SOTA Attempted activation of Mt Palerang VK2-ST-009 and activation of South Black Range VK2/ST-006

SOTA summit Mt Palerang VK2/ST-009 had not been activated since 2017, before the 2019/2020 bushfires, so decided to take a look and see what happened to it.

Drove to Queanbeyan, then Captains Flat Rd, turning off for Hoskinstown and Forbes Creek. Continued along the Mulloon Fire Trail until reaching Mulloon Creek.

There was a fair amount of water flowing so got out to take a look. It looked quite deep on the right so crossed staying well to the left, got over okay.

Stopped at the Mulloon Creek camping area on the other side. It looked good for camping. Note you need to book if you want to camp now.

Continued on the Mulloon Fire trail. Seemed a lot rougher than last time I drove it, with a few washed out spots to take slowly. Reached the 4 way junction with Palerang Fire trail and parked.

The track on the right was not obvious, lots of damage and regrowth, so just headed into the scrub roughly where I remembered it was.

I did find remnants of the track, now much overgrown. Lots of small gum saplings covering the ground.

Climbed up the first steep incline. The gum tree saplings were quite thick and tall now... Guess from all the rain we have had lately. Thinned out a bit when getting to the rocky outcrops. The track came and went.

After about an hour I could see had only got about half way up, and could see rain approaching. Decided not the best day to attempt it and aborted, turning back. Track log taken from my Garmin watch on Garmin Connect. I made it to about 1100m, still had over 100m of steep climbing and bush bashing to go to the summit at 1200m.

To make the drive out worth it, drove back along the Mulloon Firetrail and turned off to activate South Black Range summit, VK2/ST-006. Luckily the weather was a bit drier there. Set up near the big rock with the trig on top

Shack on a rock near a stump supporting the squid pole

Got on 40m and worked VK2IO/p Gerard on VK2/SY-001 Canoelands, also VKFF-0307 with a good signal. Then worked VK1AD/p Andrew on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge with a good signal too.

Then worked VK1MA Matt, quite low down. Switched to 2m FM and worked Matt easily... Also worked VK1MCW/p Bill on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo, and VK1AD/p Andrew on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge again.

Tried a few more calls on 40m with no takers, band seemed to have died. Packed up and headed home. 

SOTA Mt Palerang VK2/ST-009

After activating SOTA summit South Black Range VK2/ST-006, drove on Forbes Creek Road which becomes Mulloon Fire Trail. Managed to cross the ford at Mulloon Creek okay, the water wasn't too high. As per other activations of Mt Palerang parked at the junction of Mulloon Fire Trail and Palerang Fire Trail.

After a few minutes walking on the fire trail turned off onto the track on the right up to the summit.

This track is steep, especially just after leaving the road, and a bit treacherous with loose rocks underfoot. Followed the track until it headed off to the right, then bush bashed straight up to the summit, following the rocky ridge.

After about 50 minutes of walking reached the summit trig.

Climbed up onto the rocky platform on top.

The trig vanes serve as an unofficial log of walkers who have visited. One of the local SOTA activators had left his mark :) Hi Rob!

Around the back some more amateur radio graffiti...

Set up the squid pole on the trig, shack on the rocky platform base.

Got on 40 m. A large pileup of strong signals from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7. An S2S with Andrew VK1MBE/p on VK1/AC-021 Pheasant Hill. He had deep snow there and it was slow going...Also another S2S with David VK3MAY/p on VK3/VC-014 Mt Disappointment.

After 40 m died down tried swapping to my 6/10 m linked dipole, however the plastic sistema box I use for the dipole centre fell apart, having cracks in it from falls in the past, so the activation was ended...Still had 26 contacts in the log for 40 m so happy to pack up and head home.

Took about 40 minutes to get back down.

SOTA Activation Mt Palerang

As per last year's activation of Mt Palerang VK2/ST-009 drove via Queanbeyan, Captains Flat Road, Hoskinstown, Forbes Creek and the Mulloon Fires Trail. I was a little worried the crossing over Mulloon Creek would be tricky after some rain, however water levels made for an easy crossing.

Parked at the same place, the intersection of Mulloon and Palerang Fire Trails. The area had been burnt, probably on purpose for a fire break. A sign warning about logging trucks and using CB CH 36.

Walked 50 m along Palerang Fire Trail to the track heading up to Mt Palerang on the right.

The track at first gets very steep...Luckily this doesn't last the whole way and it flattens out.

The track heads straight up, then swings to the right. Last time I left it here and went straight up through the bush. As curious to see where the track went continued to the right and across the side of the mountain.

It took me to within about 100 m of the summit, then descended. At this stage I just bush bashed up to the top. This turned out to be a bad route, as the scrub on the Western side of Mt Palerang is quite thick with lots of boulders to clamber over...luckily only short, and reached the top ridge close to the summit cairn.

Last time I activated here the wind was howling on the very top, but not so today so set up the squid pole on the trig. The cairn is quite large and had plenty of room on the top to set up the SOTA shack.

Ran one leg of the 40/20 m linked dipole out to a tree. Mt Lowden in the background,

The other end back to a small bush off the track along the ridge.

Got on 40 m at 0030 z, working Andrew VK1MBE/p on Mt Ainslie, VK1/AC-040. Then the usual bunch of chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5. Another S2S with Mark VK1EM/2 and Andrew VK2FAJG/P, strong on nearby South Black Range, VK2/ST-006. Also another contact with Peter, VK3YE pedestrian mobile wading through the water on the beach in Melbourne, with a good signal. After the 40 m chasers dried up switched the dipole links to 20 m and worked the 2 regular VK6 chasers, VK6MB Mike and VK6NU John. Signals were not the best on 20 m with QSB.

Packed up after 29 contacts and headed back down. The trip back was fairly easy, followed the ridge, then using the GPS headed for the closest point to the track, with only about 80 m of easy scrub. Got back down in less than a half hour. Continued along the Mulloon Fire Trail to Braidwood, and lunch at the pie shop.

SOTA Activation Mt Palerang VK2/ST-009

As part of the VK2 SOTA activity day I chose to activate a nearby summit, VK/ST-009 as I have walked up it before and know what to expect.

Mt Palerang is a lopsided mountain peak visible on the road to Braidwood on the Kings Highway, if fact the council for the Braidwood area is called Palerang Council and have a symbol of the mountain as their logo.

I drove out to Forbes Creek as per my activation of South Black Range and instead of turning off onto the North Black Range fire trail, kept going on the Mulloon Fire trail. This is not too bad for driving on, there is a ford over the Mulloon Creek which can flood, no problem crossing today.

The road eventually comes to a 4 way intersection which is where I parked.

Mulloon Road continues on to Braidwood. On the left is Gourock Range Trail

Palerang Trail is on the right. Walked down this road

About 50m along this road was a foot track on the right, heading up the ridge, took this track.

The track climbs steeply up the side of Mt Palerang.

About half way up the track runs out, however the way up is obvious, walk up the rocky ridge line.

After around 45 minutes, having climbed 250m over about a Km, reached the rocky summit trig.

Climbed on top, could possibly have used the trig pole for a support, however there was not much room on the other side for a dipole leg, and the wind was howling...

Looking South to Mt Lowden, VK2/ST-002 where Andrews VK1DA/1NAM were operating.

I went a bit to the North of the trig and used a stump for supporting the squid pole, finding a spot at the base out of the howling wind. Ran 1 leg of the dipole to a tree branch.

The other leg attached to the top of the trig.

The squid pole flopped about in the wind a bit but stayed up.

Got on 40m. Started with a S2S with Jack, VK2AXL on VK2/MN-056. Then the usual pileup of chasers...Some more S2S with VK1DA/1NAM on nearby Mt Lowden, Al VK1RX/2 on nearby Mt Budawang, VK1FB on VK1/AC-002 Mt Gingera, who I also worked on 2m FM, John VK2YW on VK2/RI-031, Wheel Of Fortune. Made a few contacts back into Canberra on the 2m Hand Held.

Worked 23 chasers before UTC changeover. Another 21 more contacts after UTC, however the band appeared to die with at first weak signals then none at all...gave it away around 11:30am and packed up.

On the way home stopped at a picnic area near the Mulloon Creek Ford for lunch, nice spot.

Track log of walk.