SOTA Mount McDonald VK1/AC-048

After a picnic BBQ lunch at Cassaurina Sands headed to nearby SOTA peak Mount McDonald for an activation. Found the walk car park off Brindabella Rd full, some motor bike meet up in progress, taking photos of motor bikes heading down the road. Managed to squeeze a spot in for the car and started walking. After the initial 700 m climb up to the fire trail its a further 1.4 Km to the summit. View from the road looking North along the Bullen Range, Mount Tennent in the distance.

 

View down to the Cotter River.

After about 20 minutes reached the top. View to the East and Mt Stromlo

It was cold and windy on the summit. Decided to set up away from the trig, too exposed. Instead used a small sapling near the fire tower remains for squid pole support, hiding behinds the bushes to get out of the cold wind. Used a support cord tied to the fire tower to stop the pole bending in the wind.

Shack on the tarp behind the bushes. The rock is to stop it taking off...

Got on 40 m and spotted myself on 7.090. First contact ZL1BYZ John, so band not too bad...

Worked

VK3ZPF

VK5AYL

VK1DA/p just operating portable on an oval

A summit to summit with VK4MGL/p Scott on VK4/SE-101 Mt Dunsinane

VK4TJ

VK5HAA

VK3PI

VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4

VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1881 Agnes Banks Nature Reserve, weak but workable

VK3PF

Also found Adam VK2YK/5 on 7.144 in VKFF-1683 Anstey Hill Recreation Park with a good signal.

Was going to try 20 m, but then started raining lightly, so packed up and headed down.