One Last Tennessee POTA Stop…Tough POTA Activation! 🔥 Natchez Trace State Park

Links to specific QSOs below ⬇️ One last Tennessee POTA park before heading home from the Huntsville Hamfest! On my way back home, I spotted Natchez Trace State Park — POTA US-2961 — conveniently located just off Interstate 40. It looked like the perfect opportunity to squeeze in one more activation. But this one turned into a tough POTA activation! I set up near Cub Creek Lake and initially operated from a concrete picnic table. The wooded surroundings mostly blocked the lake view, but the park itself was attractive. As the Sun moved, I moved into the shade and continued the activation. Band Conditions weren't exactly doing me any favors either. I operated 20 meters CW with the Radioddity HF-009 vertical. I managed to work Newfoundland and some New England stations, but the band wasn't giving me much beyond that — Wyoming was about as far west as I could get. With the temperature climbing and lunchtime approaching, I decided it was time to call it a day. Sometimes a POTA activation isn't about chasing a big QSO total. Sometimes you just make the contacts you can, enjoy the park, and know when it's time to pack it up! 📍 POTA: US-2961 — Natchez Trace State Park 📅 Activation: August 24, 2026 📻 Band: 20 meters ⚡ Mode: CW 📡 GEAR USED • Yaesu FT-891 • Yaesu FC-50 Tuner/Matching Unit • Radioddity HF-009 Vertical • Tumd Paddle Key • Ham2K PoLo Thanks to the POTA hunters who continue to find me out in the field. Without the hunters, these activations simply wouldn't happen! ⏱️ TIMELINE 00:00 — Introduction 00:40 WA3GM Gregory PA 01:45 AG7UW Russell WY 02:30 KG4EXY John VA🏆 CENTURY CLUB MEMBER 03:20 K2JVB David NY 04:10 K8RLE Raymond MI 05:30 N8PMR Jonathan MI 08:15 VO1AW Brian NL 11:25 K9IS Steven WI🏆 CENTURY CLUB MEMBER 16:00 VE3NXB Gregory ON 17:15 K1NF Nelson ME 18:05 N3DC William MD 18:55 N8DXZ Gerald MI 19:55 W4MQC Alan NH 21:20 WB3DDJ Michael PA🏆 CENTURY CLUB MEMBER 22:10 W1HLP Scott CT 23:15 K1TH Thomas MA 27:45 WI0S Kieth MN 32:50 W2DWL Dennis NJ 33:35 W1A Jim ND 34:15 W1ND Glen ND 35:00 WB8MIW Patrick MI 37:20 QRT via Ham2K PoLo and via CW on radio 38:20 New POTA Music! If you enjoy: 📡 Parks on the Air 📻 Ham Radio ⚡ CW / Morse Code 🌲 Portable Ham Radio 🔧 Antenna Testing 🎙️ Field Operating consider subscribing and joining me for the next activation! 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment 📤 Share it with another POTA operator 🎁 Every POTA Day is a Great Day! 🔥 SAVE $15 ON THE RADIODDITY HF-009! 🔥 Looking for a *compact HF radio for POTA, portable ops, and ham radio adventures?* 👉 *Get the Radioddity HF-009 and save $15!* 💰 Use code *N5ILQ* at checkout for *$15 OFF* *🛒 Buy the HF-009:* https://www.radioddity.com/products/r... *OR* 🔗 Shop Radioddity using my link: https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=N5ILQ *Get your HF-009 and hit the trail! 📻🏕️* 🛍️ EVERY POTA DAY MERCHANDISE T-shirts, ball caps and more are available from the N5ILQ merchandise store. Use code N5ILQ to save $3. https://randyn5ilq-shop.fourthwall.com/ 73, Randy – N5ILQ #POTA #HamRadio #ParksOnTheAir #CW #MorseCode #POTAActivation #AmateurRadio #HamRadioPortable #TennesseePOTA #PortableHamRadio #YaesuFT891 #NatchezTraceStatePark #POTAUS2961 #N5ILQ