WWFF Tallaganda State Conservation Area VKFF-1375

After activating Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997 in the morning, and not able to find how to get to Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve, decided to activate Tallaganda State Conservation Area VKFF-1375 instead.

I have been to this park before for SOTA activations of Mt Palerang, VK2/ST-009 but at the time the park was not part of WWFF, so time to give it a try.

Drove to Forbes Creek, and followed the Mulloon Fire Trail until entering the park at the Mulloon Creek picnic ground. Sign for the park just after the creek crossing.

As nice as this picnic ground was, it was unsuitable for a park activation, as being down the bottom of the park surrounded by steep hills probably not too good for radio. Plus no mobile reception for spotting. I did stop and check, there was no signal at all on the mobile...

Continued on the Mulloon Fire Trail to the junction with Palerang Fire Trail and Gourock Range Trail, parking in a large clearing on the side of the Palerang Fire Trail. This is usually where I park when climbing Mt Palerang. Wandered about here and could just get a low signal on the mobile, dropping in and out but better than nothing. Set up here using a stump for squid pole support

Location of the operating spot in the park, map from Protected Planet.

Radio on the table. Note I also needed the cord from my 80 m dipole to lash the pole to the stump, it was really quite windy here despite no wind at all on the other side of the range...The usual bungy cord straps not enough to hold it still in the strong wind.

Got on 40 m, running 40 w. Started with a park to park with VK4SMA/p Mark in VKFF-0309 Maryland National Park. He was going clear, so grabbed the park calling frequency 7.144 Mhz off him.

Next caller was Peter VK3PF who offered to spot me, my internet connection was poor here.
Worked VK3BBB then another park to park with VK3NLK/p in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.

Went on working VK7QP, VK7DW/p, VK2XXM.

Another park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1313 Dharawal State Conservation Area.
Weak but workable.

Some more park hunters

VK2VW, VK3ZMD, VK4TJ, VK3CU, VK5PAS/m and VK5FMAZ/m, Paul and Maria mobile heading home after their activations.

Then VK3FMKE/p VK2HOT, VK3SQ, VK4HNS, VK3JRP, VK3FT, VK2PKT, VK5ZPG, VK3MEG, VK5NFT, VK5CZ.

Another park to park with VK4FW/p Bill in  VKFF-0074 Cania Gorge National Park. He was very strong.

Went on to work VK2EBN, VK4CAL/2, VK2KTG, VK3GGG/VK3PMG, VK3KAI, VK2JLS, VK5DW, VK3NCC/m, VK3FRAB, VK7JON, VK5YX, VK5PL, VK3FSPG/VK3MPR, VK3UCD, VK5MNZ, VK3STU.

As I had 46 contacts had qualified the park. Packed up and headed home to avoid driving in the semi darkness, when the kangaroos become active...