SOTA One Tree Hill VK1/AC-035

WIth a day off work decided to do another local summit in the afternoon. One Tree Hill is near the village of Hall, an easy 15 minutes drive from home. Parked near the start of the walk, part of the Canberra Centenary Trail

After a short walk hopped through a gap in a gate and continued

One Tree Hill in the distance, the hill rising over the top of the 3rd hill on the right

A bit of a slog, around 4 Km. Good views on the way over Canberra

Took a track on the left up to the summit

The track climbs steeply, following the ridge through woodland. NSW border on the right.

Reached the top, trig, fire tower and lookout platform

Set the squid pole up on the wooden post

Looking the other direction towards Canberra

Set up the SOTA shack on the seat

Got on 40 m. Quite a few calls considering an afternoon on a week day. Signals quite strong from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5. Saw a spot for Andrew VK1NAM/p on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo on 10 m, so called him there, very strong S 9 +. Put a few calls out on 10 m, very faintly got a reply, might have been VK6NU but too weak to work. Went to 20 m.

On 20 m worked Paul, VK5PAS with a booming S 9 + signal. While chatting to Paul we noticed a spot for Mike, 2E0YYY/p on 14.333 Mhz on G/WB-004, so went up to work him. Got through, he was a nice S7, he gave me an S2, not bad for 5 w over 17,000 Km!

Called on 20 m, worked John VK6NU, still fairly weak, then Franz ON5SWA. Sounded like Europe starting to come in well, however the sun was setting and it was getting cold! Still had a 4 Km walk back. Packed up and made it back to the car before the last of the light went.

SOTA VK1/AC-035 One Tree Hill

Noticed on SOTAwatch alerts Al VK1RX was planning on activating Mt Gingera, VK1/AC-002, a 10 pointer. So made the quick descision to chase him from nearby One Tree Hill, VK1/AC-035.

When I activated it last year with Andrew, VK1DA it was via private property, but this time I was able to go via the Canberra Centenary Trail. Was eager to try it out.

Drove to Hall to the start of the track, at the corner of Hall St and Hoskins St.

The track goes up to the town water supply, then right up via a side track to a gate with a gap for walkers. Bit tricky with a pack and squid pole but made it through...

The track then continues around the side of the hill, in an access corridor fenced off to keep stock off the track and walkers off the property.

We have had a lot of rain lately, was pleased to see some raised boardwalks to avoid some of the mud.

Had a few close encounters with mountain bike riders, they zoom along here and the track is not wide. After about 40 minutes got to a track junction, a narrow track running up hill to the summit

This is where it got steep...still was only a few hundred metres from here to the top. A narrow rocky track following the fenceline, which is also the ACT/NSW border. View on the way up.

After 50 minutes walking reached the summit. Centenary sign platform, fire tower and trig.

The Centenary sign platform made for a good operating spot. Used the wooden post for the squid pole and set up the radio on the nearby bench.

While setting up discovered I had left behind the wound up wires for my 40 m dipole!...Had taken them out of my pack before doing Isaacs Ridge as not needing them and forgot to replace them...so set up the 20 m dipole only.

Shack on the seat.

A new SOTA accessory, a cheap souvenir fridge magnet I got with an inbuilt thermometer, Nice comfy 23 c but a strong wind blowing making it feel cooler.

Got on 40 m, made a very quick S2S with Al VK1RX on Mt Gingera, VK1/AC-002 as this was on a 20m dipole! then moved to 20 m. A pity as there were many other activations on 40 m, just not able to work them!

Worked VK1MA and VK1MT Matts on 2 m FM before trying 20 m.

On 20 m worked several local VK1s, plus Mike VK6MB and Greg VK8GM both with strong signals.Also another S2S with Al VK1RX on 20 m, good strong signal.

So despite the missing 40 m antenna qualified the summit with 10 contacts, plus 21 more S2S points taking me to 999 S2S points. And got to try the new Centenary trail.

Track log of walk. 4.2 Km each way with about a 200 m climb.

SOTA Activation One Tree Hill VK1/AC-035

Andrew VK1NAM had organized a 6 month celebration of VK1 SOTA with several summit activations around VK1, so decided to join the party with a joint activation with Andrew VK1DA of One Tree Hill Vk1/AC-035, a new peak for me.

One Tree Hill lies on the ACT/NSW border at the Northern End of the ACT, just near the village of Hall. It is accessed through private farm property. Met up with Andrew VK1DA at the farm gate, after a call to the farmer by Andrew we were clear to go.

Climbing up the road towards the summit. Foggy below but nice and sunny on the way to the peak.

Looking behind you can see the fog between us and the Brindabellas.

My shadow on the left (with my squid pole) and Andrew's on the right.

After about a 45 minute walk, a bit over 3 Km, reached the top. There is a fire tower, with locked ladder access, and a trig point behind it, but on the wrong side of a barbed wire fence to use.

So dropped down the hill a bit and used the fence posts for our antenna supports. My squid pole with 40m dipole closest, with Andrew VK1DA operating, Andrew's squid pole with a 20m vertical behind it.

Looking South from one leg of the dipole to Canberra. New Gungahlin suburb of Bonner below.

Set up the radio on top of my lunch box. First tried 40m, worked Peter VK3YE pedestrian mobile on the beach in Melbourne with a good signal, always good to hear Peter QRP pedestrian.

Then got the usual frantic pileup of chasers before UTC changeover, 19 contacts. Another 36 more afterwards. Made several S2S contacts, some on the 2M HT with VK2LC/1, VK1MDC, VK1IRC, VK1RX, VK1DR, VK2JI/1, VK1MA, VK1NAM. Interstate S2S with VK5PAS/VK5CZ, VK3MRG, VK5EE.

Later on added the 12m dipole in below the 40m one. Tuned up okay but nothing heard :( Tried a few calls with no luck. Think Andrew didn't have much luck on 20m CW either...Higher HF bands seemed dead. He tried a 6m SSB contact too with VK1NAM, no joy.

Waited until midday for Allen VK3HRA to activate, but not heard until we had packed up and were on the way down.

GPS track log of walk

Headed off to Kingston afterwards, met up with the other activators for a late lunch at an outdoor cafe An enjoyable day playing SOTA and catching up with fellow activators.