SOTA Attempted activation of Mt Palerang VK2-ST-009 and activation of South Black Range VK2/ST-006

SOTA summit Mt Palerang VK2/ST-009 had not been activated since 2017, before the 2019/2020 bushfires, so decided to take a look and see what happened to it.

Drove to Queanbeyan, then Captains Flat Rd, turning off for Hoskinstown and Forbes Creek. Continued along the Mulloon Fire Trail until reaching Mulloon Creek.

There was a fair amount of water flowing so got out to take a look. It looked quite deep on the right so crossed staying well to the left, got over okay.

Stopped at the Mulloon Creek camping area on the other side. It looked good for camping. Note you need to book if you want to camp now.

Continued on the Mulloon Fire trail. Seemed a lot rougher than last time I drove it, with a few washed out spots to take slowly. Reached the 4 way junction with Palerang Fire trail and parked.

The track on the right was not obvious, lots of damage and regrowth, so just headed into the scrub roughly where I remembered it was.

I did find remnants of the track, now much overgrown. Lots of small gum saplings covering the ground.

Climbed up the first steep incline. The gum tree saplings were quite thick and tall now... Guess from all the rain we have had lately. Thinned out a bit when getting to the rocky outcrops. The track came and went.

After about an hour I could see had only got about half way up, and could see rain approaching. Decided not the best day to attempt it and aborted, turning back. Track log taken from my Garmin watch on Garmin Connect. I made it to about 1100m, still had over 100m of steep climbing and bush bashing to go to the summit at 1200m.

To make the drive out worth it, drove back along the Mulloon Firetrail and turned off to activate South Black Range summit, VK2/ST-006. Luckily the weather was a bit drier there. Set up near the big rock with the trig on top

Shack on a rock near a stump supporting the squid pole

Got on 40m and worked VK2IO/p Gerard on VK2/SY-001 Canoelands, also VKFF-0307 with a good signal. Then worked VK1AD/p Andrew on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge with a good signal too.

Then worked VK1MA Matt, quite low down. Switched to 2m FM and worked Matt easily... Also worked VK1MCW/p Bill on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo, and VK1AD/p Andrew on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge again.

Tried a few more calls on 40m with no takers, band seemed to have died. Packed up and headed home.