SOTA Boboyan Range VK1/AC-044

With Wade VK1MIC doing an activation of Bimberi Peak, VK1/AC-001 on Saturday, decided to try chasing him from another summit nearby, VK1/AC-044, Boboyan Range.

As per other activations drove South down the Boboyan Road, stopping  briefly at Hospital Hill lookout to admire the view of the mountains to the West. Bimberi Peak is not visible here, but the path on 2 m to there was between the 2 closest mountains, known as Yankee Hat 1 and 2.

Continued on a few more Km to the South and parked at a road side cutting, used previously for activations. The walk to the summit from here is a bit over a Km. Initially a bit scrubby until getting to the top of the ridge, then becomes easier going. I did find the pack carrying a bit harder, other times used my light weight FT-817D, this time had the FT-857D for extra power, also extra weight :(

Got to VK1AD Andrews unofficial trig, a small rock pile around the highest point on the summit. Note Boboyan Range is not an officially named summit, just a high point in the range that satisfies the rules for a SOTA peak.

Set up the squid pole, initially just for 2 m, trying to catch some of the others out on summits. I ended up moving it later to a log as there was a branch near the top of the squid pole.

Another view with the 80/40/20m linked dipoles laid out through the trees.

Shack on the tarp.

Started on 2m FM on the ribbon Jpole with a S2S with VK1CT/p Chris on VK1/AC-041 Isaacs Ridge. Then another S2S with VK1AD/p Andrew on VK1/AC-008 Mt Ginini.

2 m simplex contact with VK1MA Matt, and another S2S with VK1FWBK/p Bill on nearby VK2/SM-093 Mt Livingstone, although a bit of a challenge with the Clear Range to get through..

Another simplex contact with a chaser, VK1FXNZ. Note could not hear some of the Canberra stations a lots of mountains shielding my 2 m signal.

Finally Wade VK1MIC/p came up on 2m FM from VK1/AC-001, Bimberi Peak, very strong at times. He had high winds so only worked 2 m FM. At least he easily qualified it with plenty of local contacts.

Moved to HF, 40 m. A park to park with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0957 Yarringa Marine Marine National Park. Note I was in Namadgi National Park, VKFF-0377.

Then worked some of the regular SOTA/Park chasers. VK5IS, VK3FSPG, VK3MPR, VK5WG, VK3ZA, VK4HNS, VK3TP, VK4TJ, VK2LEE, VK7ME, VK7EE, VK3CAT, VK3GMC.

Another park to park with VK4FW/p Bill in VKFF-0727 Woroon National Park.

Briefly tried 80 m, seeing I had the room for the dipole. 1 contact with VK2NP Cliff in Sydney. Not bad for 80 m in the afternoon...

Tried 20 m. Managed another S2S with VK1CT/p Chris on VK1/AC-041 Isaacs Ridge. Then 3 ZL contacts, ZL1BYZ John, ZL3IN Paul and ZL1WA Jacki.

Returned to 40 m for another park to park contact, VK3ZPF/p Peter again, this time in another park, VKFF-2166  North Western Port Nature Conservation Reserve.

After lunch packed up and headed home.

SOTA Boboyan Range VK1/AC-044

With a warm Sunday predicted with a top of 32 c decided to head for a nice cool shady summit, VK1/AC-044 Boboyan Range at around 1400 m looked ideal. As per my last activation headed down Boboyan Road. Stopped briefly at Hospital Hill lookout. Mt Gudgenby VK1/AC-009 on the left, recently activated for the first time by VK1RX Al and VK1FJAW Adan, a long hard walk.

As per last time parked off the road at a small roadside cutting about a 1.3 Km walk from the summit, Track log of walk.

Climbing up to the ridge. The scrub was a bit thick in places but not too bad. Could find an easy enough pathway up. Last activation was in snow, which actually made it easier as it had flattened a lot of the vegetation, not so in summer.

Once on the ridge the going got a bit easier. Bit of a dug up area, pigs or possibly wombats as some burrows nearby.

Walked along the ridge, after half an hour reached Andrew VK1AD's summit cairn. I added a few more rocks before leaving :)

Set up nearby using a broken tree as squid pole support.

Shack on the tarp nearby.

As per last time mobile phone reception here very poor, had to wander about a bit to get an internet connection on the Telstra network. Saw Andrew VK1AD/P on VK1/AC-038 Tuggeranong Hill on 40 m, so headed there.

Andrew was quite weak, only S1, yet only 40 Km away. In fact most signals very weak, looks like another solar storm had killed off all the close in skip...Made another S2S with Nick VK3ANL/P on VK3/VE-138 Bald Hill.  Also Matt VK1MA/2 on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen. Tried calling for chasers, most weak with severe QSB, very poor conditions. Missed working a couple of stations due to QSB dropout, including Rod VK2TWR. Only worked 10 stations in VK1, VK2 and VK3.

Changed bands to 10 m, and heard Andrew VK1AD/P now S9! Also some sporadic e on the band to the North, worked Scott VK2AET in Grafton, Matt VK1MA/2 again now an S8, VK2VW Brett in Northern NSW and Rick VK4RF/VK4HA in Brisbane with strong signals.

Saw a spot for Andrew VK1AD/P on 6 m so changed the links to this band. He was S9 here too. Also worked Rod VK2TWR at Nimmitabel to the South of me, a tremendous S9+ signal. He does have a high tower and 6 m beam though and would have had a good clear path to me.

Returned to 40 m after seeing a spot for Paul VK3HN/P on VK3/VT-006 Mt St Phillack, a nice 10 point summit.

Headed home, stopping at Gordon shops for lunch. It was 32 c back home...only around 20 c on the summit.

SOTA Activation Boboyan Range in snow

With a good forecast of a sunny Sunday decided to try a winter activation of a new summit for me, VK1/AC-044 Boboyan Range. This was added recently to the VK1 list by Andrew VK1NAM who activated it in March.

Checked the Boboyan road was open, as can be closed in wet snowy weather, using the TAMs website
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/roads-transport/act_public_road_closures/listings/temporary_road_closures
The site indicated now open for 4WD only, so good to go. Expected would strike snow so dressed as per my cross country ski trips, thermal top with multiple layers and ski pants.

Drove down South of Tharwa into Namadgi National Park. After reaching the unsealed part of Boboyan Road saw the sign warning that only open for 4x4 vehicles only

The road after this was okay, not requiring 4WD. Stopped at Hospital Hill lookout to check out the snow on the mountains. Mt Gudgenby VK1/AC-009 on the left, Mt Scabby VK1/AC-005 on the right.

A good view of Mt Kelly VK1/AC-004 in the middle. Other peaks are not SOTA ones.

Continued South of Hospital Hill. Around 1400 m elevation saw snow...Got to a good car park to pull off Boboyan Road recommended by Andrew VK1NAM and Al VK1RX after their activation. This road can get dangerous with speeding 4WDs so best to park well off it.

From the car park headed up the hill. Scrub not too thick, mainly a problem when brushing against it, resulting in a nice cold shower of snow :)

Once on top of the ridge the going got a bit easier, not quite as thick vegetation, although with altitude the snow seemed to be deeper...

Another view of the ridge

After around 30 minutes, 1.3 Km reached the top. Andrew VK1NAM made a nice rock summit cairn here.

Just near the cairn set up my shack, using my foam mouse mat as an insulator from the cold snow, and my lunch box to keep the radio out of the snow.

Set up the squid pole on a nearby stump and laid out the 40 m dipole legs. Quite a lot of room on the summit, easy to get it up to full height this time.

Got on 40 m. Mobile coverage on my Telstra phone wasn't too good here, unable to self spot, however could just receive spots, so needed spotting by the chasers. Excellent strong signals from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5. Some of the VK5s almost as strong as the VK3s, conditions great. 29 contacts made.

Changed the links for 20 m. Found some world wide contest on, the band packed with strong high powered overseas stations, my puny 5 w station didn't stand a chance...With no way to spot gave it away after some calls with no replies, sorry VK6 guys. Packed up around noon. Noticed the sun had made some impact to the snow, starting to melt, Andrews summit cairn again.

Track log of walk back. Around 1.3 Km with a 100 m climb, took 30 minutes up, 25 minutes down.