SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 for 9th Anniversary of SOTA in VK1

1st February 2013 is the date when SOTA went live in VK1, so to mark the 9th anniversary activated the same summit I did in 2013, Mount Majura VK1/AC-034.

Parked at the trail head off Antill St Hackett and started the walk. The sign for the summit and park has been updated. Note the fog in the background, this burnt off as I climbed.

A map of the Mount Majura Nature Reserve

A pond on the way, full and with frogs calling. Have had a lot of rain lately...

Another new sign just before the summit.

As a week day and school holidays had ended, it was nice and quiet on the summit, just a few odd walkers. So set up on the round metal thing near the trig.

Tested 2m ribbon antenna, good SWR at 144.95 Mhz, close to 146.5 Mhz

SWR for 40m dipole. Seemed a bit high in the band, found out why later, one leg was accidently left lying on the ground lol... still worked fine though...

Shack on the concrete base. Bit of shade for the tablet for logging

Got on 2m first at 2330z. Worked Matt VK1MA, very strong. VK2XDT at Yass, VK1LAJ and VK1MF both in nearby suburbs and very strong.

Just before UTC rollover went to 40m. Worked S2S with Peter VK3PF/P on VK3/VT-066 Mt Worth. Found out later he was also doing a remembrance activation, 10 years for VK3 SOTA for 1st Feb 2012. Worked him before and after UTC rollover.

Got called by VK2IO, then VK2FJL/p Phil on VK2/MN-067 Winns Mountain for another S2S.

Went on to work VKIDA, VK1MF, VK1MA, VK2EXA, VK5IS, VK3AFW, VK3AWA.

Tried going to 20m. Worked VK5CZ Ian, who told me he could not hear me on 40m, and was a good signal here. VK2VW, VK2HFI Brett and VK1MF Mat

Getting warm in the sun, so packed up around noon. On the way down met some wildlife on the trail. A scary looking lizard, or at least it hoped it was...

An echinda. These are usually shy and roll into a ball when approached, got it before it did so.

Got down in 35 minutes, it had taken 50 minutes to ascend. Had lunch in nearby Dickson.