SOTA Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051

After activating Murramarang Aboriginal Area in the morning headed off to activate SOTA summit Durras Mountain, VK2/SC-051. As per previous activations drove off the Princes Hwy onto Bucks Rd, then Dam Rd, turning off onto Mountain Rd. Sign for the Durras Mountain walk car park

Murramarang National Park got burnt in the December 2019 bushfires. When I got to the car park the sign for the walk was gone. The walking track to Durras Mountain was still there, but overgrown. Looks like NSW National Parks are not planning to fix the track for a while, if at all. I was still able to follow the track, just needed to avoid fallen trees and vines.

The track joins the Old Coast Rd track, which was in better condition..

Old Coast Rd walking track.

Reached the trig, in good condition.

The wooden picnic table near the trig had also survived the fires, although looking a bit worse for wear now.

Set up the squid pole on the table, dipole legs out to some branches.

Shack on the table.

Radio on the table. As on a small battery set the power to 30w

Got on 40m. Able to spot easily on ParksnPeaks. Worked through the chasers

VK2IO, VK1CHW, 

VK3SGL in VKFF-2373 Lonsdale Lakes Wildlife Reserve

VK2LAX, VK2TM, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK1AD, VK2GWC, VK2DJL, VK2EXA, VK3SG

Tried 20m, worked

ZL4NVW

F4WBN, Christian a regular European SOTA chaser

ZL1SKL

Was packing up, heard another station start calling CQ parks on the frequency I was using, 14.310. It was VK4EW Greg in VKFF-1426 Wunaamin Conservation Park.

He was in a park almost on the exact opposite side of Australia to me, over 3000 Km away, so pleased to work him.

Packed up and headed back. Track log of walk, from Alltrails website. About a 1.5 Km walk each way.

SOTA Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051

After staying overnight at Batemans Bay headed out to do a SOTA activation, Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051. There are several ways to approach this summit, I took the shortest by using the 1.4 Km walking track from the end of Mountain Road. Start of the walk at the car park.

This is really nice walk, with cool temperate rain forest and lots of bird calls.

A bit further along the track.

The track joins Old Coast Road at the top of the ridge, then a short easy walk to the summit. The summit is not that high, 285 m, so only 1 SOTA point. Still worth it for the nice walk. Summit Trig.

As in previous activations used the nearby picnic table for squid pole support and operating. My partner Sarah nearby.

Shack on the table. Its getting a bit overgrown with grass underneath...

Set up my FT-857D. As only a 1.4 Km walk I had put up with the extra weight and carried it here, giving me 40w of power. Got on 40m. Found a rather lonely calling Bill, VK4FW/m in VKFF-0125 Culgoa Floodplain National Park. Worked him easily. Note a park to park as I was in VKFF-0371 Murramarang National Park.

Found a couple more park to parks. VK5LA/p Andy in VKFF-0892 Hogwash Bend Conservation Park and VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-2113 Ironbark Road Nature Conservation Reserve.

After working ZL1BYZ John another park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1162 Berowra Valley National Park. He was quite weak as NVIS short skip to Sydney on 40 m was poor, as we were both running some power managed to just make it.

Went on to work a few more SOTA/park hunters

VK5PAS Paul
VK3PF Peter
VK5WG Nev
VK2AET Scott
VK7QP Linda

A surprise summit to summit contact with ZL1SKL/p Soren on ZL1/WK-158 Puketutu.
Although perhaps not given that nothing but ocean to the East of my summit to Auckland.

One more contact with VK4FDJL Deryk then headed back.

SOTA Durras Mountain VK2/SC-051

After activating Clyde River National Park VKFF-102, drove down to Batemans Bay on the Kings Highway, North on the Princes Highway, then took Dam Road on the right. This is unsealed but okay for 2WD. Turned off onto Mountain Road

This ends at a small car park and the start of the walk to Durras Mountain. Parks Information sign

Start of the walk

A fairly easy walk, not steep, had some seats along the way for a rest

The walk joins the main walking track from Pretty Beach to the summit. After 20 minutes walk reached the water tank near the summit.

Just behind the tank the summit and picnic table. My last activation here I had come from the Southern direction to here. Think the Northern route is a bit easier, not as long or steep.

Set up the squid pole and SOTA shack on the picnic table

Radio shack on the table. Comfy, pleasant in the late afternoon sunshine

Got on 40 m. Started with a park to park contact with Peter VK3PF in VKFF-771 Mt Worth State Park. Worked VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5 chasers with good signals.

After 40 m dried up switched the links to 20 m. I could tell Europe was open long path, as my first contact was DK4RM. I think someone had spotted me on the DX cluster, as a massive EU pileup followed...

A bit hard to pick out calls as the band was in great shape, signals peaking up around S8 and many calling repeatedly. Several German, Belgium, Italian, French, Spanish calls. Recognized some of the regular park hunters, S58AL, IK1GPG, ON4VT. Most were signing 73 44 so more park hunters than SOTA chasers I think.

One of the regular SOTA stations G4OBK Phil called me. All quite strong and giving me good reports, 55 despite only running 5 W... Suspect the location, right on the Pacific, helping as a clear shot to Europe on the long path.

Also worked a couple of VKs, VK4HNS Neil and VK5NIG Nigel. N7VF from the USA as well.

The band eventually died down, still had to pack up as getting dark and had the walk back.
A total of 37 contacts. With the 17 contacts in the past activations I have 54 contacts total, now qualified VKFF-371 Murramarang National Park for the WWFF award.

Made my way back to the car. A few of the locals keeping the track grass trimmed...

Track log of walk. About 1.5 Km each way.

SOTA Activation Durras Mountain

With a weekend of hot temperatures forecast for Canberra, 38c Saturday and 39c Sunday girlfriend Sarah and I headed down to Batemans Bay on the South Coast to escape the heat. Maximums of 32c and 33c a lot more bearable...

On Sunday morning weather was nice and cool, in the low 20s, so set off to climb Durras Mountain.
I have climbed this several times before and knew where to go. Drove North of Batemans Bay on the Princes Highway, about 15km North turned off onto Pebbly Beach Rd. Just past the intersection with Higgins Creek Rd there is a gated off road for ranger fire trail access to Durras Mountain, parked here and we started walking.

The fire trail climbs steeply, there is another locked gate up the top of the ridge to step over.

The road reaches a junction with another track, this is a foot track coming up from Pebbly Beach, which is how most walkers approach Durras Mountain. A bit more scenic with rain forest but a longer than the road.

Sign to Durras Mountain at the same junction.

Just past this junction the track clears the forest and follows old farmland.

After 1.5 Km and 40 minutes walking reached Durras Mountain trig. Like others in the area had been beheaded :(

Durras Mountain trig nameplate

Just near the trig was a picnic table.

I put this to good use as a SOTA operating table :)

SOTA shack on table.

Got on 40m. Worked S2S with VK1RX Al on VK1/AC-040 and VK5STU Stu on VK5/SE-013. Conditions not great on 40m, lots of QSB. After UTC changeover switched to 20m, worked Al and Stu again, also VK5PAS Paul and VK5WG Nev with good signals. 18 contacts all up. Wind started to pick up so headed down.

Track log of walk