SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

With a nice sunny warm 30c Saturday afternoon decided to activate a nearby SOTA summit, Black Mountain VK1/AC-042. This is the closest summit to home, about 6 Km away and about a 15 minute drive, so very easy to do. I also needed another 25 contacts to qualify it for the WWFF award, the summit is WWFF park VKFF-0834 Black Mountain Nature Reserve.

Set myself up in the same spot as last time, on a little used walking track off the Northern side of the car park, using an old gate post for squid pole support.

Looking back down the track. Lots of tree branches across the track from a strong wind storm on Friday afternoon.

Set up the radio on the tarp, using my TS-480 running 25w. Black mountain Telstra communications tower visible in the background.

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park with Marc VK3OHM/p in VKFF-0296 Lower Glenelg National Park. Then a summit to summit with Marshall VK3MRG/p on VK3/VE-137 Bald Hill.

Then usual chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5. When 40m dried up for contacts went to 20m. Usual contact with Rick VK4RF/VK4HA. John ZL1BYZ with a good signal. Seemed to be good conditions to VK6, as went on to work VK6XL Allen and VK6NU John. Final contact with Matt VK1MA,  a massive strong 59++ signal as usual.

Gave it away and headed home to dinner. 26 contacts made so with my activation last year had 45 contacts, completing the park for WWFF.