SOTA Mt Alexandra VK2/IL-005

Travelling up to the Mid North Coast of VK2 on a short holiday to escape the last of Canberra's cold winter. After leaving Canberra arrived at the car park for Mt Alexandra after 2 hours driving. It was sunny, although cool about 10c with a stiff wind blowing.

Walked up to the Katoomba Lookout with 2 picnic tables and set up the SOTA shack on one of the tables.Strung out the legs of the 20/40 m linked dipole to a couple of nearby trees

SOTA shack on the picnic table. Used a large sandstone rock to support the base of the squid pole against the base of the table and make it vertical, trick I've used here before. Probably the same rock...

Got on 40 m. Was a bit worried as solar storms had been affecting 40 m short distance contacts, however worked several VK3s with good signals, VK2KTT and VK5IS. Nearby VK1 and VK2 were affected though, Andrew VK2UH at Yass, who would be normally very strong here was 53, Andrew VK1NAM had deep QSB so anything close around 200 Km affected.

Later on worked Julie VK3FOWL/P for a S2S on VK3/VC-018, and Hugh VK5NHG/P on VK5/SE-003. Tried 20 m with no luck.

Packed up around noon and headed to nearby Mittagong for lunch before driving through Sydney.

SOTA Mt Alexandra VK2/IL-005

After activating Mt Elliot VK2/HU-093 drove South on the Newcastle Freeway then through Sydney. Fairly hectic with traffic as always. Drove out South on the Hume Highway, turning off at Mittagong.
Drove to the end of Victoria St to the car park and followed the signs to Katoomba Lookout, just down from Mt Alexandra summit.

As per my activation here last September the waratahs were out in flower.

Reached the lookout. Picnic tables here, great for SOTA :)

View of the Hume freeway below. Could hear traffic on it but not too noisy.

Set up the squid pole on one of the tables. Dipole legs tied to trees.

Nice comfy SOTA station on the table. As per last time used a rock between the table and pole as a support.

Got on 40 m. Started with a S2S with VK2BJP/3 on VK3/VE-006. A couple more S2S later, VK2IB/P on VK2/SW-021 and VK3AFW/P on VK3/VC-033. Good strong signals from VK1, VK2 and VK3. 12 contacts. Packed up and drove home after 2 weeks of travelling :)

SOTA Activation Mt Alexandra VK2/IL-005

After activating Mt Gibraltar and having lunch in Mittagong headed up to Mt Alexandra. From the main street in Mittagong head up Victoria St. The road leaves the town and climbs steeply, ending at a dirt car park. Measured the altitude at 710m, so a good 80m below the summit at 790m.

Started walking up the hill. There is a sign to Katoomba Lookout, 500m

Pleasant walk up, not too steep. On the way saw some waratahs out in flower.

Found the "trig" at the highest point, an unimpressive pile of rocks. Measured the height at 791m with the GPS.

Followed the tracks to Katoomba Lookout. This was a lookout West over the Hume Freeway and mountains, good views.

There were a couple of picnic tables here. Measured the height at 785m, so 6m below the summit and inside the 25m activation zone. The table looked ideal to operate from.

As the table edge didn't line up with the bottom, I found a suitable rock to allow the squid pole to lash vertically to the end of the table. Worked well.

Strung out the 40m dipole legs to a couple of nearby trees, and had my SOTA shack table ready to go.

Got on 40m. Unfortunatley the band wasn't real good at this time of day, most signals weak. Picked up later, worked S2S with Glen VK3YY and Andrew VK1NAM/3 on Pyramid Hill, VK3/VN-005 with 58 signals.

All up worked 15 chasers. Packed up at 2:30pm, walked back to the car and drove home.

Track log of walk.