WWFF Activation Mount Painter Nature Reserve VKFF-0853

As had time off work decided to activate a local WWFF park. I picked Mount Painter VKFF-0853 as it is only a few minutes drive from home, and only needed another 8 contacts to complete the 44 needed for WWFF.

As per previous activations parked off Coulter Drive in Cook and walked up the hill into the park.

Some good views over Belconnen to the North.

Reached the saddle before Mount Painter itself. Didn't climb it today as a bit warm.

As per other activations used a seat at the saddle for squid pole, radio and operator support. Black Mountain and Telstra Tower behind.

Shack on the seat. Set my FT-857D to about 30 W output.

Got on 40 m and spotted myself on ParksnPeaks. Appeared to be the only park activator on. Usual park hunters called.

VK3SQ Geoff
VK2JDR David
VK2EXA Greg
VK2IO Gerard
VK2NP Cliff
VK3ZPF Peter
VK2GKA Karl

Tried 20 m. Worked

VK4TJ John
VK3ZPF Peter
VK4RF/VK4HA Rick
VK5PAS Paul
VK3GGG/VK3PMG Mick

Saw a spot for VK2YK/p Adam in VKFF-1399 Worimi State Conservation Area on 40 m, so returned there to get him for a park to park contact.

Stayed on 40 m and worked the following hunters

VK2PKT Keith
VK2HHA Dennis
VK2YW John
VK4SYD Rob
VK2IFT John
VK3UH Ken

As getting close to lunch time, warming up, and had more than enough contacts, packed up and headed home for lunch.

WWFF Mount Painter Nature Reserve VKFF-0853

After my SOTA activation of Mount McDonald in the morning returned home for lunch, and as as still a nice sunny day decided to activate a nearby WWFF park, Mount Painter Nature Reserve, VKFF-0853.

Parked off Coulter Drive in Cook and walked up the access track, past the horse paddocks. Entered the park.

Some good views along the track over Belconnen to the North. Tall buildings are residential apartments around Belconnen town centre. One Tree Hill, a SOTA summit on the left.

Climbed up to the water tank near the summit.

Once past the tank the track continues to the summit. Trig can be seen. I didn't go to the summit as not a good spot for radio, lots of joggers, walkers with dogs coming and going all the time.

There was a seat nearby suitable for radio. Black Mountain, a SOTA summit and also a WWFF park with its tower in the background.

Set up the squid pole on the seat. It was very windy, the squid pole threatened to topple but kept up.

Shack on the seat. With the wind I ended up holding onto it most of the time while operating...

Got on 40m. Worked Paul, VK5PAS/p first for a Park to Park contact, he was in VKFF-1688 Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. A first activation for this park. A good S7, although a lot of static in the background from a storm somewhere.

Found a clear frequency and spotted myself on ParksnPeaks website. A steady stream of park hunters.

VK5FANA Adrian
VK7DW, Andrew
VK2GPT/VK2LDN, Glenn
VK3PF, Peter
VK2IO, Gerard
VK7FRJG, Rod
VK3ZPF, Peter
VK3FPSR, Peter
VK5MAS, Andrew
VK5FTCT, John.

Tried 20m. Even though I could hear European signals coming in on the long path had no luck working anyone, a call from RA3PCI but he didn't reply back. To be expected as only using 5w...

I did make a contact with VK2LX, Grant in Bungendore though, a good S8.

Around 5 pm the wind seemed to be getting even stronger, so packed up. 13 contacts, so need to revisit this park sometime for the 44 needed for a WWFF point.

Mount Painter Nature Reserve VKFF-0853

After returning home for lunch from my Gossan Hill Reserve activation decided to do another newly added WWFF park nearby, Mount Painter Reserve VKFF-853

Mount Painter is close to the Canberra suburb of Cook. There is a dirt road off Coulter Drive, took this and parked. Popular place with horse owners.

Walked up the road to a locked gate and access point for walkers and horses. Noticed a new sign on the gate.

A closer look at the sign revealed the park would be closed from 5 pm to 7 am daily to the public, until 31/7/2015, due to "Firearms in Use".

I knew what this was for, the ACT Government is currently doing a Kangaroo cull to reduce the numbers, there are too many and they are bringing in shooters. Looks like my activation will end at 5 pm to avoid getting shot...

Headed up the hill. Entered the Mount Painter Nature Reserve

After a steep climb up reached a turnoff past water reservoirs to the summit

The track climbs up to a saddle, then a small hill and the final run to the top. Sign describing the re-vegetation of the hill by Friends of Mount Painter group.

Reached the top. Usual square trig point. Terrific views. Looking South

Looking to the South East, Black Mountain and tower, Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra City visible

View to the West. Good sign describing the mountains in the distance. Mount MacDonald and Mount Coree are SOTA summits.

The summit area was fairly exposed, and popular...like Mount Taylor, lots of joggers, dog walkers and fitness fanatics coming and going. Not really suitable to operate from. without the public getting tangled in antennas... As this is a park activation, not SOTA, no need to operate from here, just need to be in the park, so walked down to the saddle where there was a wooden seat suitable for a radio shack. Strapped the squid pole to the seat and laid out the 20/40 m linked dipole.

Radio shack on the seat

Got on 40 m. Signals quite good, strong from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5. Made Park to Park contacts with VK3MTB/P Tim in VKFF-745, and VK3FQSO/P Amanda in VKFF-759.

Changed the links to 20 m. Headed for 14.310 Mhz where I usually operate, to find it already in use, a huge pileup of EU stations after OT4V/P Danny on ONFF-297...

I joined the pileup. With my puny 5 w FT817 took several calls, being drowned out by high powered EU chasers, but eventually Danny heard me! He was peaking S5 and quite readable once the callers stopped. After working him Albert S58AL called me and asked me to go up 5, worked him with a good S7 report. After working Albert Franz ON5SWA called me coming in at S8.

As almost 5 pm and the sun setting, getting cold, and didn't want to get shot...packed up and headed home.

Track log of walk. Only logged from where I operated. It's about a Km to the summit from the parking spot.