McQuoids Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0849

With the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award activation weekend on, the chance to grab a few park to park contacts was high, so headed out to activate a local WWFF park.

Chose to return to McQuoids Hill VKFF-0849, as still needed about a dozen contacts to reach the 44 and finish activating it for WWFF. Parked off Kambah Pool Rd in Kambah and carried the pack in, as there are no public roads into the park. After passing through a walkers gate entered the park.

Instead of climbing the hill took an easier route and followed the boundary road to the North West. This is WWFF not SOTA after all... no need to get high up. Found a log suitable for squid pole support, an as a seat and set up the station

Looking back the other way. End of the dipole tied to a tree branch.

Shack on the log. A bit low down but did the job as an operating seat

Used the FT857D set to 40w. Got on 40m, just in time to hear Paul VK5PAS/3 about to QSY to 80m, so grabbed him and Marija VK5MAZ/3 in VKFF-0373 Murray-Sunset National Park

Then worked VK3SRC/p Joe in VKFF-0628 Point Nepean National Park. Spotted myself on 7.165 and worked a heap of park hunters and some more park to parks.

VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG

VK2IO/P Gerard in VKFF-0056 Brisbane Water National Park

VK3UAO Stuart in VKFF-0627 Organ Pipes National Park

VK7QP, VK2LWK, VK2HBG/m, VK3OHM, VK2KYO, VK2FPAR, VK2FAPC, 

VK3YV/p Tony in VKFF-0020 Baw Baw National Park

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4, VK3BBB, VK2CCP, VK3SQ, VK2WB, VK6WF/2, VK4BXX, VK4/NN3Z, VK3ARH/m, VK2JNA/m, 

VK2TER/p James in VKFF-0550 Wyrrabalong National Park

VK3XV/p Tony in VKFF-0623 Greater Bendigo National Park

As had more than enough contacts to qualify, and around lunch time, packed up and headed to nearby Kambah shops for lunch.

McQuoids Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0849

With a fine warm Sunday decided to get out and activate a park, while still permitted here in the ACT with the Covid-19 restrictions for exercise and recreational purposes. Went to McQuoids Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0849. Have activated before but still needing to get to 44 contacts for a WWFF point.

As per last time parked off Kambah Pool Rd, at the car park for the reserve. After a short walk reached the gate entry to the reserve.

 Just after the gate on the left spotted a fallen log suitable for operating on. Set up the squid pole on a sapling near the log, dipole legs to a couple of nearby bushes.

Looking the other way

Shack on the log. FT857-D set to 30 w running off a LifePO4 battery.

Got on 40m. Found a small group having a chat on 7.144 so moved down to 7.135 and spotted myself on ParksnPeaks

A steady stream of callers from VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK7, most good strong signals.

VK3SQ
VK2EJW
VK3PF
VK2VH, VK4AAC/2
VK2PKT
VK3ANL
VK4TJ
VK7ME

A park to park contact with VK4SYD Rob in VKFF-0129 D'Aguilar National Park. A bit weak but easy copy.

Went on to work

VK4SMA
VK3PI
VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4
VK3OAK
VK4MWB
VK4FARR
VK3VDX
VK3ARH

Went to 20m, tried a few calls with no luck.

After 20 contacts packed up and headed home. Another park I need to revisit for 44 QSOs.

WWFF McQuoids Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0849

McQuoids Hill Nature Reserve, VKFF-0849 is a small Canberra Nature Park, located off Kambah Pool Road in the Canberra suburb of Kambah.

Parked near a gate off Kambah Pool Road. There is an access walking track across farmland to the park. McQuoids Hill in the distance.

After crossing the farmland reached the entrance gate to the park.

Took the track up to the top of the hill. View to the South. Murrumbidgee Country Club Golf course on the other side of the road.

The road becomes quite steep nearing the top, with loose stones a bit treacherous. Got to a small hill just before the main hill. A rough walking trail visible to the top.

View from the top. Looking East. Black Mountain with its tower visible on the far left, Woden in the middle, Mount Taylor on the right.

View to the South

View to the West of the Brindabella Ranges

View to the South West, and the small hill I had come from. As the summit had no squid pole mast support and was in the hot sun, decided to head for the shade of the trees below.

There was a log here suitable for squid pole support. Ran out the 40m dipole to a couple of weedy plants.

Shack in the shade. Sat on the log and used my pack for the radio and log book table.

Got on 40m. A park to park contact with VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-1516 Coolmunda Conservation Park with a good signal.

Spotted myself, got Gerard VK2IO with a good signal. Then called and called, didn't seem to be many on, or couldn't hear my puny 5w signal...

Eventually worked a few more. VK3DAC Fred, VK3FQSO Amanda, VK1AT Jim, VK3PF/p Peter, VK3HKK Kevin.

As slow going on 40m went to 20m. Worked VK4DV Merv near Rockhampton with a good signal. A massive 59+ signal from VK5PAS, Paul...Made a weak 41 contact with VK6JAH/p John, but as we were both using 5w quite pleased, this was with VK6 on the other side of Australia!

A couple of local contacts, VK1AD Andrew close by a good S9, and VK1AT Jim again, a similar S5 signal to 40m. Finished with a contact with VK6XL Allen, before beading back down and home.

At total of 13 contacts. Enough for the 10 needed for a VKFF point but well short of the 44 contacts for WWFF. Another park I need to revisit.

Map from Openstreetmap showing my operating spot in the park.