SOTA Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034

When Andrew VK1AD and Andrew VK1DA announced they were going to activate Big Badja Hill VK2/SM-059, and Bald Mountain VK2/SM-052, thought I would try for an S2S from a close by mountain, Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034. This is located near Braidwood and should have a clear line of sight to these 2 mountains to the South.

The drive to Braidwood was uneventful, although did get some spots of rain on the way, so knew could be a damp activation. Approached Mt Gillamatong along Gillamatong Lane.

At the end of Gillamatong Lane a small car park with an unlocked gate.

Up the hill, then headed to the right and up. Walked through the long grass, getting fairly wet feet... 

At the top a small foot gate

Went to the left after the gate for a while, finding a hole in a fallen down fence and then headed up the mountain through the scrub. Lots of thistles... managed to avoid the worst by following the rocks.

Reached the top. Guess should have expected it on a work day, there were a couple of workers near the trig, cutting and clearing away tree branches, probably for improving radio reception up there. I didnt want to get in their way, so set up in the bush just behind one of the compounds. Still well within the activation zone, almost at the same altitude as the trig anyway. Set up just the 2m Jpole on the squid pole.

Shack on the tarp. Running 40w on 2m SSB.

Got on 2m SSB just before UTC rollover at 10:45am. Surprisingly heard Compton VK2HRX/p on VK2/IL-003, Mt Wanganderry. This is around 135 km away to the North... Not real strong but easy copy. Also worked Matt VK1MA.

After rollover worked lots of activators and chasers

VK1MBE Andrew on VK2/ST-001 Mt Cowangerong. Real strong, S9+, although expected as only about 30 Km away to the South.

VK2HRX again post rollover on VK2/IL-003, Mt Wanganderry

VK1MIC, VK1MA

VK1RX/p Al on Mt Stromlo, VK1/AC-043 70 Km away. Quite strong.

VK1AD/2 Andrew on VK2/SM-059 Big Badja Hill, Good S9, about 65 Km to the South

VK2DO Chris operating a remote station down at Batemans Bay, around 45 Km away

VK1DA/2 Andrew on VK2/SM-052 Bald Mountain, about 55 Km to the South. A huge 59+ signal.

It looked like the rain was headed my way, so packed up and headed down the hill to Braidwood for lunch at the bakery.

  

SOTA Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034

After activating Mt Budawang VK2/ST-015, drove back to Braidwood then on to Mt Gillamatong, VK2/ST-034. See my earlier activation reports for access.

Climbing up the side of the mountain. It is a lot steeper than it looks, tough going...

After around half an hour reached the trig at the top

Set up the squid pole on the trig, dipole legs out to nearby trees and bushes

Shack on the base of the trig

Got on 40 m. There was an activation by Allen VK3HRA but was unable to hear him, other chasers also had problems copying him. Usual chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7. Did make an S2S with Nick VK2AOH/P on VK2/CT-044.

After chasers dried up on 40 m put up my 10/6 m linked dipole and got on 10 m. Having worked sporadic e on 10 m earlier on Mt Budawang I had a listen for 10 m beacons, sure enough the Adelaide beacon VK5WI was a good S8 on 28.259 Mhz. It proved useful as I could rotate the dipole a little using different supports (bushes and trees) and get a better signal.

Made a weak contact with Andrew VK1AD first, heard Matt VK1MA calling but he was unable to hear me due to local noise. Then Paul VK5PAS came up and blew me away with an S9+ signal!

Went on to work Adrian VK5FANA with a fair signal and Nev VK5WG with a good S7 signal. No more answers to my calls, so packed up and headed home.

SOTA Activation Mt Gillamatong

After activating Mt Palerang and driving to Braidwood for lunch, continued on to nearby Mt Gillamatong, VK2/ST-034, via Gillamatong Lane.

Parked at the end and went through the gate for pedestrians.

Went to the left, then up the hill to another pedestrian gate into the scrub.

The scrub on Mt Gillamatong is fairly light and easy to walk through, but it is still a steep climb...

Reached the summit trig

Set up the SOTA shack on the trig platform.

I had problems here when the squid pole collapsed, the section that had cracked while activating the Rock Hill  now wouldn't slide, so could only raise it to about 5 m...Anyway was high enough to get out.

Got on 40m, started well with a 59 report from VK2AET Scott up in Grafton. Conditions on 40 m were very strange, lots of QSB with close by stations in VK1 barely able to copy me then coming up to S9 and down again...Stations further away like VK5 and central VK2 steady and strong.

Tried 20 m but no contacts, even after self spotting. Andrew VK1NAM wanted to try a 2 m SSB contact, attached the 2 m whip to the FT817 and held it up high above the trig, but heard nothing. Probably too many mountains in the way. Packed up after 22 contacts and headed back down. Due to the jammed squid pole meant carrying a 2m long squid pole back to the car...Will need to get a replacement.

SOTA Activation Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034

After activating Mt Budawang drove back to Braidwood and stopped at a Cafe for a coffee. Decided to check out a nearby summit, Mt Gillamatong, only a couple of Km out of town. Drove up Gillamatong Lane, this took me directly towards the summit.

At the end of Gillamatong Lane found a parking area with an open gate. This took me into a lane between fences, at the back of a property.

Headed to the left, then up another path to another open access gate. Beyond this scrub.

After this just scrub bashing. Not too thick, but quite steep and rocky in places. The hill was steeper and bigger than it looked... After several minutes reached the top. The poor trig point had been beheaded :( vanes on the ground nearby.

Set up the radio at the base of the trig, and strapped the squid pole to the trig.

Ran the 40m dipole legs out to nearby rocks and trees. Some nearby masts, but no interference.

Got on 40m. Quite a lot of QRM from some RTTY contest, plus storm static crashes. Started with a S2S with Brian, VK3MCD on VK3/VC-030 Flinders Peak, who had just worked Allen, VK3HRA on VK3/VC-025 Mt Dandenong. Tried to call Allen but he had gone. Moved up to 7.095 and started a pileup, with Peter, VK3PF spotting me. Later Allen VK3HRA called me, he had seen my spot and had set up again to work me, thanks Allen.

Also worked Paul, VK3PAS portable in Mylor Conservation Park.  Total of 24 contacts on 40m. Packed up and headed down before the sun set.

View heading down into town.

Track log of walk