After a long day behind the wheel, I was more than ready to shut things down and enjoy some peace. We landed at Juniper Point Campground, nestled in Fred Hayes at Starvation State Park, Utah. This spot offered a perfect combo of rugged beauty and radio potential. The evening started simple—steak on the Coleman Camp stove, and some eggs boiled for deviled eggs later in the weekend. Camp cooking doesn’t get much better.
But the real reason I was excited to stop here? This park is a Parks on the Air (POTA) location—US-3092—and it hadn’t seen a digital activation yet. That changed today.
The Setup
For the activation, I ran FT8 on my usual portable setup. My antenna was a 44-foot 26 AWG wire, hoisted with a fiberglass push-up pole, which I leaned against the ambulance. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done—and today, it really delivered.
The Contacts
I made 35 total contacts, with 33 of them being unique operators. That’s a solid log for any activation, but what made it even more special was that I was the first person to activate this park using digital modes, and only the tenth activator overall. It felt great to help get this park on the map in a new way.
The Surroundings
After wrapping up on the air, Gayla and I took a walk around camp as the sun dipped low. The lake reflected deep oranges and purples, and the wind was quiet—just the occasional ripple on the water. It was a peaceful way to close out the day, especially after a successful activation.
Of course, the desert has its own cast of critters. We saw signs warning about rattlesnakes, scorpions, black widows, and coyotes. Needless to say, Gayla was especially thankful we’re no longer sleeping on the ground. The ambulance is not just our shack on wheels—it’s our shield from the wild.
Final Thoughts
Fred Hayes at Starvation State Park is a gorgeous and remote spot that’s well worth a visit—whether you’re chasing contacts or just soaking in the view. If you’re a ham looking for your next activation, this one is still relatively quiet and open for new firsts. Plus, that lake view at sunset? Worth it every time.
Until next time—73!
