Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0835

With good weather on Sunday, mainly sunny and 13c, decided to get out and do a WWFF park activation. Chose to revisit Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve, VKFF-0835. Unlike my last activation I accessed the park from the East, via Dryandra St and Kunzea St. At the end of the road is a locked gate, with access for walkers onto the trail into the park, Finnerans Rd. There was no sign for the park, however there was a post with the ACT Parks and conservation service symbol on it.

Set off along Finnernans Rd, then right onto a road running up hill.

This ended at Bruce Pipeline Fire Trail, went right and then took another road up to join Reservoir Ridge Fire Trail. Went left and headed West, passing a water reservoir, until coming to the highest point in the park, in front of another large water reservoir.

This is about the highest point in the park at 670m. Headed into the bush on the right, found a log suitable for squid pole support and operating on.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmaps

Shack on the log. 

Got on 2m first to work Andrew VK1AD/p in VKFF-0987 Swamp Creek Nature Reserve, about 20 Km away. A good clear signal. Then went to 40 m to first work VK5PAS, Paul with a very strong signal. Then park hunters

VK3KK/p, VK4SMA, VK2MK, VK2IO/mobile VK4, VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4, VK3MTT, VK3PF,  VK5FANA.

Andrew VK1AD/p called me on 40m, advising Andrew VK1DA/p was looking for me on 2m FM, so returned there to work him with a good strong signal. He was in VKFF-0858 Oakey Hill Nature Reserve, about 8 Km South of me. Worked Wade VK1MIC in Gungahlin, very strong. Chris VK1CT/p in VKFF-0856 Mulanggari Grassland Nature Reserve came up as well, very strong about 13 Km North.

As lunch time and 16 contacts enough for a VKFF Boomerang Award activation, packed up and headed home.

Bruce Ridge VKFF-0835

Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve is a Canberra Nature Park to the North of Black Mountain. You can park off Belconnen Way, although this can be tricky as fairly busy. I chose to park in Calvary Hospital car park and walk under the Gungahlin Drive Extension via a tunnel.

After parking at the far end of Calvary Hospital climbed through a gate and headed for an access tunnel under Gungahlin Drive Extension.

On the other side climbed over a gate into the park

The track, Calvary Access FT, takes you up the ridge, joining "Bruce One" track

This track takes you up to a large water reservoir close to the highest point in the park. The reservoir didn't look that interesting to operate from, so headed down an unnamed track near the junction with Reservoir Ridge FT.

Found a suitable stump for supporting the squid pole. Set up the 20/40 m dipole.

Radio shack on a nearby log

A fairly comfortable operating spot, although did get some traffic noise from busy Belconnen Way below.

Got on 40 m, a SOTA contact first with Julie VK3FOWL/P on VK3/VN-028. Then a park to park contact with Alan VK5FAJS/P and Col VK5HCF/P in VKFF-805 Telford Scrub Conservation Park. Set up on one frequency and worked through a crowd of chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7.

Worked another park, Rob VK4AAC/5 in VKFF-173 Flinders Chase NP on Kangaroo Island. Also Paul VK5PAS/P in Winninowie Conservation Park with a good strong signal.

After about an hour on 40 m the contacts dried up, so switched the links to 20 m. I spotted myself on the DX cluster, then the pileup began...

Many of the usual park hunters, DK4RM, ON5SWA, IK1GPG, I5FLN with good strong signals. The band was in terrific shape, even with my puny 5 w signal getting 55, 57 reports. Danny ON4VT called me a few times but failed to come back when called, probably due to QRM and QSB his end. We eventually worked. Made an impressive number of contacts, 18 into Europe, including RA3PCI, my first Russian hunter. Also worked one of the locals, VK1ANK Neil.

I caught up with Paul VK5PAS again, working his way through a massive EU pileup, he was S9+.

Returned to 40 m. Worked another park, Steve VK5SFA/P in VKFF-783 Morialta Conservation Park. A few more VKs on 40 m and I was done, 46 contacts, and had managed to get the 44 parks needed for WWFF for once...

Packed up around 4:30 pm as starting to get cold with the sun setting. Walked up to the reservoir to take a look at the views.

Looking East towards Mt Ainslie. City, Braddon and Dickson visible at the base. The road on the right is Belconnen Way