Well I waited for everyone to show up at 10:00 am but nobody came. Friday Dec. 26 I activated Everglades National Park US-0024 from the Long Pine Key picnic area.
I set up the 17 ft. vertical with a single long counterpoise, used the trusty old ICOM 706 MkIIG at 100 watts. On 20 meters SSB I made 31 contacts with 9 Park to Park contacts as well. There was not a lot of shade in the picnic area so it got hot fast Just after noon it was 81 degrees F.
This was the first time I had activated the Everglades and the first time I've had to worry about alligators. The picnic area is next to a small lake and gators are plentiful there. While having lunch 4 acrobatic airplanes put on a show to my east. Fun day in an amazing national park.
