QRP in the Badlands. Portable Ham Radio at El Malpais National Monument

#JerryNet.
My daughter joins me as we head out to the incredibly scenic El Malpais National Monument in west central New Mexico. We'll try for a Parks on the Air activation. Will the bands hold out? Tune in to find out.
El Malpais is from the Spanish term Malpaís, meaning badlands, due to the extremely barren and dramatic volcanic field that covers much of the park's area.
The lava flows, cinder cones, and other volcanic features of El Malpais are part of the Zuni-Bandera volcanic field, the second largest volcanic field in the Basin and Range Province. This volcanically active area on the southeast margin of the Colorado Plateau is at the intersection of the Rio Grande Rift Basin, with its deep normal faulting, and the ancient Jemez Lineament. These two features provide the crustal weaknesses that recent magmatic intrusions and Cenozoic volcanism are attributed to.

[@richardg4817]

Wow, beautiful! My wife and I visited NM last year. Really enjoyed it! On the way from Albuquerque to the Grand Canyon, we must have driven near the spot you were at and was not aware of it.

[@randalltom9750]

‘License, license? She don’t need no stinking license!’ She’s cute! (Treasure of the Sierra Madre)

[@douglasdreger3852]

Great video. Vivid colors. It’s too bad HF dropped off. How far to the Dstar repeater and how much power?

[@TechGearJunkie]

Hi Douglas. Thanks for the nice comments. That D-Star repeater was about 10-12 miles away in Grants NM. I was using 5 watts I think from the ID-51a HT.

[@rs4425]

Enjoyed and SUBSCRIBED and hoping you will visit Aztecs or Chaco in northern NM.. Steve N5SYW..

[@TechGearJunkie]

They are on my list Steve. Thanks for watching!

[@gabrielguzmann1ufo905]

Awesome 😎 day Greg for POTA, great 👍🏼 Video! de N1UFO

[@TechGearJunkie]

Thanks Gabe. I'm glad we got that contact, even if it was on D-Star.

[@AD6DMDennis]

Man, such scenic views! I think I would love being in New Mexico. Your vids really highlight the mountains and open air. Even if the bands weren't cooperating, I'd call it a great trip. 73

[@TechGearJunkie]

Thanks Dennis. That’s what I’m going for! I guess I want to be like John Ford.

[@jsieb]

Great view!

[@TechGearJunkie]

Thanks Jason. Maiya kept me nervous the whole time by hanging out close the the edge.

[@dongibbskk4qam]

Great scenery. Too bad the bands didn't hold out.

[@TechGearJunkie]

Don Gibbs KK4QAM thanks. It’s a cool place for sure.

[@foggymtn]

Beautiful location for a POTA and nice job on the video. KK7PO

[@TechGearJunkie]

Gordon Pierce it was a great place. Thanks for watching.