SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 10 years anniversary

SOTA in VK1, the ACT commenced on the 1st February 2013. To mark the 10th Anniversary, I activated the same summit as 10 years ago, Mount Majura VK1/AC-034.

Parked off Antill St Watson and started on the walk up Mount Majura. Sign for Mount Majura Nature Reserve. Mountain is on the left.

Walked past a pond, full after recent rain. Lots of frogs audible.

The track joins another track running along the base of the mountain, then took another track up.

The track joins up with another track running along the ridge between Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie.

Some steep bits after here. After 40 minutes reached the summit.

As per other activations set up the squid pole on the round metal thing near the trig. Initially set up the 2m jpole antenna only. SWR did not seem that good, low in the band.

Squid pole on the metal pole.

Got on 2m FM. First contact was VI10SOTA, Andrew VK1DA on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor. He was quite weak with QSB, not what I would have expected as Mount Majura is a prime VHF site, should have been full scale?

Also worked VK1MA Matt on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo weak with QSB. Not good.

After being called by VK1RX Al on VK1/AC-032 Castle Hill and barely copying each other, decided to investigate and tried wriggling the coax. He suddenly leapt up to S9. So some poor connection somewhere.

Worked VK1NAM Andrew on VK1/AC-039 Yellow Rabbit Hill, then VK2ARK Andrew on VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie, both very strong.

Worked a couple of chasers, VK1ARQ and VK1XP.

Set up the dipole for 40m. SWR quite good at 7.135 Mhz

Radio shack on the concrete base. A little shade welcome as warm in the sun.

Worked VK1FPRV, then another S2S with VK2IO Gerard on VK2/SY-001 Canoelands

VK3PF Peter on VK3/VT-046 Mt Tassie

VK1ACE Rod on VK1/AC-038 Tuggeranong Hill

VK2JDL Phil on VK2/HU-093 Mt Elliot

VK2EXA Greg

VK1NAM Andrew again on VK1/AC-039 Yellow Rabbit Hill

VK1MA Matt again on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK2AN Peter at Batemans Bay.

Getting warm in the sun and approaching lunch time. Packed up and headed back down.

For interest, this is my SOTA station 10 years ago. Note the heavy SLA battery. No squid pole, I used a painters extension pole...

SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 for 9th Anniversary of SOTA in VK1

1st February 2013 is the date when SOTA went live in VK1, so to mark the 9th anniversary activated the same summit I did in 2013, Mount Majura VK1/AC-034.

Parked at the trail head off Antill St Hackett and started the walk. The sign for the summit and park has been updated. Note the fog in the background, this burnt off as I climbed.

A map of the Mount Majura Nature Reserve

A pond on the way, full and with frogs calling. Have had a lot of rain lately...

Another new sign just before the summit.

As a week day and school holidays had ended, it was nice and quiet on the summit, just a few odd walkers. So set up on the round metal thing near the trig.

Tested 2m ribbon antenna, good SWR at 144.95 Mhz, close to 146.5 Mhz

SWR for 40m dipole. Seemed a bit high in the band, found out why later, one leg was accidently left lying on the ground lol... still worked fine though...

Shack on the concrete base. Bit of shade for the tablet for logging

Got on 2m first at 2330z. Worked Matt VK1MA, very strong. VK2XDT at Yass, VK1LAJ and VK1MF both in nearby suburbs and very strong.

Just before UTC rollover went to 40m. Worked S2S with Peter VK3PF/P on VK3/VT-066 Mt Worth. Found out later he was also doing a remembrance activation, 10 years for VK3 SOTA for 1st Feb 2012. Worked him before and after UTC rollover.

Got called by VK2IO, then VK2FJL/p Phil on VK2/MN-067 Winns Mountain for another S2S.

Went on to work VKIDA, VK1MF, VK1MA, VK2EXA, VK5IS, VK3AFW, VK3AWA.

Tried going to 20m. Worked VK5CZ Ian, who told me he could not hear me on 40m, and was a good signal here. VK2VW, VK2HFI Brett and VK1MF Mat

Getting warm in the sun, so packed up around noon. On the way down met some wildlife on the trail. A scary looking lizard, or at least it hoped it was...

An echinda. These are usually shy and roll into a ball when approached, got it before it did so.

Got down in 35 minutes, it had taken 50 minutes to ascend. Had lunch in nearby Dickson.

 

SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034

 

With Andrew VK1AD activating Tumorrama Hill and some other SOTA activations, decided to head up one of the local SOTA summits for some summit to summit contacts. Returned to Mount Majura, VK1/AC-034. For something different climbed it from Mackenzie St in Hackett. I found the car park full, so parked around the corner in Grayson St. Sign at the start of the walk.

The track up to Mount Majura is on the Canberra Centenary walking track. So just follow this up to the top. The top green-blue symbol on the post indicates on this track. 

The track climbs up Mount Majura via a series of zig zag bends. Track is in good condition, probably due to heavy use by walkers. It gets steep in places.

After 50 minutes and 2.5 Km reached the top, Mount Majura Trig

Since Covid there is a lot more activity on Canberra suburban summits, with many walkers, joggers and dog walkers visiting the trig. To avoid most of them decided to move away to a quieter location, the road just below the trig to the Mount Majura radar facility. Set up on one of the fence posts on the road. Still within the 25m activation zone. You can just make out the trig on the left. Still got a few people walking past, but most went straight up to the trig around the corner. Got 2m vertical and 40 m dipole set up along the road.

Looking back the other way. Quite close to the Mount Majura radar facility. This is for Canberra airport. As it turned out did affect 2m FM

Radio on the tarp off the road

Got on 2m FM  Heard Chris VK1CT and Bill VK1MCW working each other for a S2S, so worked them both after. Chris VK1CT was on VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie, Bill VK1MCW on VK1/AC-048 Mount McDonald. Both very strong. Also worked Al VK1RX. I thought I heard part of a call from Andrew, VK1AD/2, but the signal was broken up with some voice interference. Probably from the nearby radar building... I got an SMS from Andrew saying he could hear me and asking me to try 2m SSB, so headed for 144.2 Mhz.

Heard Andrew VK1AD/2 a good S2, so able to work him for a S2S to VK2/SW-036 Tumorrama Hill. This was about 70 Km away to the West. Worked Matt VK1MA, very strong. A while later Wade VK1MIC came up on 2m SSB from VK1/AC-042 Black Mountain for another S2S, very strong.

Went to 40m. Another S2S with Andrew VK2MWP on VK2/SC-042 Wandera Mountain, down the South Coast near Moruya, a good S7. Worked VK4AAC/5 Rob in park VKFF-0875 Caroona Creek Conservation Park for a park to park, as I was in VKFF-0851 Mount Majura Nature Reserve.

Called CQ on 40m and worked

VK3NCR, ZL1BQD, VK3GTV, VK3ZPF, VK1MA, VK5IS, VK1AD/2 again, VK5HAA on 40m.

As getting late in the day and still a 2.5 Km walk back down, packed up and walked back to the car.

Track log of walk. Map from www.alltrails.com

SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 VKFF-0851

With a fine sunny Sunday morning decided to do a SOTA activation of Mount Majura. As per other activations parked off Antill St in Hackett and took the walking track near the horse paddocks.

Walked for a few minutes to a junction with a track at the base of the mountain, then took the track climbing up the mountain.

Midway up the climb a view to the snow covered Brindabella mountains.

Got to the summit. Very active with other walkers, plus windy. Decided to not operate there, instead dropping down out of the wind to a burnt tree stump for squid pole support, between the trig and the Mount Majura Canberra airport radar station. The radar did not seem to interfere at all.

Shack on the tarp, out of the wind. Away from most of the crowd, still got a few walkers/dog walkers going past. A few came to chat and see what I was up to.

Got on 2 m FM 146.500 Mhz first. Worked VK1MA, VK1RX, VK2VEX at Yass. VK1CC/mobile, VK1MIC, VK2KBB.

Went to 40 m when I saw a spot for VK2FPAD/p Paul on VK2/SC-046 Byangee Mountain. He was very weak, and had problems copying me. The NVIS skip not good today. Byangee Mountain was about 100 Km away near the coast. Pleased to work him as know the mountain well from bush walking, and a first time activation.

Spotted myself, worked on 40 m

VK4TJ, ZL1TM, VK3AFW, VK7QP, VK5FMAZ, VK5AYL, VK5PAS, VK1MA, VK4KC

Briefly tried 20 m with no luck.

Returned to 2 m FM, for a park to park with VK1CT Chris in Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve VKFF-0856, very strong. Also worked VK1DB, VK1MF, VK2COW and VK1LAJ.

The wind had really picked up in the afternoon, packed up and headed down for lunch in nearby Dickson.

SOTA Mt Majura VK1/AC-034 and SOTA Goat

With just 1 activation point needed to reach 1000 points and SOTA Goat, decided to activate Mount Majura, VK1/AC-034. This was the first VK1 summit that I activated when VK1 went live on 1st February 2013, seemed appropriate to do this again to complete it.

As per my previous activations started from the Horse paddocks car park off Antill St Hackett. From here its about a 2.5 Km, half hour walk to the top. Mount Majura is in the Canberra Nature Park, Mount Majura Nature Reserve, WWFF reference VKFF-0851.

The first part of the walk is easy enough, until you get to the base of the mountain and the climbing starts...

This track eventually joins the main track along the ridge to the top. Parts of this quite steep as you climb up to the summit. Looking back down the track, Canberra airport in the distance.

Eventually reached the gate just before the access road to the top. Note this is locked further down so can't drive up here.

Set up the squid pole on the usual round metal thing up here by the trig, running out the 40m dipole. Also the 2m Jpole ribbon antenna.

Looking back the other way.

Set up the SOTA shack on the concrete base. Offered a bit of shade, but was not too hot yet anyway mid morning.

Got on 2m FM as I wanted the local VK1s to work me 1st. Needed 4 contacts to qualify the summit and SOTA Goat :)

1st contact Andrew VK1AD/m near Woden, a good 59 signal.
2nd contact Andrew VK2MWP out at Warwoola, also good 59
3rd contact Andrew VK1MBE, 59

And 4th contact to qualify was Matt VK1MA, 59+ as per usual. SOTA Goat accomplished 😊

After working Matt a stream of various goat noises heard, thanks guys :)

A few more calls and a chat with the VK1s moved to 40m. Plenty of the usual chasers from VK2, VK3, VK4, and VK5 worked with good signals. A park to park contact with VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-0742 Warby Ovens National Park. VK1DA/p Andrew came up on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor for a S2S contact.

After 40m quietened down put up a 10m dipole to try 10m, as some sporadic e about, could hear the VK4RC Brisbane beacon.

Worked the following on 10m
VK4KUS Steve
VK4RF/VK4HA Rick
VK2LX Grant out at Bungendore on ground wave.
VK4JK Jay
VK1MA Matt,
VK2FENG Helen and VK2IG Mike out at Gundaroo on ground wave.

Managed to qualify Mount Majura Nature Reserve VKFF-0851 as only needed a dozen contacts for 44 for a WWFF point.

When I got home did a count of total activation points in different regions for interest.

VK1/AC - 206 points
VK2/SM - 184 points
VK2/ST- 269 points

The rest - 547 points.

So more than half the points gained from excursions outside VK1 and VK2/SM and VK2/ST, namely VK2 other regions, VK3, VK4 and VK5. I did a bit of travelling getting there...

Most of the easily obtainable points came from nearby VK2/ST Southern Tablelands. Then VK1 and VK2/SM Snowy Mountains.

For those chasing SOTA Goat, keep at it, you will reach it eventually. Good luck!

SOTA Mt Majura VK1/AC-034

I've activated Mt Majura VK1/AC-034 several times now, and for something different decided to walk up a different way, from Hackett Gate off MacKenzie St, instead of the Horse Paddocks off Antill St.

Got to Hackett Gate. Found not a big car park, only enough room for 4 cars, and there were 3 there already...Parked and started walking. A sign nearby for Mt Majura Nature Reserve, a Canberra Nature Park and eligible for the World Wide Flora and Fauna Award, VKFF-0851.

The road behind is labelled Hackett Houses Track (North). Followed this until coming to a smaller track on the right. There was a track marker, the brown disk says Mt Majura Summit

Followed the track, crossing a power line access road, then the track starts to rise.

The track zig zags it way up the mountainside. A bit of a view of nearby Mt Ainslie.

The track eventually reaches the top ridge and follows it. Came to the junction of the track I usually come up from Antill St Horse Paddocks.

From here its a bit of a steep slog up the fire trail to the summit. Gate just before the summit.

Set up the squid pole on my usual spot, the round metal thing near the trig

Shack on the concrete base.

There was a spot on SOTAwatch for Adan VK1FJAW/2 on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge on 10 m, so hurriedly set up the 6/10 m linked dipole up. Worked Adan, Tony VK1VIC/2 and Grant VK4JAZ/2 on 10 m. Signals were not strong, only S2 and wasn't getting much power out. As I suspected in my haste to get the dipole up had left one of the links open...After fixing Adan was a good S7.

On 10 m also worked Andrew VK1AD, Matt VK1MT and Roald VK1MTS with good signals. No DX though, able to hear a ZL beacon but not much activity or replies to my calls.

Went on to work the usual chasers in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7 on 40 m. Chased a couple of Park to Park contacts, Rob VK4FFAB/P in VKFF-0391 Noosa NP and Rob VK4AAC/5 in VKFF-0816 Spring Gully CP.

After UTC rollover a couple more S2S contacts, with Allen VK3HRA/P on VK3/VS-040 and Russ VK2BJP/3 on VK3/VE-029.

Packed up around noon and headed back down.

Which way was better? The Hackett Gate distance was 2.7 Km to the summit, the Hackett horse paddocks about 2.6 Km, so only about 100 m or so difference. Both took about the same time, around 30 minutes. For ease of parking I would probably stick with the Antill St walk. This can also be shortened by driving to the end of Jukes St and joining up to the walk at the top of the first rise.

Track logs of both walks. Hackett Gate in Blue and Antill St in Green.

SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034

For the Australia Day holiday decided to activate a close by city summit, Mt Majura so would have the afternoon free for other things.

As per previous activations parked and started walking at the horse paddocks track in Hackett.

Mt Majura and a sign/map of the nature reserve

Headed up the track, getting onto a walking track at the end of the houses

Continued until getting to a track along the base of the mountain, turning right

A short distance along the track took the track up to the top

Reached the top ridge, turning left towards the summit. This is also part of the bicentennial walking trail

The road along the ridge was steep in places...slowed down a bit, got to the top gate after about 40 minutes walking.

The track ends at the closed off road to the communications towers on top. As per previous activations set up the squid pole on the round metal thing near the trig

SOTA shack on the concrete base

Got on 40 m. Started with a S2S with Paul AX5PAS/p on VK5/SE-016. Worked several chasers, then another S2S with Tony AX3CAT/p on VK3/VC-009. Then several more chasers. Worked John VK5BJE in Belair NP.

When 40 m died off switched to 20 m. About to start calling on 14.310 Mhz, then heard Justin VK7TW/p on VK7/SC-001 start calling CQ SOTA...Grabbed him for an S2S both before and after UTC rollover. Also worked Peter VK3PF/7, AX3AFW, VK6NI and VK5NIG on 20 m, band in good shape.

Packed up around noon. After a 30 minute walk down drove to nearby Dickson for lunch