SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

Each new year gives VK stations a unique opportunity to activate SOTA summits each side of UTC day, which is at 11 am local Eastern Summer Time. Basically an excuse for a S2S SOTA bash fest...

I decided to activate Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042, mainly because it is the closest summit to me and the quickest to get to. I had activated it before in 2021, so before UTC would just be collecting S2S points, but would get a point for it after UTC changeover.

Drove to the car park near the tower. Found the faint track I used previously was now upgraded, and other access tracks down were now closed off, directing walkers onto it. So got quite busy... Instead of setting up on the track, set off to one side just in the scrub, using an old star picket for squid pole support. Black Mountain Telstra tower can be seen in the background

A view down the track. It got quite busy with joggers and walkers.

Shack on the tarp

At 2330z got on 2m FM with the Jpole ribbon antenna, using 30w from the FT857D. Found 146.500 too busy to get on, announced there would be calling on 146.550 and moved there to start working S2S and chasers. Worked prior to UTC rollover

VK1DA/p on VK2/ST-006 South Black Range

VK1RW/p on VK1/AC-048 Mount McDonald

VK1MF

VK1MIC/p on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen

VK1AD/p on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK1VIC/p on VK1/AC-008 Mt Ginini

VK2COW, VK1DW, 

VK2XDT/1 on VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie

VK1GVC

VK1MCW/p on VK1/AC-033 Bullen Range

VK1LF, VK1FELF, VK1FDNK all /p on VK1/AC-023 Mt Coree

VK1DD/p on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

VK1MA/p on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge

After UTC rollover at 1100 am local time

VK1MA/p on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge

VK1MF

VK1LAJ/p on VK2/ST-008 Baldy Range

VK1RW/p on VK1/AC-048 Mount McDonald

VK1AD/p on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK1MIC/p on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen

VK1DD/p on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

VK1MCW/p on VK1/AC-033 Bullen Range

VK1DA/p on VK2/ST-006 South Black Range

VK1LF, VK1FELF, VK1FDNK all /p on VK1/AC-023 Mt Coree

I briefly tried 40m, it sounded very quiet, not that much activity. Managed  to work a couple more

VK1ACE/p on VK1/AC-031 Mt Rob Roy

VK2NKO/1 on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

Getting quite warm, packed up at noon and headed home for lunch.