Golden Gate Park. And, if that were the case then there was the opportunity to do a legit POTA activation within the park.
Of course, the exact route taken by the Anza expedition through the vast sand dunes of what became known as San Franciscoβs βoutside landsβ is unknown. But the route can be reasonably estimated. The NPS website for the Anza trail shows a historic trail corridor roughly aligned with Crossover Dr. and the Park Presidio Bypass in Golden Gate Park.
I figure anywhere within the historic trail corridor and that is public land is fair game for activating Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail US-4571.
The western portion of Strawberry Hill and Stow Lake extend into the corridor and with the hill being the high point in the park, this is where I chose to activate from.
Even though the forecast called for warm weather, at 9AM the marine influence was still holding firm, making the top of Strawberry Hill too cold to spend more than just a few minutes there.
My companion and I quickly gave up on the 409 foot βpeakβ and retreated down past Stow Lake to a meadow which was in the sun, protected from the west wind by Strawberry Hill, and by my reckoning, still within the historic trail corridor.
There I setup the GRA-7350T whip antenna using the ground screw and extension post which is part of the Gabil Radio GRA-GNT mini tripod mounting kit. This easily gave a match of under 1.5 to 1 with the KH1 tuner in bypass mode.
The bands were surprisingly active for a Monday morning and, being a West Coast QRP operation, it took a while to finish the activation. I could hear European DX calling on 17 meters, with the distinctive βflutterβ signals get flying over the poles, but unfortunately was unable to raise any of them.
With 11 contacts in the log and one βeyeballβ with Ben KG7KGE, who was also enjoying the morning in the park, I called the activation of US-4571 in Golden Gate Park a success.
A short walk later we were home for lunch and refreshment.
73 de W6CSN
The spontaneous HF radio operating enabled by the new Elecraft KH1 handheld transceiver opens up a whole new set of opportunities for the POTA activator. Combined with the sprawling Golden Gate National Recreation Area (US-0647) you could do an awful lot of POTA activations and not operate from the same spot twice.
Nestled between the San Francisco Maritime NHP and the Marina Green, Fort Mason and the land it occupies was a location of military importance from before California was a U.S. state through the second World War.
My plan today was to operate from Black Point Battery, a fortification from the time of the American Civil War, or the war between the states, if you prefer. This location is of particular interest to me because over 40 years ago I worked a summer job on an archaeology crew that unearthed this gun battery.
I remember digging and sifting a lot of dirt! We frequently found spent primers used to fire the guns, there were hundreds of them! Occasionally weβd find βliveβ primers which had to be treated with care. What was most exciting however is when the timbers that supported the semi-circular track on which the guns would pivot were uncovered.
While it wasnβt particularly busy, I didnβt want to setup a separate antenna atop the berm because there is a pathway there that people use to get sweeping views of San Francisco Bay. I deployed the KH1 with the supplied 4 ft. whip and Tufteln 3D printed angle adapter while sitting atop a concrete entryway to one of the old magazines.
Although I checked conditions before heading out, it seemed that propagation was really quite poor today. In a half hour of tuning and calling, Iβd only managed a single QSO on 20m while 17m and 15m seemed completely dead. This was unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon.
With only two hours of parking, if I wanted a chance at a valid activation then I needed a new plan. I descended the hill down to the the piers that served as the point of embarkation for servicemen heading into the Pacific war in the 1940s.
I found a spot behind the old firehouse that offered protection from the wind which was really blowing at this point, too windy even for a tripod vertical. However, I felt I needed longer antenna to combat the lousy propagation with my QRP signal.
I walked back to the car and retrieved a quick release mount and MFJ-1979 telescoping whip antenna. This quarter wave vertical gives a 1-to-1 match on 20 meters when fully extended. A length of ABR Industries RG-316 connected the antenna to the BNC port in the KH1. I bypassed the internal tuner and got a βperfectβ match.
With this setup, and being closer to the Bay waters, I was able to make more progress towards a complete activation. A rocky outcrop at the base of Black Point blocked my view to the east and southeast, but I had a clear shot over the Bay to the north so, unsurprisingly, this is where most of the contacts came for todayβs activation.
Fortunately, 30 more minutes was all that was needed to fill the log with the QSOs for a complete activation. Even though this wasnβt a purely pedestrian mobile expedition, like the Wave Organ, I probably would not have even come to this spot without the inspiration provided by the KH1.
Many thanks to the hunters and other activators that ultimately made this POTA a success. Some of the call signs in the log were familiar and some were brand new to me, this is my favorite kind of operation to work both old and new friends.
Equipment used in this activation:
73 de W6CSN
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