As per previous activations parked at the start of the Booroomba Rocks walking trail. This is used by rock climbers to access the rocky slopes.
Climbed up to the saddle. Steep but a good track.
After reaching the saddle a bit of a scrub bash to reach a rocky slab. Small rock piles to guide the way up with the least scrub.
Still managed to lose the trail now and then, lots of false tracks through the scrub made by animals. There are 3 summits, looking from the 2nd summit to the main SOTA summit.
After some more scrub bashing came up the East side of the summit to the rock pile cairn on top. My usual SOTA squid pole support tree on the right.
Set up the squid pole on the tree. One dipole leg tied to a dead snow gum, the other to a stump. Looking North. Canberra on the right in the far distance.
Looking South. 2 m Jpole ribbon antenna dangling down.
Shack at the base of the squid pole on the tarp.
Got on 40 m. Chased Paul VK5PAS/3 activating Murray Sunset National Park with a good signal.
Got going on 7.090 Mhz with a keen pile of chasers calling. A S2S with Andrew VK1DA/P on Mt Majura about 20 Km away.
After 40 m died down switched to 20 m. After several calls worked Mike VK6MB with a fair signal.
Tried 2 m FM using the Jpole and 5 w from the FT817. Worked several stations around Canberra, Queanbeyan and Yass with good signals, Booroomba Rocks provides excellent 2 m coverage with few trees to block the signal. Had a call from Andrew, VK1NAM, climbing VK1/AC-012 Orroral Hill, still around 30 minutes to the top, so waited for him to get there.
When he arrived worked VK4JAZ/1 Grant and VK1FJAW Adan as well, with very strong signals on 2 m FM. Although only 11 Km away so should be strong. They had a tough walk up with thick scrub.
Packed up at noon and headed down for lunch.
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