= NOW 13 WPM = TEXT IS FROM MARCH 2023 QST PAGE 59 = SKEPTICAL ABOUT MY ODDS OF GETTING ANY CONTACTS. I KNEW THAT CONQUERING THE HIGH CANYON WALLS WOULD BE A DIFFICULT TASK. IT TOOK A FEW TRIES, BUT I FINALLY MADE CONTACTS WITH HAMS IN FLORIDA AND OREGON BEFORE WRAPPING UP THE OPERATION. WE STAYED THERE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, BUT WE DIDNT HAVE TIME FOR MORE HAM RADIO. WE WERE BUSY HIKING THE TRAILS AND ADMIRING THE BEAUTY OF THE CANYON LANDSCAPE. FOR THE NEXT PART OF THE TRIP, WE WENT TO PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE < QST DE W1AW = TO SET UP THE RIG, BUT WE SPENT ALL OF OUR TIME EXPLORING THE PARK. PARTING THOUGHTS AFTER MORE THAN 3 WEEKS OF TRAVELING, WE HAD TO PACK EVERYTHING UP AND HEAD BACK TO MICHIGAN. I DIDNT GET AS MUCH ON AIR TIME AS I HAD ENVISIONED, BUT THE FEW OPERATING OPPORTUNITIES I HAD WERE REWARDING. I BELIEVE OUR STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS IN THE WORLD. ALL OF THE PARK RANGERS WHO WE MET WERE = END OF 13 WPM TEXT = QST DE W1AW <