Farrer Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0840

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon, with the temperatures in the low 20s decided to get out and do a park activation. Went back to Farrer Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0840 which I had activated last year but had to abandon early due to rain... Still needed 11 contacts for 44.

For something different to last time did not come off Athlon Drive, instead headed up to Farrer Trig, the highest point in the park. Parked off Hawkesbury Cres Fadden and walked through a lane into the park. Reached the Farrer Hill trail up to the trig. Sign for the trail.

The track up to the trig. not too steep.

Only a short 200 m walk to the trig. The trig is nothing special, just some yellow survey marker posts.

To the South of the trig a seat, with a good view to the South. Mt Tennent, a SOTA summit on the left. Lake Tuggeranong on the right.

Looking East a good view of nearby Isaacs Ridge, another SOTA summit. Towers on the left.

I used one of the trig posts as squid pole support.

I had no tree to tie one end of the dipole to, so just supported it on top of a rock. The dipole leg was the 80 m extension so not worried about the low height.

For the other dipole end I eventually reached a small tree down the hill to tie to.

Operating Spot. Map from Protected Planet

Shack near the trig post, used a log as a seat.

Got on 40 m. The band seemed in good shape with close by contacts. Worked the following park hunters

VK3SQ
VK2VW
VK3AHR
VK3PF
VK2VH, VK4AAC/2
VK3IL/m near Wangaratta
VK2IO
VK4TJ
VK2EXA
VK7KT
VK3HP

Saw a spot for VK4SMA/p Mark in VKFF-2879 Wacol Bushlands Nature Refuge.
Changed the links to 20 m and worked him for a P2P, about a 52, weak but workable.

Set up on 14.310 Mhz and spotted myself. Worked

VK2VW
VK3ZPF
VK4VXX, VK3BXX, VK4/AG7WB
ZL1TM
VK4TJ

Saw Mark, VK4SMA/p had moved to 40m, so returned there to work him again for a P2P to VKFF-2879 Wacol Bushlands Nature Refuge.

Had enough contacts to qualify, packed up and headed home.

Farrer Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0840

For the Sunday of the VKFF Activation weekend, headed for Farrer Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0840. Parked off Athlon Drive in Farrer near a gate entrance to the park. Sign for the park.

Set up the shack just to the right of the gate in the park, using a small gum tree for support.

Got on 40 m. Disappointingly found S7 noise all over the band, probably from the nearby power

lines... I heard Mark VK4SMA/2 in VKFF-0268 Koreelah National Park, just about to pack up, so called him for a park to park. He was just above the noise so could copy him okay.

As would be here for a while decided to pack up and move up the hill to get away from the power line noise. Wandered up until finding a suitable spot to operate from, a log near a water reservoir on top of the hill. Map of both operating spots from Protected Planet.

Shack on a log. Fence nearby is for the water reservoir.

 Looking back the other way. Radio and myself on the log.

This new spot was nice and quiet on 40 m.

Got on and worked several park to parks

VK4AAC/2 Rob in VKFF-0187 Freshwater National Park
VK3FLCS/p Brett in VKFF-2071 Costerfield Nature Conservation Reserve
VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-2536 Boomi Nature Reserve
VK3ANL/p Nick in VKFF-2113 Ironbark Road Nature Conservation Reserve
VK2XSE/p Liz in VKFF-2706 Pulletop Nature Reserve
VK3FLEA /p in VKFF-0781 Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park

Spotted myself to work the park hunters
VK3SQ

Another couple of park to parks. Nice to have some NVIS skip in to the Sydney area

VK2MG/p Alan in VKFF-1361 Munmorah State Conservation Area
VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1881 Agnes Banks Nature Reserve

Worked a few more park hunters

VK3ARH
VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4
VK2HFC
VK2NP
VK2LEE
VK2KYO

A park to park with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-2031 Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve Conservation Park

VK2PKT

Some more park to parks

VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2282 Bruthen Flora Reserve
VK2KNV/p Peter in VKFF-2706 Pulletop Nature Reserve with Liz VK2SXE
VK5PAS/3 Paul in VKFF-0628 Point Nepean National Park
VK1CT/p Chris in VKFF-0835 Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve

Worked another park hunter, VK3TNL. At this stage noticed some spots of rain, looked at the sky to the South West, it was dark and threatening... A look at the rain radar showed a rain shower not far away. Quickly packed up, got back to the car just as was getting heavy...