Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-0986

With a nice warm sunny day decided to activate a WWFF park. Chose to return to Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-0986, a couple of years since last activated so should be popular with hunters.

As per other activations drove parked off the Brindabella Rd, near the start of the walk up to Mt McDonald. Gate and sign for the park.

Found a bit of shade and strapped the squid pole to a small gum tree. Table and radio nearby.

Checked the SWR, good, low across the 40m band.

Radio on the table. As on my 40aH power pack ran the FT857D at 40w.

Spotted and called on 7.138. A steady stream of callers, being a weekday not that busy.

VK1RF, VK3NDG/VK3FACD, VK2MES, VK4TJ, VK2YPU, VK3TKK, VK7QP.

A park to park with VK3PF Peter in POTA park VK-5424 Omeo Bushland Natural Features Reserve

VK1AO, VK2LEE, VK1ADW, VK1XP.

After 40m went quiet moved up to 20m.

On 14.244 found VK3AWA Daryl in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park. Worked him, not strong but good enough to copy okay. Only around 300Km away and normally in my skip zone on 20m.

Spotted and called, another Park contact with VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0619 Alpine National Park. Like Daryl weak but usually in my skip zone, about 200 Km away.

A weak contact with KG5CIK Steve in Texas, a regular caller for VKFF activations.

Another weak contact with IK4IDF, Raf in Banacavalo Italy.

No more callers, packed up and had afternoon tea at the nearby Cotter river picnic ground.

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997

With nice weather on Saturday afternoon decided to activate a WWFF park. Returned to finish off Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-1997. Last time logged 22 contacts so needed to complete the 44 needed for WWFF.

Access was per last time, head to Queanbeyan, then the Kings Hwy, then Captains Flat Rd. A few Km along the road the park is on the left. Parked near the gate. Pleased to see the fence was repaired. Last time I was here the left fence post was on the ground, and illegal trail bikes were entering the park, which I saw. Now its harder for them to enter.

Set up the squid pole on the park sign. While setting up a large flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos were flying around the nearby trees, noisy large parrots. Too far away to photograph.

Looking the other way. 

Tested the dipole, quite low SWR at the top end of 40m. Fairly flat across the whole band anyway.

Shack on the table. Now using a new Galaxy Tab A 8 inch tablet for park logging. Its a bit heavy for SOTA but good for parks, has a large battery that lasts for hours.

Got on 40. Started by making a couple of park to parks, both good strong signals.

VK3CRG Craig and 2nd op Debbie in VKFF-0055 Brisbane Ranges National Park

VK3YV Tony in VKFF-0758 Holey Plains State Park

Spotted myself on 7.155 and worked a heap of park hunters.

VK2IO, VK7ME, VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG, VK5FANA, VK5PAS, VK5HAA, VK3PF, VK5MAZ, VK2MET, VK3BBB, VK2CCP, VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4, VK4CZ, VK4SMA, VK2FADV, VK7FAMP, VK4WTN, VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

Another park to park with VK2YK/5, Adam in VKFF-1707 Encounter Marine Park

VK3APS, VK3FD, VK4COM, VK4BZ/3

I did briefly try 20m, but no reply to my calls. Could barely hear VK3YV and VK2YK/5 in their parks.

Copied VK0PD Paul in Antarctica quite well, but he was having a good chat with someone, left him to it.

Park more than qualified. Packed up and headed home. 

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997

With a nice warm Sunday decided to activate another WWFF park, this time picking one never before activated, VKFF-1997 Stony Creek Nature Reserve. Drove to Queanbeyan, then onto the Kings Highway, turning off onto the Captains Flat Rd. Followed this for 5 Km before turning off on the left into the park.

As can be seen the park boundary is run down... The fence was falling to bits, and one of the fence posts was on the ground. I found out why later when I saw someone illegally riding a motor bike through the park...they would have got through the fence easily.

Near the gate a faded sign showing some of the parks Flora and Fauna.

Set up the squid pole on the park sign, dipole legs tied to a couple of nearby tree branches.

Operating location in the park. Map from Protected Planet.

FT857d radio on the table. Started on 40 m running 40 W.

Got on 40 m and worked the activators already on. Park to park contacts with VK5PAS/p Paul and VK5FMAZ/p Maria in VKFF-0868 Bakara Conservation Park, with good signals.

Found VK3ZPF/p Peter on SOTA summit VK3/VN-011, also VKFF-0755 Cathedral Range State Park. A good 57 signal even though he was only using 5 w.

Worked some of the usual park hunters

VK3PF, VK2LEE, VK2XXM, VK3ARH, VK3BBB, VK7JON, VK3ZMD and VK2PKT.

Saw some spot on ParksnPeaks, activators moved to 20 m, so followed them up there.

Worked again VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0868 Bakara Conservation Park, and VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0755 Cathedral Range State Park, both good signals on 20 m.'

A surprising call from VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1167 Dharawal National Park in Sydney, only around 300 Km away... Weak but readable, some back scatter I guess.

Some more park hunters called, all quite strong.

VK7JON, VK2USH, VK2LEE, VK4OV, VK4HNS.

Made a very weak contact with VK2JNG/p Gerard in VKFF-1971 Mundoonen Nature Reserve near Yass. Not that far away, but too far for ground wave, so probably more back scatter. He was very low down but could copy with no radio noise in the park.

Saw a spot on 40 m for VK4SMA/p Mark, so went back there to work him in  VKFF-0309 Maryland National Park.

And a spot on 20 m for VK4FW/p Bill, so another band link change there to work him in VKFF-1470 Baywulla Creek Conservation Park.

As getting warm and lunch time parked up after 22 contacts. Was going to activate nearby Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve next, but could not find the access road, one to return to after looking at the maps...

Instead headed off to another park in the afternoon, VKFF-1375, Tallaganda State Recreation Area.

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-0986

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do another WWFF park activation. Chose a park where I still needed to make up the remaining contacts for the required 44, and returned to activate Stony Creek Nature Reserve which I had activated in November last year.

Entered via the rangers access gate off Brindabella Road as per my last activation.

Last November it was warm so set up in the shade, this time of year wanted to get in the sun... set up the squid pole on a small gum tree sapling in the middle of the cleared area just off the road. Bit of a lean on the pole but still a solid support. Dipole legs tied to some nearby saplings. A bit of a noisy location from traffic on the nearby road, seemed to be a race track for Sunday motor bike riders...

Park radio my TS-480, running 40 w off my 8400 mAH LifePO4 battery.

Got on 40 m. As usual grabbed any activators first for park to park contacts on 7.144 Mhz, getting Rob VK4AAC/3 in Wilsons Promontory National Park VKFF-0539, and Les VK5KLV/p in Winninowie CP VKFF-0820.

Followed this with another park to park contact with John VK6JON/7 in VKFF-1137 Gunn Plains Cave State Reserve VKFF-1137.

Spotted myself on 7.110 Mhz and started working the usual park chasers. Good signals from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5.

Made another park to park contact with Roald VK1MTS/p on SOTA summit VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie, also in Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve VKFF-0850. He was using a recently constructed home brew radio, running just 2 W, and was S9 with me...

Saw a spot from Mike VK6MB on ParksnPeaks that he was not receiving me on 40 m, could I try 20 m, so switched the links to the 20 m band and spotted myself on 14.315 Mhz.

This was then I discovered the band was open to Europe :) Worked some of the regular EU chasers, Max IK1GPG, Marek SP3FHV, Slava RU3GB, and Luigi IK1QFN. A few more EU hunters, Luciano I5FLN, Hinko S52KM.

Also worked Mike VK6MB, some deep QSB but made it okay. Then the band seemed to close to EU... odd as only worked Southern and Eastern EU countries, nothing from France, Spain or Belgium stations, who are keen chasers.

Returned to 40 m and worked 3 more chasers, then another park to park with Stef VK5HSX/p in VKFF-1031 Fort Glanville Conservation Park.

Getting cold and dark so gave it away after 27 contacts. With the 20 contacts in November this put me over the 44 contacts needed for a WWFF point.

Stations worked on 40 m

1. VK5KLV/p Les in VKFF-0820
2. VK4AAC/3 Rob in VKFF-0539
3. VK6JON/7 John in VKFF-1137
4. VK3ARH Allen
5. VK4RF Rick
6. VK4HA Rick
7. VK3PMG Mick
8. VK3GGG Mick
9. VK1MTS/p Roald in VKFF-0850
10. VK3SQ Geoff
11. VK2KYO Ken
12. VK2LDN Glenn
13. VK3NCR/p Craig
14. VK2HHA Dennis
15. VK5PAS Paul

Stations worked on 20 m

1. IK1GPG Max
2. SP3FHV Marek
3. RU3GB Slava
4. IK1QFN Luigi
5. I5FLN Luciano
6. S52KM Hinko
7. VK6MB Mike

Stations worked on 40 m

1. VK5FANA Adrian
2. VK4JK Jay
3. VK3BSG Erik
4. VK3UCD David
5. VK5HSX/p Stef in VKFF-1031

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-0986

With a nice mild sunny Saturday, decided to activate another local WWFF park, Stony Creek Nature Reserve. This is one of 5 parks protecting the Murrumbidgee River Corridor as it flows through the ACT. See http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/explore/murrumbidgee-river-corridor/murrumbidgee-river-corridor-map

This is not an easy park to access...I eventually worked out an access point off the Brindabella Road, not far from the car park to SOTA summit Mt McDonald. As per Kama Nature Reserve Google maps proved useless for displaying the park boundaries, the following screenshot from Protectedplanet.net shows the southern end of the reserve. Parked at the park corner marked "Gate"on the map.

Here there is a locked gate, access to the park for park rangers. Entered on foot to the left of the gate.

As only a short walking distance set up my camping table and chair for a comfortable operating shack :)

Park activation shack on the table. Note I powered the radio using an old car battery, but kept the LifePO4 battery just in case. Wouldn't want to lug it too far though...Testing it for using with a larger radio on park activations near roads in the future.

Got on 7.144 Mhz, park calling frequency, to find it occupied by VK5HSX/P Stef in VKFF-0192 Gawler Ranges National Park . He was very weak but with my noise free location managed to work him. He kindly let me have the frequency. Once spotted on ParksnPeaks got a good list of VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK7 calls in the log. The VK4s were quite good signals, working up as far as Rockhampton. No VK5s though.

When the hunters stopped calling tried going to 20 m. Even with spotting no takers, gave it away and packed up. 20 contacts all up, so another park to revisit for the 44 needed for the WWFF credit.

On the way home stopped at Casuarina Sands, a local swimming and picnic spot. This would be another entry point to the park, but would need a bit of a walk in and probably have problems getting the signal out of the river gorge. Nice spot though.