SOTA Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093

Decided to head down to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains and do a SOTA summit over the UTC rollover period, the Cascades VK2/SM-014. This meant driving down on Saturday New Years Eve. While driving down via the Monaro Highway stopped to activate Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093, near Michelago.

Parked near the gate. Note that this is private property, a sheep paddock, at the request of the farmer left a note on my dashboard with my name and mobile number. It's about a 500m walk to the summit.

Set up the squid pole on the trig cairn. Looking East to the Tinderies mountains.

Looking North to the communication tower.

Looking South towards Cooma. Eastern edge of the ACT is on the right.

While putting up the 40m dipole one of the wire legs snapped... fixed it by twisting the broken ends together tightly, managed to hold together okay for the weekends activations.

Got on 40m. Found there was an annoying on air white noise appearing from the tower nearby, sounded like an air conditioner as it would cut in and out. Managed to work stations when it was off. Probably best to move away from the trig next time

Started with an S2S with VK7XDM/p Mitch on VK7/WC-013. Then the regular chasers from VK2, VK3 and VK5. Another S2S with Peter VK3PF/p on VK3/VE-014 The Horn.

After 40 m contacts stopped switched to 20m for post UTC contacts. Some good signals from VK5WG, VK7CW, VK4RF/VK4HA, VK2YK and VK1MA.

As still had a long way to drive to Thredbo packed up and continued driving South to Cooma.

SOTA Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093

While chatting to Andrew VK2UH on my Cathcart Trig activation, he suggested I try Livingstone Hill, VK2/SM-093 on the drive home. This is located close to the Monaro Highway, near the town of Michelago. Turned off the highway onto Mt Livingstone Rd

This is unsealed but okay for 2WD cars. Communication towers on top

Drove up the road to a gate with the access track to the towers behind. This is private property, as per instructions from Andrew VK2UH I left a note on my dashboard that I was doing a SOTA activation, with my name and mobile number to call for the owner. Set off along the access road, about 500 m from the summit

This is a sheep property, struck a mob of sheep on the track who moved on to let me continue

Reached the top. Terrific views from the trig. Looking East to the Tinderries Range. Some 10 point summits there...

Looking North past the communications towers towards Canberra

Looking South towards Cooma

Set up the squid pole on the trig. Not a lot to tie the ends of the dipole to, used a small bush for one end and a rock for the other

Dipole on the squid pole with the Tinderries behind. A great peak with nothing in the way

Some wind had come up so set up the shack on the tarp behind the trig, out of the wind.

As a prime antenna site and late in the day 40 m was excellent, most signals 59+ from VK1, VK2 and VK3. Also worked a couple of VK7s, VK7TW and VK7PAK with good signals. 

Tried 20 m, after working my regular 20 m chaser, Nev VK5WG got called by EA2IF who gave me a 43 signal, he was 55, not bad for 5W! Also a very strong signal from Greg VK8GM in Alice Springs.

As starting to get cold in the wind and very late in the day packed up and headed home. Made it home around 8 pm

Track log of walk