SOTA Mt Yarrahapinni VK2/MN-079

After activating Big Smoky and stopping in South West Rocks for lunch drove back to the Pacific Highway and continued on the Mt Yarrahapinni. Took Albert Road and the Rosewood Road. Road becomes unsealed but is okay for 2WDs. There is a good picnic area and lookout before the summit. Big Smoky mountain is visible near the ocean.

Reached the top. There is a trig, also lots of communication towers. This place is bad for QRM :(

Set up on the side of the road down from the towers, hoping to reduce some of the noise...Used a small sapling to support the squid pole.

Shack on the tarp on the side of the road

Tried 40m, S4 to S8 of electronic noise across the whole band,,,

Switched to 20m. Noise there down to about an S2 so a bit better. Managed to work John VK6NU, but no others, none that I could hear coming back anyway...so returned to 40 m.

There was a spot for Al VK1RX/3 on VK3/VC-007 Mt Macedon, but unable to hear him over the noise. Found a quieter spot with S4 noise and called CQ SOTA. Luckily most of the chasers coming back were strong S7 to S9 so able to hear most of them okay. VK2s and VK4s strong here, the VK3s a real struggle now this far North.

Got called by Al VK1RX/3 who I managed to hear with a 4 by 4 report, so eventually got him in the log. Got a spot from Peter VK3PF who was unable to copy me on 20 or 40m, wanted to try 30m. Set up the 30m dipole and worked him with a 4 by 7 report, so made it on this band.

A total of 10 contacts. Packed up and headed to Coffs Harbour for the night.

SOTA Mt Yarrahapinni VK2/MN-079

After Coffs Harbour continued driving South on the Pacific Highway. South of Macksville took the turnoff to Donnellyville then Albert Drive, Rosewood Road. There are signs for Yarriabini National Park.

Rosewood Road starts sealed but turns to dirt. Still okay for 2WD. Mt Yarrahapinni visible on the left.

Entered Yarriabini National Park

Reached the turnoff to Tower Road, leading to the summit

A tourist lookout below the summit

Good view of South West Rocks, and Big Smoky VK2/MN-117

Looking South to North Brother, VK2/MN-081

Continued up the road to the summit. Parked and walking into the activation zone. Lots of towers

Mt Yarrahapinni Trig

Nearby on the road a distance marker

Just near the marker set up the squid pole on an Optus cable warning sign

Set up the radio shack on the tarp

Got on 20 m. Lots of local noise from the comms towers :( Managed to work 5 chasers, VK3AFW, VK3DAC, VK5WG, VK3EHR and VK3DET. Tried 40 m, got VK2IO, VK2JDS and VK2TAM.

While there a group of 4WDs arrived, had a chat to them about SOTA.

Packed up and headed South to Kempsey for lunch.