GSARA Fall Support Your Parks Weekend 2026
A little chilly weather and some less-than-cooperative band conditions weren't going to stop GSARA members from getting outside and playing radio!
On Saturday, October 17th, GSARA headed to Bear Brook State Park (US-2643) for the 2026 Parks on the Air (POTA) Fall Support Your Parks weekend.
Mother Nature apparently didn't get the memo that we were hoping for a nice fall day. Cool temperatures and gusty winds made things a bit interesting, and the bands weren't exactly rolling out the welcome mat either.
But hey, that's portable amateur radio! If everything went perfectly, what would we have to talk about afterward?
Making Contacts Despite the Conditions
Despite the challenges, four GSARA members managed to get enough contacts in the log to successfully activate the park.
Congratulations to our successful activators:
KC1WYE
KC1TLY
AC1RH
N1COW
All four were able to upload their logs and claim a successful POTA activation. Not bad considering the conditions!
We also had Annie (KC1YMG) and Howard (K9NPD) join us for the gathering. While they didn't activate the park this time around, it was great having them there.
It's Not Always About the Contacts
One of the best things about these GSARA gatherings is that you don't have to put a callsign in the log to be part of the fun.
Sure, we all love making contacts, chasing parks, and watching those QSO counts climb. But sometimes the best part of a POTA meetup is simply getting together with other hams, talking radio, checking out what's going on, and enjoying a little time outdoors.
And when the bands aren't cooperating, at least you've got some good company to complain about them with!
Until the Next Activation!
A big thank-you to everyone who came out to Bear Brook State Park and helped make our Fall Support Your Parks gathering another enjoyable GSARA event.
Whether you made enough contacts to activate the park or simply stopped by to spend time with fellow operators, we're glad you joined us.
Hopefully, next time we'll get a little less wind, a little more sunshine, and bands that actually want to cooperate.
