SOTA Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051

After staying overnight at Batemans Bay headed out to do a SOTA activation, Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051. There are several ways to approach this summit, I took the shortest by using the 1.4 Km walking track from the end of Mountain Road. Start of the walk at the car park.

This is really nice walk, with cool temperate rain forest and lots of bird calls.

A bit further along the track.

The track joins Old Coast Road at the top of the ridge, then a short easy walk to the summit. The summit is not that high, 285 m, so only 1 SOTA point. Still worth it for the nice walk. Summit Trig.

As in previous activations used the nearby picnic table for squid pole support and operating. My partner Sarah nearby.

Shack on the table. Its getting a bit overgrown with grass underneath...

Set up my FT-857D. As only a 1.4 Km walk I had put up with the extra weight and carried it here, giving me 40w of power. Got on 40m. Found a rather lonely calling Bill, VK4FW/m in VKFF-0125 Culgoa Floodplain National Park. Worked him easily. Note a park to park as I was in VKFF-0371 Murramarang National Park.

Found a couple more park to parks. VK5LA/p Andy in VKFF-0892 Hogwash Bend Conservation Park and VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-2113 Ironbark Road Nature Conservation Reserve.

After working ZL1BYZ John another park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1162 Berowra Valley National Park. He was quite weak as NVIS short skip to Sydney on 40 m was poor, as we were both running some power managed to just make it.

Went on to work a few more SOTA/park hunters

VK5PAS Paul
VK3PF Peter
VK5WG Nev
VK2AET Scott
VK7QP Linda

A surprise summit to summit contact with ZL1SKL/p Soren on ZL1/WK-158 Puketutu.
Although perhaps not given that nothing but ocean to the East of my summit to Auckland.

One more contact with VK4FDJL Deryk then headed back.