WWFF Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve VKFF-1775

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do another WWFF park activation, so decided to return to VKFF-1775 Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve. I activated this park last year in November for the VKFF parks activation weekend, but only made 35 contacts so needed another 9 more for the 44 for a WWFF point.

As per last activation drove up to the Mt Pleasant Lookout at the end of General Bridges Drive in Duntroon. Stopped at the lookout for a few photos. Looking East towards Canberra airport on the left, Fyshwick and Queanbeyan in the distance. Duntroon historic military college below.

Looking towards the lookout over the lake.

A view of Lake Burley Griffin. Russell Offices below, the lake and Black Mountain with Telstra tower in the distance.

Despite the park name Mt Pleasant itself is not in the park, and is a bit public anyway, so headed to the North East path leading down from it, entering the park through a walkers gap.

Last time I had set up just near here using a large log, however it was quite windy today so dropped down the hill to the NW a bit until finding a suitable small sapling gum tree to support the squid pole.

Shack on the table. The squid pole waved around a lot in the wind but held up okay. The wind made it seem cooler than the 16 c or so, but felt warm in the sunshine.

Got on 40 m. Found Helen VK7FOLK/p in a park, VKFF-1822 Pieman River State Reserve announcing she was putting out last calls before packing up, so quickly called her for a park to park contact. Also worked her partner VK7JON/p Jonathon.

Tuned around and heard VK4AAC/2 Rob in VKFF-0026 Ben Boyd National Park announcing he was going to 20 m, so quickly called him for another park to park contact. He offered me his frequency, 7.150 Mhz, so took this and worked the park hunters.

There were many, lots with good strong signals.

VK2IO Gerard
VK5PAS Paul
VK4FDJ Deryk
VK2VW Brett
VK5FANA Adrian
VK2LEE Lee
VK3PF Peter
VK5LA Andy
VK5DW Danny
VK2JXA Andy
VK4SMA Mark
VK5MK Mark
VK2NP Cliff
VK2KYO Ken
VK2VOO Andy
VK2FANK Frank
VK2YE Steve
VK5HS Ivan
VK5MR Andrew
VK4FARR Glen
VK3FMKE Keith
VK3FSPG  Steve
VK3MPR Steve
VK3HN Paul
VK1AT Jim
VK3ZLD Lou
VK7FGRA Greg
VK2FF George

As had more than enough contacts packed up and headed home before dark.

WWFF Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve VKFF-1775

With it being the VKFF Activation Weekend decided to activate a newly added Canberra Nature Park, Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve, VKFF-1775.

The park is centered around Mt Pleasant, a small hill near the Canberra suburbs of Campbell and close to Duntroon, an historic Royal Military College in Canberra.

Drove down Fairburn Ave and turned off into Robert Campbell Rd. Then turned off this onto General Bridges Dr, following this to the end, Mt Pleasant lookout.

A sign on the Easterns side of the lookout explaining the history of Duntroon. Canberra airport on the left and Queanbeyan on the right.

View from the lookout looking West. Lake Burley Griffin, the Captain Cook waterjet and Black Mountain behind the end of the cannon.

A view looking down on Russell Offices. Parliament House on the left, Canberra city centre on the right behind the trees.

A sign of the history of Mt Pleasant.

The Mt Pleasant summit is actually not in the Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve, so headed to the other end of the lookout to a walking track entering the reserve.

Decided to set up the radio using the large log just off the walking track. Location on a map of the park, from ProtectedPlanet.net

Park station on the table, using it and the log for squid pole support. Used a couple of nearby trees for dipole legs support.

Shack on the table. My FT-857D set to 30 w output, running off a LifePO4 battery. Canberra airport in the background, I could watch planes taking off and landing while operating...

Got on 40m. Heard Paul VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0911 Morgan Conservation Park, just about to go to 20m, so quickly grabbed him before he left, along with with his wife Marija VK5FMAZ/p.They had a good strong signal. Paul kindly offered me the frequency, 7.144 Mhz the park call frequency, so stayed where I was and worked the hunters.

Being a parks activation weekend most of the contacts were other park activators.

VK3XV/p Tony in VKFF-0624 Heathcote-Graytown National Park

VK3NLK/p Nikolas in VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park

VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2199 Swallow Lagoon Nature Conservation Reserve

Usual park hunters, VK2XXM Robert, VK2YW John, VK2HHA Dennis, VK4RF/VK4HA Rick.

A few more park to park contacts

VK5GI/p Norm and VK5GJ/p Greg in VKFF-0999 Bandon Conservation Park

VK3FLCS/p Greg in VKFF-2158 Mount Sugarloaf Nature Conservation Reserve

Several more hunters, VK3SQ Geoff, VK2VW Brett, VK4NH Ray, VK4DXA Roy, VK2MZ Rob.

Another park to park with Ade VK4SOE/p in VKFF-0198 Girraween National Park

More hunters, VK2DSG Les, VK2PKT Keith, VK4GSF George, VK4TJ John, VK3OF Rex.

From then on worked only parks

VK2IO/Gerard on SOTA Summit Mt Banks, VK2/CT-032, also VKFF-0041 Blue Mountains National Park

VK4NHH/p Rob in VKFF-1639 Samford Conservation Park

VK3ARH/p Allen in VKFF-2070 Corindhap Nature Conservation Reserve

VK4AAC/p Rob in VKFF-0200 Glass House Mountains National Park

VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-0471 Sundown National Park

VK2JNG/p Gerard in VKFF-0492 Toonumbar National Park

Worked the VK7 couple VK7JON/p Jonathon and his partner Helen VK7FOLK/p in VKFF-1802 Ferndene State Reserve

Heard Liz VK2XSE/p in a rare park in far Western NSW, VKFF-1269 Balowra State Conservation Area. This is out near Cobar and is quite isolated. Worked her and spotted her on parksnpeaks as no mobile coverage out there.

A few more park to park contacts

VK3ZPF/p in VKFF-2135 Main Ridge Nature Conservation Reserve

VK3ARH/p Allen in another park, VKFF-0757 Enfield State Park

As the weather was changing to stormy decided to pack up for the day and head home. 35 contacts with 20 of these park to parks so a good activation.