OConnor Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0857

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon and the bands sounding reasonable decided to do another WWFF park activation, this time  OConnor Ridge Nature Reserve. My last activation there was on the 21st June 2015, about the shortest day of the year, and despite a good opening into Europe had to give it away at sunset as it got freezing... no chance of it this time as a pleasant 25c.

As per last time drove to Dryandra St in the Canberra suburb of OÇonnor and parked. A short walk up the hill and I was on the road along the ridge. Noticed the traffic noise from nearby Gungahlin Drive, also the sounds of Cicadas in the trees, would make it unpleasant to operate from. I eventually settled on a lower track on the Eastern side of the ridge away from the noise. There was a track marker post suitable for squid pole support. Set up the 40 m dipole. View to the North East. Mt Majura on the right.

Looking back down the hill. Crane and other buildings are in Dickson. Dryandra St at the bottom of the hill.

Looking back South along the track. Black Mountain tower visible on the next ridge, heading up to Black Mountain.

Shack on the tarp. There was a bit of a slope here, ended up lying down on the tarp as the most comfortable way to operate the radio.

Got on 40m. Started with a Park to Park contact with Bob, VK5AFZ/p in VKFF-0922 Newland Head Conservation Park with a good signal. Worked Peter VK3PF next who spotted me, then the pileup began...

Worked several of the regular park hunters in VK2, VK3, VK4 (VK4RF/HA Rick), VK5 and VK7. Quite a lot of hunters calling, band in good shape. Another park to park contact, with Andrew VK7DW/p in VKFF-1156 Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area.

After contacts dried up was going to go to 20m to give it a try, but then got called by Paul VK5PAS, VK3TJK and VK2YK. I tried 20m but no answers to my calls, propagation didn't sound good on 20, maybe why so many were active on 40m?

Another park to park with Tom VK5NFT/p in VKFF-0791 Beachport Conservation Park. A total of 36 contacts, well qualified so packed up and headed home to dinner.

Map from Openstreetmaps showing my operating location in the park.

OConnor Ridge VKFF-0857

OConnor Ridge is located West of the Canberra suburb of OConnor, bounded by Dryandra Street, Ginninderra Drive, Gungahlin Drive Extension and Bruce Ridge.

Parked off Dryandra Street near the cycle path. There is a large parking area here and the sign for the park visible.

Walked up the ridge using some of the many bush tracks. The area is popular with mountain bike riders and joggers.

The tracks joined a fire access road running along the ridge.

The road climbed up to the highest point on the ridge. Not too steep.

Reached the highest point in the park. Nothing much here, no trig, the view obscured by trees.

Just down from the hill from here was a large log suitable for a shack seat and table. Strapped the squid pole to the side and ran out the 20/40 m dipole legs to a couple of nearby trees.

Set up the radio shack on the stump and used it as a comfy seat.

Got on 40 m and started calling. Worked Gerard VK2IO/P on SOTA peak VK2/CT-001 Mt Canobolas with a good signal. A SOTA contact Karl VK2GKA/P on VK2/IL-005 Mt Alexandra.

Also John VK5BJE and Paul VK5PAS doing a rare activation of VKFF-278 Lake Torrens National Park. Another SOTA station Paul VK3HN on VK3/VN-030 Mt Strickland. Plus usual park hunters from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.

After 40 m calls dried up changed the links to 20 m and found a quiet spot to call. As I have found before the best way to get a European pileup going was to spot myself on the DX cluster first with the VKFF reference in the comments. I'm sure there must be several EU stations that monitor this constantly, because the pileup started after just one call!... Usual park hunters, I5FLN, S58AL, IK1GPG, S52KM, DL2ND, ON5SWA, ON4VT and several others, 14 European contacts.

I had one unexpected caller, another park activator in Europe! IQ6MW/P in IFF-228, a first for me a park from Italy.

Also worked a few VKs, VK6DW, VK6NU, and VK5LWR/P also running QRP.

As the shortest day of the year the sun was setting around 4:30 pm, and getting cold...Packed up and headed back. It was down to 8c when I got back to the car. A total of 34 contacts so another park to revisit for the 44 needed.

Track log of walk