Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991

For the VKFF Activation Weekend I decided to do a couple of parks next to each other, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991, and nearby Kowen Escarpment Nature Reserve VKFF-3182. Molonglo Gorge was good for a car based activation as one of the few Canberra parks you can drive into. Accessed via Kowen Rd, off Sutton Rd. A sign indicating access for the parks.

Kowen Rd comes to a locked gate up ahead, but a side road continues into Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve. Sign for the park.

The main picnic area was crowded. I headed to another picnic area on a side road. Luckily managed to grab a free picnic table. Set up the shack on the table. For the squid pole used a star picket for support near the table.

Checked the antenna with the Stick analyser, good SWR across the 40m band, resonant at 7.170 Mhz.

Another photo of the shack

FT857 powered off the Companion 40aH battery pack. I set the power to 50w output.

There were several park activators active already before UTC rollover. Worked a few before spotting.

VK2YAK/VK4YAK Gavin in VKFF-1308 Copeland Tops State Conservation Area

VK3TUN David in VKFF-2198 Stuart Mill Nature Conservation Reserve

VK5PAS/VK4MAZ Paul and Maria in VKFF-0923 Nixon - Skinner Conservation Park

VK4FDJL Deryck in VKFF-1637 Roundstone Conservation Park

Spotted myself on 7.185. Worked 

VK2MET/VK1AO Alan in VKFF-2740 Tilligery Nature Reserve

Some hunters. VK2VW/VK2HFI, VK5FANA, A few more park to parks

VK3ANL Nick in VKFF-2104 Gresswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve

VK2YK Adam in VKFF-0889 Hale Conservation Park

VK2LEE, VK3AMO

VK3BEZ Peter in VKFF-2465 Traralgon South Flora Reserve

VK4TJ, both before and after UTC rollover. VK3VIN

VK4FW Bill in VKFF-1659 Tinana Island Conservation Park

VK2LEE

VK5AV Jim in VKFF-2343 Johnstones Creek Flora Reserve

VK3BEZ Peter in VKFF-2465 Traralgon South Flora Reserve post rollover

VK2YAK/VK4YAK Gavin in VKFF-1308 Copeland Tops State Conservation Area again

VK3OAK Malcolm in VKFF-0742 Warby Ovens National Park

VK3BHR

VK5PAS/VK5MAZ Paul and Maria in a new park, VKFF-0923 Nixon - Skinner Conservation Park

VK3MCA Brett in VKFF-0982 You Yangs Regional Park

VK2MET/VK1AO Alan still in VKFF-2740 Tilligerry Nature Reserve

VK1XP Mobile

VK3ANL Nick still in VKFF-2104 Gresswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve

VK7LTD Tony in VKFF-1797 Eaglehawk Bay State Reserve

VK3ZPF, VK2VW, VK2HFI

A very weak VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0041 Blue Mountains National Park. NVIS short hop not good today. I missed working some of the close by activators eg down the NSW South Coast.

VK5BJE, VK4EMP, VK3NCR, VK3FRC, VK2EG

VK7FAMP Angela in VKFF-1797 Eaglehawk Bay State Reserve

VK5PAS, VK5FMAZ Paul and Maria in another park, VKFF-0921 Myponga Conservation Park.

Had lunch at the picnic table, packed up and headed for the next park, Kowen Escarpment Nature Reserve.

Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991

Sunday looked to be okay weather wise with a top around 14 c, so decided to activate another WWFF park. With most of my previous park activations I have failed to make the 44 contacts needed for the WWFF point, so planned to revisit a park I had activated before, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve, VKFF-0991.

One reason I picked this park is that, unlike a lot of other Canberra Nature Parks, you can drive right into it. Sign entering the park.

As well as being easy access, it also has picnic tables, ideal for comfy park activations :)

Last activation used a table near the start of the walk to Molonglo Gorge.

This wasn't ideal as branches overhead prevented me getting the 7 m squid pole up to full height. So this time picked another picnic table, just above the car park on a hill, with a clear space above. I skipped using this table last visit as it was November, in full sun and quite warm, however in July was after all the sun I could get...Radio shack on the table. Dipole legs tied to a couple of nearby trees.

Got on 40 m. Started with a park to park contact with Gerard VK2IO/P in VKFF-1162, Berowra National Park. The park has only been recently added to the VK WWFF parks, and was a 1st activation. Gerard was a good S7, pleased as the 40 m band had been very poor lately for NVIS, close by contacts such as Sydney.

Went on to work the usual park hunters from VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5. Worked a SOTA station, Graeme VK3GRK on VK3/VN-016 Mt Alexander. Another SOTA station contact with Rob VK2QR/P on VK2/SW-043 Wereboldera.

Saw a spot for Tony VK1VIC/P on Mt Taylor VK1/AC-037, on 2m FM. Quickly dug out the FT-60R hand held from the pack and heard him quite well, made a contact hand held to hand held. Also a park to park contact as Mt Taylor is also a WWFF park, Mt Taylor Nature Reserve VKFF-0854.

Also worked Rob VK2DIO/1 portable on Red Hill. He was not doing a park activation there though, just went up for the view and play radio.

Tried 20 m later, one contact with Gerard VK2JNG/8 in Pine Creek Northern Territory.

A total of 21 contacts. With the 24 contacts on my last visit made the 44 needed for a WWFF point.

Stations worked on 40 m

1. VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1162
2. VK3PMG Mick
3. VK3GGG Mick
4. VK3ARH Allen
5. VK4RF Rick
6. VK4HA Rick
7. VK3GRK Graeme SOTA VK3/VN-016
8. VK5FANA Adrian
9. VK7LTD Tony
10. VK2LDN Glenn
11. VK3FADM Wayne
12. VK3ANL Nick
13. VK3PF Peter
14. VK5KLV Les
15. VK2QR/p Rob on VK2/SW-043
16. VK2UH Andrew
17. VK5HCF Col

On  2 m FM

18. VK1VIC/P Tony on SOTA VK1/AC-037 VKFF-0854

on 40 m

29. VK2FSAV Brett
20. VK2DIO/1 Rob

on 20 m

21. VK2JNG/8 Gerard

Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991

After activating Jerrabomberra Wetlands and lunch in Kingston set off for my final park activation for the VKFF Parks Activation weekend, Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve VKFF-0991.

This park is located to the North of Queanbeyan, close to the ACT border, a popular picnic and swimming spot.

Drove down Pialligo Ave, turned left into Sutton Road and turned right into Kowen Road, and the sign to the park.

Another right up the hill and entered the park. For a change you can drive right into this park, no walking required :)

The road ends at a car park and picnic area, and the start of the walk through the gorge,

At the start of the walk were a couple of picnic tables. I used one for the shack. There was a tree branch above the table so the squid pole was not at full height, around 6 m.

The table wasn't quite the right shape for lashing the squid pole to, so improvised, using my pack as a spacer to support the pole at the base and make it roughly vertical.

Radio shack on the table.

Go on 40 m, started with a park to park contact with Gerard VK2IO/P in VKFF-0092. Went on to work 9 more parks in VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5, also a SOTA contact with Andrew VK1DA/2 on VK2/ST-042 Mt Bowning. Conditions not great, lots of QSB, managed 24 contacts before packing up for the day, got too warm.

A look at a sign at the start of the walk. This park needs new signs...