WWFF Percival Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0859

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do a nearby WWFF park activation of VKFF-0859 Percival Hill Nature Reserve. I had activated it once before in June 2015, and the cold drove me off air before completing the 44 contacts needed for a WWFF point. In fact made 42 contacts, so only need to make 2 more contacts. As close to 30c no problem with the cold today...

As per last activation approached via an access point off Schow Place in Nicholls. After a short walk reached the Percival Hill trig.

Even though a fairly low hill at 622 m some good views. Looking South East over Crace towards Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie.

Looking South West to Belconnen and the Brindabella Ranges. The Barton Highway roundabout below.

Looking North West towards Harcourt Hill. One Tree Hill on the right.

Set up the squid pole on the trig, One leg tied to a nearby fence post, the other leg just tied the end of the support rope around a rock.

Shack on the tarp. The FT-817 being black got hot in the sun, used the carry bag as a sun shade... Not much shade for myself however.

Got on 40m. Worked a few chasers in VK2, VK3 and VK7.

Got a call from Bill VK4FW/p in VKFF-1480 Boat Mountain Conservation Park for a park to park. Lots of QSB, he had problems copying me, but made it eventually.

Also another park to park with regular park activator Rob VK4AAC/p in VKFF-0682 Gympie National Park. These were both new parks for me as a hunter.

Continued on working VK2, VK3  park hunters. The band wasn't great, made several calls with no replies. Tuned about and heard Diane, VI100RTF, a special event station for Rotary, made a contact with her.

There was a contest on 20m, didn't even try calling there, too much high power QRM... As had 12 contacts and only needed 2 gave it away and went home.

Contacts made on 40m

1. VK2VZ/p
2. VK3SQ
3. VK7DW
4. VK4FW/p park to park VKFF-1480
5. VK4AAC/park to park VKFF-0682
6. VK3GGG
7. VK3PMG
8. VK3ARH
9. VK2IO
10. VK2GDI
11. VK2JAZ
12. VI100TRF

Percival Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0859

Time to activate another Canberra Nature Park for the World Wide Flora and Fauna Award, this one Percival Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-859.

The park is names after Percival Hill, a prominent hill close to the Barton Highway roundabout intersection with Gundaroo Drive and William Slim Drive, in the Gungahlin suburb of Nicholls.

Drove to the end of Schow Place in Nicholls and started walking. There is a gate to climb through into the reserve.

Walked up to the ridge top and turned right onto a track heading up the hill.

After a short walk reached Percival Hill trig

Good view to the South West looking towards Belconnen, Black Mountain visible. William Slim Drive and the Barton Highway roundabout below.

View to the South East of Crace, a fairly new suburb, I can remember this being grasslands not that long ago...Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie in the distance

View to the North West

Set up the squid pole on the trig

Set up the radio shack at the base on the tarp.

Got on 40 m. Started with a Park to Park contact with Paul VK5PAS/P in VKFF-826 Kyeema CP. Then usual chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3 VK4 and VK5. A few more park contacts, VK5HCF/P Col in Penambol CP VKFF-802, VK3VTH/P Tony in VKFF-775 Werribee Gorge SP and VK4FFAB/P Rob in VKFF-507 Venman Bushland National Park

Switched to 20 m after contacts dried up on 40 m. Worked Paul VK5PAS/P again, we then both worked Fred VK4FE in Mowbray NP VKFF-367 in North Queensland near Cairns with a good signal.

Paul kindly let me stay on 14.310 Mhz. Spotted myself on the DX cluster then the EU pileup began...
Usual park chasers with good signals. S58AL, I5FLN, DK4RM, OK7WA, IK1GPG, DL2ND, S53KM. The band seemed to close to Europe after about a half hour so only a brief opening.

Went back to 40m to chase Brett VK4TWO/P in VKFF-070 Burrum Coast National Park. A few more contacts, then another park contact with Paul VK5PAS now in VKFF-824 Cox Scrub CP.

As around 4:30 pm the sun was setting and it was getting quite cold, there was a chilly wind blowing on the summit so packed up and headed down after around 40 contacts. Need to return to get the 44...

Sunset view looking down at Gungahlin Pond. Town of Gungahlin in the distance.

 Track log of walk. Map is out of date, note the blank space is now the suburb of Crace...