WWFF Coopracambra National Park VKFF-0113

To complete the Victorian Keith Roget Memorial National Park Award, requiring working or activating 45 VK3 parks,  I needed 2 more, Lower Goulburn and Coopacambra National Parks.

As heading down to VK3 on holidays decided to activate Coopacambra myself, as just off the Monaro Highway on the way down to Cann River.

The drive from Canberra was wet, raining most of the way, fairly heavy around Cooma and Nimmitabel. Started to look like would have to skip it due to rain, however cleared up to a light drizzle once into Victoria. Turned off at Chandlers Creek onto the WB Line Road into the park.

There was a picnic area on the right, and the bridge over Cann River just down the road,

Looking up the Cann River from the bridge.

A sign for Coopracambra National Park just over the bridge

Returned to the picnic area and set up the squid pole on one of the tables, 40 m dipole fitted in the clearing nicely. Rain had restarted so set up an umbrella from the car over the radio, this time using my home radio TS-480 with a car battery to run some power.

Radio set up under the umbrella. Kept the radio, the log and myself mostly dry,

Got on 40 m. Glad to have the extra power as the band was terrible, a solar storm had removed NVIS propagation so nothing local audible...

This was reflected in the log, VK2s North of Sydney, VK3s in Western Victoria and VK7s. Lots of deep QSB. Was glad to work Rick VK4RF/VK4HA with his dual calls to get the numbers. I had no mobile coverage at all here so relied on hunters to spot me on ParksnPeaks. Mick VK3PMG alerted the locals I was on air, thanks Mick!

After an hour of operating only had 13 contacts, the rain had picked up so gave it away and headed to Cann River for lunch in a Cafe out of the rain. Anyway at least got it activated so another park for the award completed.

SOTA Pheasant Hill VK1/AC-021

With a nice sunny day and no wind decided to revisit another VK1 summit, Pheasant Hill VK1/AC-021.

As per previous activations drove down Boboyan Road, stopping at Brayshaws hut and walked cross country to the summit.

The walk took almost an hour. Got to the top and found my usual log in the full sun, a bit too warm to operate from.

So instead set up the squid pole on a nearby wattle sapling, and ran the coax out to the shack in the shade of the trees.

SOTA shack on the tarp. Did have to relocate later as the sun moved.

Got on 40 m. As only a few minutes left before UTC rollover managed only one S2S contact with Tony VK1VIC/2 on VK2/SM-059 Big Badja.

After new UTC day worked further S2S contacts with Peter VK3PF/P on VK3/VE-105, Andrew VK1AD/P on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor, Allen VK3HRA/P on VK3/VT-059 and Gerard VK2IO/P on VK2/CT-056 Mt Solitary. Plus plenty of chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK7.

Lowered the squid pole and added the 10/6 m dipole.

Got on 10 m. Worked Nev VK5WG, who could not copy me at all on 40 m. Also Rick VK4RF/VK4HA, and an S2S with Andrew VK1AD/P on Mt Taylor. Also worked Rod VK2TWR from Nimmitabel to the South of me.

Tried changing the links to 20 m. Got Paul VK2KTT in Coffs Harbour, Paul VK5PAS in Adelaide and Brett VK2VW in Northern NSW.

Had lunch and waited for Adan VK1FJAW/2 to come up on 10 m from VK2/SW-027 Mt Tumorama. I heard him very weak, a 4 by 1 report, he was struggling to hear me with a 3 by 1 signal. He was 87 Km away but probably some mountains in the way. I found by rotating the dipole a bit I could copy him a little better.

Headed back down and drove home. The temperature at home was around 30 c, a lot warmer than the summit was at 1400 m...

SOTA Cathcart Trig VK2/SM-090

After activating Wolumla Peak continued driving along Mount Darragh Road until reaching Cathcart Trig Road on the left. After pulling up at the closest point to the trig, walked about 10 minutes through the scrub to reach it. A large lollipop type trig.

Like last time used a nearby stump to support the squid pole. Suspect the same stump as last time.

SOTA radio shack on the tarp nearby

Got on 40 m. Started with an S2S with Peter VK3ZPF/P on VK3/VC-009. He kindly let me have the frequency as he was just finishing up. Worked several of the usual chasers from VK2, VK3 and VK5.

Some more S2S contacts with Allen VK3HRA/P and Andrew VK3ARR/P on VK3/VC-019.
Tony VK1VIC/2 and Pete VK2FPMC/P on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen. PeterVK3PF/P on VK3/VE-165. There was a spot for Andrew VK1AD and Adan VK1FJAW on VK1/AC-013 Tidbinbilla Mountain on 10 m, however was unable to hear them, too far away for ground wave.

Packed up and headed home to Canberra.

SOTA Wolumla Peak VK2/SC-022

Driving home to Canberra from my brothers place at Pambula Beach, diverted to activate a SOTA peak, Wolumla Peak VK2/SC-022.

From South Pambula drove down Mt Durragh Road until turning off onto Wolumla Peak Road. Note the road sign is missing, so look out for a sign showing 11 km to Pambula

The road crosses the Pambula River.

Followed the road up the mountain. Remnants of the road sign...I found this road a bit rough, narrow with rocky bits and some tree branches down partially across the road. Did not need 4WD, just needed to take it carefully.

Entered South East Forests National Park. This was a nice surprise, as it means I can also claim the SOTA contacts for the WWFF award. The park reference is VKFF-0458.

Reached the summit. There is a car park here in front of the fire spotting tower.

Wolumla Trig. Usual NSW lollipop type. Some communication towers behind it.

Name plate on trig, "Wolumla"

The fire tower was closed. You could however get onto a platform on the outside. I debated about operating from the platform, but decided too near metal railing and antennas.

Opted for the Trig as squid pole support. Dipole legs run out to the lookout tower hand rail and the fence around the towers. Sorry about the dark spot on the photo, something got on the lens.

SOTA shack at the base of the trig

Got on 40 m. Usual chasers from VK2, VK3, VK5 and VK7, some very strong. Summit to summit contacts with Compton VK2HRX/P on VK2/CT-002 and Tony VK1VIC/2 on VK2/ST-053.

Tried 20 m. Worked Nev VK5WG with a good copy and Warren, ZL2AJ, one of the new SOTA activators in New Zealand. Unfortunately some interference from a radar system so gave away 20 m.

As still had some distance to drive home packed up and drove down, took about a half hour to get to the highway.

A map of the route

Ben Boyd National Park Activation VKFF-0026

After Christmas in Canberra drove down to visit my brother for an after Christmas get together at Pambula Beach. As he lives not that far from Ben Boyd National Park decided to do an afternoon park activation of this park for the World Wide Flora and Fauna Award, VKFF-0026.

The park has 2 main areas, North and South of Eden. I went to the nearest one in the North. Headed South on the Princes Highway to an unpaved road with a sign for the park.

Followed the road to North Long Beach, a quiet fishing beach. Operating Spot marked on the map.

North Long Beach car park, walk to beach 300 m.

North Long Beach

Looking North

Looking South

As nice as this beach was, it didn't have a suitable spot for operating from, so returned to the car park. Set up the park station in the scrub just off the road, using a tree stump for the squid pole support. Tied off the dipole legs to a couple of tree branches.

Radio shack on a chair with a built in small table, borrowed from my brother :)

Got on 40 m. Worked Matt VK1MA/3 on SOTA summit VK3/VN-030. Then the usual park hunters from VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7. Signals quite strong especially from VK3s and VK7s. Made 28 contacts before heading back to my brothers place for dinner.

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 200 Award

I recently managed to get confirmed over 200 VKFF parks, so was able to apply for the award.

A breakdown of the 200 parks worked by call area:

VK1 - 12
VK2 - 35
VK3 - 81
VK4 - 21
VK5 - 48
VK7 - 2
VK9 - 1

So most of the park activations I have chased were from VK3, followed by VK5 and VK2.

Received promptly from Paul VK5PAS. Nice photo of Freycinet National Park in Tasmania

SOTA Cabbage Tree Fire Trail VK2/SC-035

With a hot day predicted decided to do a nice easy summit with some shade, Cabbage Tree Fire Trail VK2/SC-035. As per my previous activation drove down the Kings Highway to Braidwood, then part of the way down to the coast onto Misty Mountain Road on the right. Stopped near the intersection with Cabbage Tree Fire Trail

The temperature according to the car outside thermometer was 28 c in Braidwood, but rose as I descended down the mountain, and was a toasty 34 c so this was to be a short activation. The summit was only about 260 m away, so a short walk up through the scrub to my usual operating spot, a large tree stump.

Squid pole bungee corded to the stump. Dipole legs out to a couple of trees.

Shack on the tarp. A bit of shade but got in the sun as the sun got higher.

Got on 40 m to start with David VK2JDS/m who spotted me. Coverage was poor here but could get a signal if I moved around a bit. Worked VK1, VK2 and VK3, and a weak copy with Rick VK4RF. Lots of severe QSB, would need to repeat reports several times as I faded in and out to chasers.

Tried 10 m. Could hear the Adelaide beacon, VK5WI on 28.259 around S7, so open to the West on Sporadic e. Worked Ian VK5CZ, Ian VK5IS and a surprising copy with Tony VK3CAT.

Saw a spot for VK7ZMS on 40 m. I could very weakly hear him, but no response to my calls, and other chasers also unable to contact him. I heard Allen VK3HRA call him with no luck so had a contact with Allen.

As getting just too hot to operate packed up after noon and headed back to the cool of the air conditioned car.