An Unexpected POTA Discovery at Arches

POTA OPS IN ARCHES NP

Our year-long journey through America's national parks brought us to the red rock wonderland of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Armed with our timed entry pass, we rolled through the park gates at 10 AM, the motorcycle purring beneath us as we wound through the dramatic landscape.

Our destination was Landscape Arch—a place that held special meaning for Lorraine, who had first stood beneath its graceful span 51 years earlier during a college field studies expedition. The intervening decades hadn't diminished the arch's power to inspire.

As we navigated the park's scenic drive, the breathtaking vista at Salt Valley Overlook called to us. It was one of those spontaneous decisions that make travel memorable—we simply had to stop and drink in those sweeping views.

But as we pulled into the overlook, something caught my eye that had nothing to do with the natural scenery. There, rising from the red earth, stood a slender fiberglass pole with wire extending from its tip. My pulse quickened with recognition—that unmistakable silhouette of an end-fed wire antenna.

In that instant, I knew we'd stumbled upon fellow travelers of a different sort: Ham radio operators engaged in Parks On The Air, the popular POTA activity that combines amateur radio with the great outdoors.

Approaching the group of three men and one woman positioned among the weathered sandstone, I introduced myself as a fellow amateur radio operator. The response was immediate and warm—that special bond shared by hams worldwide sparked instant camaraderie. Handshakes and greetings flowed as naturally as the desert breeze.

Justin (KD2NPK/K2EYE) and Michael (KD2NRP) had just completed their setup and were beginning their "activation" of Arches National Park, their handheld radio connected to that telltale wire antenna I'd spotted from across the parking area.

Sometimes the most memorable moments on any journey are the unexpected ones—and finding kindred spirits sharing their passion for radio in one of Utah's most spectacular settings was certainly one of those magical encounters.