SOTA Activation Mt Tennent

Mt Tennent, VK1/AC-025 is a tough mountain to climb, involving a 7 Km walk with around a 700 m climb, starting around 600 m and rising to almost 1400 m...

Went up the usual walking track from the Namadgi Visitors Centre. The walking group I am in had a walk scheduled, so had some company on the ascent. As I would be a while with SOTA advised them would make my own way down.

Left the Namadgi visitors centre around 8:30 am, climbed up seemingly endless rocky steps to the ridge, then along the ridge before the final assault on the Mt Tennent Fire Trail

I set up the squid pole on a small wattle sapling just down from the summit, off the path as I know this can get very busy with walkers. One dipole leg tied to the communications tower fence

The other leg running up to some vegetation just off the path to the fire tower

Set up the SOTA shack on some rocks

Got on 40 m. As both the ILLW and RD contest were on, the band was packed with signals. Started with a S2S with Justin VK2CU on VK2/CT-004. Justin kindly offered to let me have the frequency after he finished, which was good as there were hardly any clear spots on the band. Once spotted got a good pileup going with the usual chasers. Also had a lighthouse call me, VK2BOR from  Point Tacking Lighthouse near Port Macquarie. Later Rod VK2TWR and Rob VK2QR came up for another S2S from VK2/SM-029 Alpine Hill, operating in the snow. I left them with the frequency and packed up around noon, as the wind had picked up and was getting cold, and there was rain forecast for later. Got back down in about 1.5 hours. Made 24 contacts all up.

SOTA Activation Mt Tennent VK1/AC-025

Mt Tennent lies to the South of Canberra just near the village of Tharwa, and is around 1380m high, so had a bit of a climb ahead of me from around 650m.

Parked at Namadgi Visitors Centre at 8:30am. There was an early morning fog hiding the summit.

The track starts behind the sign. Note you can walk all the way from here to Walhalla in Victoria via the Australian Alps Walking track, around 650km. Went for the shorter walk up Mt Tennent instead...

The track crosses the Naas Rd, then the walk starts. There is a bushwalking register to sign. The track initially crosses old farm land then becomes more rocky with lots of steps.

After about 30 minutes got an SMS from Andrew, VK1NAM advising he was setting up at the summit of Mt Yarara, VK1/AC-030. After another 5 minutes reached a lookout called Cypress Pine. Managed a weak contact with Andrew on the hand held here.

Continued on up with many steps and switchbacks in the track. After 5km reached the junction of the track running to Booroombra Rocks and a fire trail heading for Mt Tennent, 2.5Km away.

The walking got a lot easier for a while.

This track then joins the main road running up to the fire tower, steep but not too bad. After 2 1/2 hours of walking reached the fire tower on top. It's locked.

Views from the top were very good. Looking South East, the Tinderries on the horizon.

Looking West. Note several distant peaks covered in snow, Mt Bimberi on the left and Mt Gingera, Mt Ginini I believe. The rocky peak may be Mt McKeahnie.

Set up the squid pole just below the fire tower, using occy straps on a stump of a wattle tree. Ran the 2 legs of the 40m dipole out to a couple of small saplings.

Set up the FT817 on the nearby rocks. Nice in the sun, not much wind and around 16c.

Got on 40m at 11:30am and got the usual bunch of chasers. Got an S2S with Glenn, VK3YY on VK3/VC-008, Hyde Hill. Managed to contact Andrew VK1NAM on 2m FM on VK1/AC-029, so told Glenn to hang around while Al VK1RX set up on 40m. He got the contact made later. Peter, VK3PF came up later on VK3/VT-037. then Allen VK3HRA on VK3/VU-002. Then we all waited for Tony, VK3CAT to come up on VK3/VC-001 for another S2S.

After this packed up, having made 24 contacts, including some nice hand held to hand held contacts with some Canberra stations. Headed back the same way. 

Track log of the walk. A 15km total walk with about an 800m height gain...