SOTA Mt Rob Roy VK1/AC-031

I  hadn't activated Mt Rob Roy VK1/AC-031 since it also became a WWFF park, VKFF-0861, so decided to revisit it.

As per other activations parked in a side lane off Orange Thorn Crescent in Banks and started the very steep climb at the start of the walk. It did eventually level off. Reached the gate for the section of farmland you need to cross to get to the park. The park gate was open so left it that way, found it shut on returning.

Reached the turnoff to Rob Roy Link track, taking this up the hill.

 Climbed over the gate to enter Rob Roy Canberra Nature Park, WWFF park number VKFF-0861

The link track joined up to Rob Roy Eco Track.

After around 4 Km the track reached the highest point and started descending, here on the left a rough track to the summit. Note the rock pile marker here started by Andrew VK1AD.

Reached the summit trig, or what was left of it...There used to be a wooden trig pole here supported in a metal tripod, only the tripod remained...

This used to be a squid pole support...Headed back down the hill, finding a suitable tree stump for the squid pole not too far away from the summit.

A large flat rock nearby provided a spot to operate from.

Got on 40m. Started with an S2S with Al VK1RX/2 on VK2/ST-015 Mt Budawang. Then another 2 more S2S contacts, with Phil VK2HPN/1 on nearby VK1/AC-041 Isaacs Ridge, and Andrew VK1AD/2 on VK2/ST-044 Bobbara Mountain near Yass.

A bit later worked another S2S with Mitch VK3XDM/P on VK3/VC-007 Mt Macedon.

Usual chasers chased me once finding a spot and getting spotted. Signals from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5. Rick VK4RF/VK4HA called me 3 times before getting through, lots of QSB.

A park to park contact too. Rob VK4AAC/3 in VKFF-0959 Baranduda Regional Park.

Nev VK5WG called me, he was very weak and couldn't copy me well enough for a contact, he was barely S1 with me. So switched to 20 m

On 20 m he was a good S8, I was S7, so worth changing bands. Also got Mike VK6MB with a fair signal.

After 29 contacts the bands seemed to have died out, so packed up. Had a look near the summit for the trig pole, eventually found it in the bushes down the side of the hill, and dragged it back to the top, leaving it under the tripod.

I could see no way the wind could have moved it to where I found it, can only think someone decided to lift it out of the tripod support as some odd challenge? I had a go at inserting it back in the tripod from below, but not enough clearance to do so. Lifting it up unable to lift the end high enough to get it in. Hopefully can be fixed as probably an historic trig, an unusual design.

Headed back down for lunch.

SOTA Mt Rob Roy VK1/AC-031

I first activated Mt Rob Roy in May last year. This is a good time of year to activate it, as it is a steep climb at first with no tree cover in the summer and at 1100m not quite high enough to attract winter bonus points.

Parked on a side road off Orange Thorn Crescent in Banks and started walking up the steep road.

This first part of the walk is on private property but the owner allows foot traffic okay.

Came to a property gate, found it open. As per usual convention on properties left it open. I found it closed on my return

Followed the road up to a junction, turned off onto the Rob Roy link track. Mt Rob Roy behind the sign.

This takes you to a gate and into Rob Roy Nature Park

The road climbs up still more and joins the Rob Roy Eco Track

Followed the track up to a high point, then took a side route in the scrub up to the summit. Note the rocky marker cairn started by Andrew, VK1NAM. Added a few more rocks to the pile.

A short, easy scramble up to the summit. This trig is unusual, wooden with a metal collar and side struts. Most ACT trigs are all metal. Used the trig for squid pole support and hoisted up the 40/20m linked dipole.

Started on 2m FM on the hand held before UTC changeover working Andrew, VK1NAM on VK1/AC-040 and Andrew VK1DA close by on VK1/AC-033 Bullen Range. Also Matt VK1MA with a strong signal.

Got on 40m, worked VK2QW on VK2/HU-054. Briefly switched dipoles to 12/30m linked dipole to work Andrew VK1DA on 12m along with Matt VK1MA. Both very strong.

Returned to 40m, started a pile up...Many chasers from VK2/VK3 and VK5 with good signals. Another S2S with Julie, VK3FOWL on VK3/VC-030, Flinders Peak.

Returned to my 12/30m linked dipole to try my luck on 30m. Worked Matt VK1MA and Gerard VK2IO but otherwise very quiet.

Heard Peter VK3YE pedestrian mobile calling from Chelsea beach, wading through the water using a squid pole FT817 in a backpack ground wire in the water setup. Always interesting to work Peter trying these pedestrian portable contacts. Check out his YouTube videos. He was initially a very weak 4x1, but then the band changed and he came up to a strongt 5x8 signal!

My station at the base of the trig. The 4AH LifePO4 battery worked well. Stayed around 13.14v most of the time, and had heaps of charge left.

Headed back down for lunch. Southern suburbs of Canberra below

Track log of walk

SOTA Activation Mt Rob Roy 1099m

Mt Rob Roy is a 4.5Km, 400m climb walk from the edge of the Southern Canberra suburb of Banks. Parked off Orange Thorn Cres and started walking up the fire trail, steep track, it even said so...

After a vigorous climb leveled off a bit. Some good views, although an icy wind was blowing. Was glad to get some shelter from it later on.

The road continued to the left of Big Monks Trig, which I left for the return trip.

Left the track for Rob Roy Link track, more climbing...

Crossed a gate into Rob Roy Reserve, now more wooded walking

From here the road follows a ridge line. Got a bit easier as not climbing so much...

Around 150m from the summit the road dips down again, so needed to head cross country. Bush was fairly easy going though. Got to the summit after a bit over an hour of walking. Unlike the usual metal Trigs in the ACT, this was wooden, very unusual...

GPS showed altitude at just over 1100m.

Set up the FT817ND on a rock and used the Trig for the squid pole support.

Got set up by 9:30am. 40m was going well. Worked S2S with VK1NAM/P on VK1/AC-027 near Honeysuckle Creek, VK1FB/P Glen on Mt Majura and Al VK1RX/P on Mt Pheasant. Plus quite a few local VK1s on 2m FM. Heaps of VK1/VK2 and VK3 chasers, plus Paul VK5PAS. All up 34 contacts on both bands.

Strangely it got colder later on in the morning, must have been cold air rising from the valley below. I could see my breath...Then warmed up again? Packed up about 11:30am and headed down.

On the way back popped out to Big Monks, or Fields Trig for lunch and the view. Spectacular.

Track log of my walk. Some deviations taking in the views on the way back.