WWFF Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0837

With a sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do another WWFF activation, Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve, VKFF-0837. I had activated this before but due to poor conditions only made 13 contacts, so returned to try and make the 44 for WWFF.

Wanted to try a different place, so this time drove to the end of Guiness Place in Chapman. The end of the road is unsealed with a parking area on the left, gate into the reserve at the end. A map of the park on the gate.

Walked past the gate and took Guiness Fire Trail, off Cutoff Drain Fire Trail, heading up the hill. After a bit of height for the activation.

Followed Guiness Fire Trail to the top of the hill. A water tank and mobile phone tower near the top. Wandered over to the highest point of the hill and set up on a log.

Location of my operating spot. Map from Open Street Maps.

Note this is not the highest point in the reserve, but this is WWFF not SOTA so does not really matter. Looking towards the highest point Mt Arawang trig at 765 m.

View towards Black Mountain and the city

View to nearby Woden town centre.

View West towards the Brindabella Ranges. One leg of my dipole visible, tied to a prickly bush :)

Set up the shack on a rock seat. FT-857D perched on the top of the rock.

Got on 40 m. Heard Glen VK3YY/p doing a SOTA activation on VK3/VT-016 Mt Useful, so worked him with a good signal. Then went and worked the 3 park activations on at the time.

VK4DX/p Mike in VKFF-1594 Moggill Conservation Park
VK4ALE/p Jono in VKFF-1511 Clear Mountain Conservation Park
VK4SMA/p Mark in VKFF-1660 Tingalpa Creek Conservation Park

With these parks worked spotted myself on ParksnPeaks on 7.115 Mhz and worked the park hunters.

VK2IO
VK3ZPF
VK4TJ
VK4FDJL
VK7QP
VK2UH
VK4HNS
VK4AAC/5
VK2NP
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK1MIC
VK2GPT
VK2VX
VK3LTL
VK4GSF
ZL1TM
VK2VW
VK7AN
VK1AT
VK2HPN
VK3SQ
VK5FMWW
VK3TXB/m
VK2IAN
VK2KTG
VK2KMI
VK4UMS

As had made 33 QSOs had 46 total for the park, and qualified it. Packed up and headed home.