Monday 6 October 2014

SOTA Activation Mt Bulga

Mt Bulga is only around 10 Km from Orange, so a good one to get to early for some S2S contacts coming up at 9:30am.

From Orange headed East getting onto Ophir Road, then  Banjo Patterson Way. As Banjo Patterson Way heads North and becomes Lower Lewis Ponds Road there is a dirt lane on the right, took this road. Mt Bulga on the left.


Another dirt road comes off onto the left, unnamed, heading for the mountain.


The road runs along the edge of the pine forest. This road bends around to the right across the summit, there is a sign here for Mt Bulga Reserve and a rough 4WD track up to the summit behind it. Parked opposite the sign and started walking, around 300 m from the summit.


The road up could be done in a good 4WD. There were some nasty rocky bits.


Got steeper and looked interesting to try driving up...


Eventually became just a walking track up to the summit.


At the top saw the trig, hiding in the trees.


Nameplate on trig. Interestingly not "Bulga" but "Ophir"


Trees too close to use the trig for the squid pole. The track continued past the trig, set up the squid pole and dipole on a stump on the side of the track just near the trig.


Looking back along the track the other way


Set up the operating spot on the tarp.


Sitting on the tarp noticed this spot was buzzing with mosquitos :( Swatted some and continued on. Must put repellent in the pack in future. Started with an S2S with Andrew, VK1NAM on VK1/AC-043, Mt Stromlo, with a good signal. Worked several of the regular chasers from VK1, VK2 and VK3 with good signals. Another S2S with Simon, VK1FAAS calling me from VK1/AC-002 Mt Gingera. Well done Simon, a long walk for a 10 point summit. He had a good strong signal.

Tried 20 m. Worked Ian VK5CZ, Mike VK6MB, Nev VK5WG and David VK4DD. As the mosquitos were driving me mad packed up and headed down.

Track log of drive/walk






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