SOTA Mt Wee Jasper VK2/ST-017

After activating Wee Jasper Nature Reserve, VKFF-2017, decided to go on and activate SOTA summit Mt Wee Jasper VK2/ST-017. Drove along Wee Jasper Rd, turning off to the left onto Wee Jasper Forest Rd. Then turned off to the left onto Pheasant Creek Rd. This used to take you through a dense pine forest. Not any more... most of the pine forest was now cleared. In fact could even see Mt Wee Jasper in the distance ahead.

Took the road on the left running around the side of Mt Wee Jasper. At the end of the road an area to turn, and a track marker for the Hume and Hovell walking track. Parked here.

After a short distance through the pines and into native forest.

Climbed along the walking track to the summit. Fairly steep but did not take long, around 15 minutes or so. Summit of Mt Wee Jasper at 1121 m.

Opposite the trig a couple of handy seats.

Set up the squid pole and radio on one of the seats and sat down to operate.

Got on 40m. Good mobile coverage so spotted myself on 7.090. Worked

VK7KPC, VK3SQ, VK2IO

A summit to summit with VK1DA/4 Andrew on VK4/SE-039 Kluvers Lookout. Weak but workable.

VK3GTV, VK5IS, VK3PF, VK5PAS, VK4NH, VK1AD

A surprising call from G0VWP, Terry in England on 40m... A good 4 by 4 signal.

VK3PMV, VK2CPO, VK3ADH, VK5AYL

Another summit to summit, with ZL4NVW Matt on ZL3/OT-413, weak but workable.

VK2CPH.

Packed up as getting cold and still some driving to do. Drove to Wee Jasper, then back to Canberra via Mountain Creek Rd, Fairlight Rd and Uriarra Rd. Got home about 6pm.

SOTA Mt Wee Jasper VK2/ST-017

After activating VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen drove to Yass for lunch, then drove on to Wee Jasper. As per my last activation took easy option of following forest tracks close to the summit.

I needed to wait at one junction for a group of 4WDs to move out of the way, they didn't think anyone would be using the track and mostly they would have been right...

I struck another obstacle, the track running off Pheasant Creek Road is getting rather overgrown with blackberries, picked up a few extra scratches on the car doors :(  Otherwise the road in was okay, at least dry and not muddy like my last activation in August last year.

Parked in the pine forest just near the Hume and Hovell walking track, around 500 m from the summit.

A short steep walk up the ridge to the summit.

Reached the summit trig

The same 2 seats as before. Note there is now a fireplace here, looks like this was used as a camping site on the Hume and Hovell walking track.

Set up the squid pole and shack on one of the seats as per other activations

Another view of the station

Got on 40 m. Some good strong signals from the usual chasers. Another S2S with Kevin VK3KAB/P. By a strange coincidence also on an 017 summit, his was VK3/VE-017.

After 40 m died down went to 20 m. Worked David VK4DD with a good strong signal. Worked Andrew VK1NAM, fairly weak signal. Got a call from Marko OH9XX, so starting to open to Europe long path, however had to pack up as getting late in the day.

A photo of the blackberry infested road on the way out, hard to avoid scratching the car...

SOTA Activation Mt Wee Jasper

My last activation of Mt Wee Jasper involved access via the Hume and Hovell walking track, a 15 Km walk with a 700 m climb, just too much! Since doing this walk Andrew VK1NAM established that you can get to the summit an easier way, by driving through the pine forest and walking the last rise to the summit, so set off to try this route.

As per last time drove to Wee Jasper from Canberra via Uriarra Rd, Fairlight Rd, Mountain Creek Rd and Wee-Jasper-Yass Rd. Headed South of Wee Jasper, this time driving past the Fitzpatrick Track head and headed up into the mountains. After several Km turned off onto the Wee Jasper Forest Rd

Followed this up hill, turning off onto Pheasant Creek Rd.

Followed Pheasant Creek for a while, until coming to an unnamed road coming off at an angle on the left. Pheasant Creek Road can be seen continuing around the right side of Mt Wee Jasper

This unnamed road has a few muddy puddles to cross, but nothing too deep. Came to a junction with a large clearing, took the road on the right.

The right road had a few more puddles, nothing needing 4WD but the car needed a good clean after getting home :( Soon spotted something familiar, a Hume and Hovell walking track marker, I now knew where I was :)

Just up the hill and around the bend there is a side road on the right going into the pine forest, with another track marker to guide you. Parked off the road in the pine forest and started walking.

Soon came to a track marker taking me onto a walking track, and the final ascent up Mt Wee Jasper

The climb was steep, but only 100 m or so, and the distance to the top only around 700 m, better than 7 Km! Mt Wee Jasper trig

The 2 seats near the summit.

As per last activation used one of the seats for squid pole support and for a comfy operating spot. 40/20 m linked dipole legs run out to a couple of nearby trees. I also hung a newly made 2 m "slim jim" type antenna made from 300 ohm ribbon from the squid pole, thanks to Andrew VK1NAM for making this up for me!

Shack on the seat next to me.

Another view of the operating position.

Got on 40 m, after getting spotted got mobbed by the usual chasers from VK1, Vk2, VK3 and VK5. Made a S2S with Peter VK3PF on Mt Selma VK3/VT-013, and Gerard VK2IO on Mt Perisher VK2/SM-007. After 40 m quietened down tried 2 m SSB on my new antenna with Andrew VK1NAM and Matt VK1MA. Andrew had problems copying me and was weak, Matt was a good S8, he has a good high location in North Canberra for working Mt Wee Jasper.

Later on Matt SMSed me about an activation by Simon, VK1FAAV on VK1/AC-025 Mt Tennent on 2 m FM. Gave him a call and got him at a good S3! Mt Tennent was 57 Km away so good getting him using a hand held and whip, although he would have great coverage from almost 1400 m elevation. Well done Simon, a tough summit to activate.

One final S2S with Marshall, VK3MRG on VK3/VE-178, before packing up and heading home.

Track log of walk

Profile of walk, about a 120 m climb with less than a 700 m walk.

SOTA Mt Wee Jasper VK2/ST-017

Having a day off work for Labour Day in the ACT, decided to go activate a new peak. Picked Mt Wee Jasper as I had walked up it before several years ago, and remembered it has a walking track to it, the Hume and Hovell Walking Track.

Left home in North Canberra, drove to Wee Jasper via Uriarra Rd, Fairlight Rd, Mountain Creek Rd and Wee Jasper-Yass Rd. After driving through the Wee Jasper followed the road for a further 4Km until arriving at the Fitzpatrick Trackhead camping ground. Being a long weekend was busy with campers.

Drove to a car park at the end of the reserve and started walking. Note the Hume and Howell Walking track runs for over 400Km between Yass and Albury. Track markers show Hume and Hovell walking...

Sign on the track indicating 7.8Km to go to the summit of Mt Wee Jasper. Forgotten it was so far...

After a bit over a Km the track crosses a stile to the left and heads uphill through farmland. A bit annoyed to see I could have actually parked here and saved some walking...

The track climbed steeply up the hill

Headed right following hill contour. Some good views

The track crosses several wooden bridges on the way.

A few Km from the top the track joins a forestry road. May possibly be an easier way up from the end of this road.

After a junction and walk through pines the foot track continues up to Mt Wee Jasper. After almost 3 hours walking reached the summit. Trig and a sign indicating 1121m.

Just behind the top were a couple of seats. I like seats :) Used one for supporting the squid pole and as a radio desk.

FT817 SOTA shack on seat.

Got on 40m, worked John  VK2YW on VK2/RI-002 for a S2S. After moving down to 7.085 worked the pileup...Made another S2S with Scott VK2AET on VK2/NT-051. Also worked Grant VK2GEL in Goobang NP. Made 20 contacts, as not a holiday in VK3 a fairly good number. While on the summit a small brown wallaby came by, got quite close for a photo.

Headed back down the same way. After over 15 Km of walking I was very tired...Next time I'll try to access from a road on the other side instead of the walking track...Seems I climbed about 700m! Track log of walk.