VKFF – First National Park Activation – Popran National Park – VKFF-417 – 18th May 2014

Posted on May 18, 2014 by vk2lax

After attaining the exalted status of “Shack Sloth”  in the SOTA award scheme the previous day, I decided to shake myself from my slothful slumber and look at activating my first ever national park for the VKFF National Park award scheme. I had been thinking about it for a while (hmmm, I was slothlike even before achieving slothdom 🙂 )  Paul’s (VK5PAS) enthusiasm has finally rubbed off! Now I just have to get the log to him!

The weather was good, warm (approx 24c), slighty hazy but sunny.

I searched the NSW national parks website and found a number of eligible parks within 30 – 45 minutes of my home QTH, so there was no excuse for not getting out there.

Propan National Park

I chose my park – Popran National Park – and set off at approx 10:30am. Popran is a small park between its 2 bigger neighbours, Dharug National Park and Brisbane Water National Park.

Aproximately half an hour after leaving home I was at the Ironbark picnic area within the park, easy peasy. The final section of the road into the park is narrow and a 4WD is needed as there is a short, but steep climb before levelling out before the picnic area.DSCN0162After a look around, I checked coverage on my tablet (none!) to put out a spot, used the backup (Iphone) and waited for the onslaught. 🙂

While waiting for my first VKFF contact, I contacted Ian,VK1DI who was doing a joint activation with Andrew,VK1NAM, on Sota summit VK2/ST-003 for a quick 8 points. (you can take the boy out of SOTA ……..)

DSCN0169

I called for approx 20 mins, then back came Bruce,VK2BUB, who was calling from the NSW south coast just prior to heading back to Canberra and we’re off!. Contacts were slow but that was to be expected as it was a spur of the moment thing to activate a park.

After about 2 hours, 11 contacts later (12, if you count me chasing VK1DI), Popran National Park was activated. All active Sota associations (except VK8) were represented (see below) including a “park to park” with Andrew, VK1NAM, in Brindabella NP -VKFF-054.

(Ian-Vk1DI), Bruce-VK1BUB, Andrew-VK1NAM, Adam-VK2YK, Peter-VK3ZPF, Steve-VK5AIM, Peter-VK3PF,Craig-VK3NCR, Mark-VK4EOZ, John-VK2YW, Stephen-VK4SJD, Grant- VK3HP “VK3HarryPotter” 🙂

Popran NP has a number of other attractions, including lookouts, walking tracks, mountain biking and horse trails.

After packing up the gear, I decided to take advantageof the nearest lookout, and walked to Mt Olive for a look at the view. After an easy 10 min walk, I arrived at Mt Olive and took in the scenery. Another good day!

DSCN0171
View from Mt OliveDSCN0170 DSCN0183 DSCN0185 DSCN0186 DSCN0193 DSCN0194

 

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

VK4/SE-102 Second Solo Activation – 23rd March 2014

Posted on April 13, 2014 by vk2lax

This was my second activation in VK4 and my first of an unactivated summit, a bit hard to believe being so close to the Gold Coast with easy road access.

The day had dawned bright and sunny, so no problem with mist, rain showers and humidity of the previous day. The summit was only about 15 mins away and an easy drive.

View from VK4/SE-102

View from VK4/SE-102 summit

 

After establishing the AZ and a  few quick photos, it was time to set up and start playing radio. A spot on SotaGoat and soon the chasers arrived, and the summit was soon activated.

view down the road

 

 

 

Stations contacted……

VK2YMA, VK4OZY, VK2YW, VK2IO/M, VK3FQSO, VK2DAG

There a good views of the Gold Coast down to Coolangatta from the summit.

Good views to the Coolangatta

 

 

 

 

 

DSCN0083

 

While activating this summit, we were visited by a local second operator, “VK4DOG”

It was my intention to operate some northern VK2 summits on the way home after the conference, but unfortunately, the weather gods were against it, it rained for two days straight!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

After Ed VK2JI had left Australia permanently in March, my future SOTA participation was now in my own hands to organise any upcoming summits.  My laziness is now exposed for all to see! 🙂

There was an opportunity to activate summits in SE Qld due to a conference on the Gold Coast, so all my energy was directed north of the border, to not only activate a summit (or two) solo, (that is, without Ed), but also to activate another association as well.

I was fortunate enough to organise work commitments all the way up the coast to Ballina, ending on the Friday before the conference. And as a consequence, I was able drive to the Gold Coast and spend the weekend with my brother, who lives at Mudgeeraba, then attend the conference the following Monday. This also meant that I had my work vehicle with me and could add my SOTA kit to my luggage 😉 I intended to activate some summits on the way home as well.

Saturday dawned overcast with breaks of blue, the humidity was brutal though and with showers possible, and a quick look towards the mountains,  it was not looking good for my first intended summit – VK4/SE-011 – Bilbrough Lookout. The view of the summit was often covered in cloud and rain showers and so I decided to wait til my brother got home from work before setting off.

It was approx 40 mins to the summit, winding our way to Springbrook (on the Springbrook Rd) and beyond to the summit, (on Repeater Station Rd) which was extremely busy with tourists who had come for the spectacular views, although it was a waste of time this day, due to the weather. DSCN0064 That being said, it was pleasantly cool on the summit, which was a welcome relief from the humidity of the coast.

The summit is listed as Bilbrough Lookout in the summit database, but is signposted as “Best of all Lookout” at the summit and in Google maps and other reference material. It certainly has spectacular views when the weather is good, not to be this time, though.

I also think that the summit coordinates probably need a check, as the summit is listed on the other side of the repeater station, below the top carpark, which is obviously higher. (Boy, I hope I was in the right place!) One thing about SOTA, it’s a work in progress!The "view"

The weather on arrival was not good, looking like it was going to rain at any moment, and after some brief discussion with my brother (non ham), we got the gear out and set up. I had not posted an alert as I was not sure I was going to activate the summit, so after a quick spot on Sota Goat and one eye on the weather, I turned on the 857 and pushed the button.

After calling CQ for what seemed like forever (probably 3-4 minutes!) Sota goat kicked in and back came Peter, VK3FPSR, and I was off. The "shack"

Sota goat was working overtime as the contacts came at a steady pace and it was not too long before the summit was activated, with 13 contacts made in total.

The weather closed in with poor visiblity, so after about 1/2 hour it was time to go. Of course, as soon as we had packed up, the clouds lifted and the sun came out!

Thanks to all that made the effort to contact me, my apologies to those I couldn’t hear!

Stations worked, all on 40m

VK3FPSR – Peter   VK2DAG – Matt   VK4OZY – Dave VK2PF – Peter  VK3CAT – Tony  VK4GSF – George  VK3FQSO – Amanda  VK2CCJ – Cliff  VK2IO – Gerard  VK2YK – Adam  VK4FABB – Brandon  VK4ZZF – Daniel VK4YHN/P – James

Posted on March 29, 2014 by vk2lax | Leave a comment