The Australia Day long weekend provided excellent opportunities for SOTA Chasers and Activators alike to fill the logbook with contacts. I was unable to get away activating for the whole weekend due to family commitments on Australia Day. I logged plenty of SOTA stations from home on Saturday however, and had the chance to escape on Monday, revisiting a couple of summits I first activated last year and adding another one to my list of first time activations.

Hyde Hill    VK3/VC-008

Activated 26 January 2014

After a busy Australia Day with the family and rushed planning, I left home early on Monday morning with Hyde Hill first on my list as I had not previously activated this summit. I studdied the blogs of Glen VK3YY and Peter VK3ZPF on their activations of this summit and parked opposite the previously logged area they described.

The first part of the ascent is fairly easy and quick traversing sparse knee-high regrowth, rocks and burned timber. Beyond this is thick forest presented a major challenge to get well within the activation zone. Progress was slow and I spent as much time going across the terrain as up, trying to find the path of least resistance. I soon found a spot to set up within the zone – heavy with springy ferns and undergrowth and too tight for deploying the doublet. I set up the vertical antenna and threw the counterpoise wires where I could and got on air at 2142z with Ian VK5CZ being my first contact.

Conditions were all over the place on 40 metres with very heavy QSB making several contacts difficult and a couple unconfirmed both ways. I did however manage an S2S with Greg VK2FGJW/1 on VK1/AC-023. I then packed up after about 25 minutes on the air to make my way to the next summit.

Britannia Range VK3VC-011

Activated 27 January 2014

This was my second activation of Britannia Range, the first being on ANZAC Day last year. Last time I was here I left my vehicle at the bottom of Britannia Range Track on Mt Bride Road as it was very muddy and slippery but this time it was dry so I engaged all wheels and low-range and went for it. Although I have reasonable ground clearance, the giant spoon drains are still a bit of a challenge. My tow bar was doing its part to level them of a little as I was driving over them. There are some seriously deep rutted parts of the track caused by many spinning tyres and parts of the track seem to be a 4WD proving ground that would leave the average SUV behind. I parked about 100 metres from the highest point of the track and walked up before turning right and heading into the bush and bashing my way into a clearing. The undergrowth seemed to be thicker than when I was here last time but I found a suitable spot within the activation zone and set up.

This time I logged 14 contacts in 20 minutes including S2S contacts with Peter VK3PF, Greg VK2FGJW and Ian VK1DI. Meanwhile the daily temperature was now rising and I received reports of 2 fire trucks from nearby Warburton heading out to control a small fire via Andrew VK3FAJH on the VK3REC repeater. I scanned the CFA frequencies and heard that the fire was quickly controlled.

Mission accomplished, I packed and headed back to the car for the return trip over the giant spoon drains, carving some more grooves into them as I descended and headed for Mt Bride.

Mt Bride VK3/VC-009

Activated 27 January 2014

My second visit to Mt Bride had an element of deja vu. Last time I was here and spent time messing around trying to get the doublet strung up reasonably without much success and I tried again and also failed. Giving up on the doublet I spiked the vertical antenna in the ground and was on the air within minutes without the need to tune up.

This time I first logged an S2S contact with Rod VK2TWR and Peter VK3PF jointly activating VK2/SM-089 in a total of 11 contacts with the last contact for the day being Amanda VK3FQSO.

Mt Little Joe was the next summit on my list as a possible activation but I decided to leave it for another day, being the lowest scoring hill and yet the toughest climb. I instead headed into Warburton to catch up with my friend Andrew VK3FAJH for a social visit and a dip in the Yarra River to cool off before heading home.

 The weekend of the VHF/UHF Summer Field Day turned out to be a good one for visiting three summits to the West of Melbourne that I had not yet activated. It was also an excellent opportunity to use the higher bands that I seldom use on the FT-817 particularly in SSB mode as the chance of contacts were high. I lugged more gear than my usual QRP setup and decided to make myself comfortable for an overnight summit stay on VK3/VC-032.

VK3/VC-032

Activated 11 January 2014

I left Melbourne around midday Saturday and headed for VK3/VC-032 located in the Wombat State Forest. I stopped and visited a group of fellow EMDRC club members set up for the VHF UHF Field Day on nearby McLachlans Lookout before heading a few kilometres further West to my location where I planned to set up. VK3/VC-032 is an unnamed summit with gentle slopes and easy vehicle access. I found a clearing just off the road down a little from the highest point but still well within the activation zone. Knowing that there was a chance of other activators around, I parked the car in the clearing and set off with all my usual backpack radio gear plus a tripod. 5 element homebrew 2 metre beam and a broomstick as a mast for the beam. The quickest way to walk out of the activation zone and back was not along the road but due west into medium density forest and regrowth. This was rather awkward carrying all this extra gear and particularly the beam which had a propensity to catch the foliage. At one stage I slipped badly almost falling on the beam which would have most likely destroyed it but fortunately it survived.

Upon staggering back I selected my operating position and set up initially for 40 metres. I worked 9 stations in 15 minutes including S2S contacts with Brett VK2BNN and Greg VK2FGJW. When things quietened down on 40 metres I kept monitoring the band whilst setting up the beam for 2 metres SSB. I then had no problems at all working a steady stream of contest stations with good reports from most stations logged aware of my QRP status. Flicking back to 40 metres I logged another S2S with Nick VK3ANL.

Quite comfortable in this spot I decided to stay the night and play radio for as long as there were people to talk to and switched between 40m, 20m, 2m and even a couple of contacts on 70cm with a couple of contest stations on the HT.

A pleasant sunny day cooled in the evening considerably and by 9.00pm local time a hazy fog settled around me and a few spots of rain started falling. I was able to cover the gear and keep operating but it was becoming rather unpleasant so I stopped around 1130z and jumped into the swag which was quite cozy in the conditions.

It was fairly cool and foggy in the morning but with good weather forecast I decided to string up the doublet as an inverted V from my squid pole well as the vertical HF antenna I had been using and called for SOTA contacts on 40 metres with better results this time. Several stations this time said that they could not hear me the previous afternoon but could now log a contact. This time I logged 23 SOTA contacts in around 40 minutes including another S2S with Greg VK2FGJW on another summit.

As part of my contribution to the VHF UHF Field Day I logged a few contacts on 70cm FM with the HT, and 35 contacts on 2 metres SSB with the beam and the FT-817. This included a couple of S2S contacts with Andrew VK1DA on Mt Ginini, the second one where he also switched to his FT-817 and made the contact QRP both ways, a distance of 460 kilometeres. I also worked 2 meters into VK2, VK5 and VK7 with my flea power before packing up and heading of to Mt Warrenheip.

  Mt Warrenheip   VK3/VC-019

Activated 12 January 2014

Mt Warrenheip is easily accessed from Forbes Road behind the gaudy tourist attraction of Kryal Castle nestled at its base and visible from the Western Highway. There are three main towers on the summit and a sealed road to the top. I drove up here and parked, grabbing the backpack and going for a stroll in a north easterly direction following a powerline past the third tower and then down a fire trail outside the activation zone to the road I had driven up earlier. I returned back up the fire trail and there were several spots that I could have set up but within very close proximity to the powerline that may have been very noisy on HF. I continued past my car and back into the bush around the far side of the first tower and set up in the shade with the doublet thrown between two trees.

All contacts were on 40 metres and the first was with Peter VK3PF who spotted me and helped the activation off to a speedy start. I logged 15 contacts in under 20 minutes including an S2S with Bernard VK2IO/3 on The Horn which I activated both sides of the UTC New Year. Conditions on the band were pretty ordinary with lots of QSB both ways making the contacts difficult for chasers.

With the summit easily qualified I packed up and headed for Mt Bunninyong knowing that with a major cycling event on in the area that access would still be possible but I would be walking quite a but further than I would otherwise normally have to.

  Mt Bunninyong   VK3/VC-018

Activated 12 January 2014

This summit is by far the prettiest of the three summits visited this weekend. I had studied the route of the road race which ran in a circuit to the west of Bunninyong township but did not impede my access by foot to the summit. I parked down from a policed road block amongst a large number of spectator vehicles on Yendon Number One Road, walked through the road block and left into Yankee Flat Road which joined with Mt Bunninyong Road to the summit. I major walking track crosses the road about half way up and I took this zigzag track to the summit which opens into a pleasant grassed picnic spot with a shelter and a couple of picnic tables shaded with mature gums.  To the left, a short walk takes you to the fire tower that allows access to a public viewing platform.

I climbed to the viewing platform and the fire tower was manned. I could overhear the firewatch radios in the room above me whilst I decided to attempt to qualify the summit on 2 metres with the HT. I was easily able to get several repeaters from this vantage point and tried to drum up some simplex contacts. Andrew VK3BQ was mobile on his way home from the VHF UHF Field Day club station VK3ER when he heard me via the Mt Macedon Repeater. We couldn't make a simplex contact but he was able to spot me and assist in a couple of contacts, Ernie VK3DET and Peter VK3TKK. Still needing a couple more contacts I left the tower and strolled over to a picnic table and set up the FT-817 with the vertical antenna and pulled in 16 contacts on 40 metres, including an S2S with Greg VK2FGJW/1 on VK1/AC-042.

One of my last contacts was Allen VK3HRA who was pleased to hear me operating close to his QTH. He invited me to drop by on my way through and steered me with directions via the radio to his home. We discussed many things radio and also sat around the computer for awhile with a couple of cold Coronas planning some winter activations before I headed home.

I'll certainly be out if plans permit for another VHF UHF Field Day and preferably on a SOTA summit where it is possible to stay the night – several that I'm now familiar with come to mind with relatively straightforward access to make the lugging of all the extra gear manageable. I was a little surprised that I did not hear more SOTA activity over the weekend. One of these VHF UHF Field Day events is well worth going out on when you will be guaranteed of much better success working the higher bands and getting many more contacts than would normally be the case. It is a great opportunity to see what your equipment is really capable of. Unlike some of the contest weekends on HF bands where QRP stations often get swamped by deaf operators running maximum power, the higher bands are different. Not everyone that you may hear will be able to hear you but you may be surprised. Give it a shot on a SOTA summit on the next VHF UHF Field Day.

Mt Dandenong VK3/VC-025

Activated 5 January 2014

Last Sunday took the family up to the Dandenong Ranges to catch up with friends we hadn't seen for awhile. I threw the radio bag in the car just in case we had the chance to activate Mt Dandenong. The weather was changing for the worse in the afternoon with increasing strong winds and a change on the way but this worked to my advantage for a quick activation.

After leaving our friends we drove to the Kalorama end of Ridge Road and strolled up towards Sky High via Kyeema Track. Last time I was here on 26 April last year it was quiet mid week activation and I was able to set up on a picnic table in the gardens but this time the place was teeming with people. I found a sloping area of grass at the eastern end of the carpark away from the crowd where my antenna wasn't going to be in the way of others.  I set up for 40 metres as the stiff winds picked up even more and the cold front blew in dropping the temperature sharply in a few minutes.

With good mobile phone coverage I was able to self spot which resulted in Matt VK2DAG being the first logged at 0505z. I was on air for only 12 minutes as rain started to fall and made 12 contacts in this time including two S2S contacts including Greg VK2FGJW on VK1/AC-035 and Bernard VK2IB on VK3/VE189 before leaving the frequency to Bernard.

Allen VK3HRA was planning a trip to a few summits beyond Falls Creek that he hadn't yet activated and wanted to visit them to evaluate for winter activations during the bonus points period. His intention was also to work some of the VK1 boys who were planning to be on Mt Kosciuszko working the 2 meter band with beams. I had some tentative plans drawn up for a few summits closer to home but the opportunity to knock off at least three 10 point summits in the area with like minded company was hard to resist.

I left home shortly after 4.00am with my radio equipment and camping gear as the plan was to be on the summit of Mt Cope around 11.00am local time to make a number of S2S contacts. I met up with Allen in Myrtleford and we continued in convoy to The Mountain Stream camp site below Mt Bogong and then continued on in my car to Mt Cope.

Whilst in the area I also wanted to activate Mt Bogong and catch another couple of 10 point summits in the Mt Buffalo National Park and be on one of these summits either side of the UTC New Year to have a shot at double points before heading home. Over the next couple of days there was likely to be a good number of activators about to increase the S2S tally.

Mt Cope   VK3/VG-001

Activated 30 December 2013


We arrived in good time at the car park and after sorting out our gear and slapping on sunscreen we set off on the 1.5 km walking track to the summit. We were able to find our spots to both set up with some shade and rocks to use as a bench. Allen set up his FT-897 for 2 metres SSB with a portable beam and I set up my FT-817 with the vertical HF antenna tuned for 40 metres.

My first contact was an S2S with Tony VK3CAT on VK3/VE-016 a few minutes past the new UTC day. This was the first of a good bag of a total of 13 S2S contacts out of a total of 28 logged contacts. We were on the summit for a while and eventually worked the Canberra crew with the special callsign VI100ACT on Mt Kosciuszko before packing up and heading to Mt Nelse.

 Mt Nelse    VK3/VE-004

Activated 30 December 2013

The walk to Mt Nelse was around 5 km one way from the car park. We could have parked a bit further up the hill but it was already crowded with vehicles so we set off along the road and climbed the last part to the summit off track. Mt Nelse is a barren summit with a very battered old trig tower and a rock cairn with a length of plumbing conduit sporting a lost snow glove. No shelter from the elements but very good 360 degree views on this clear day.

Allen set his antenna up using the trig for support and I simply spiked the vertical antenna into the ground and rolled out the counterpoise and worked 40 metres. I was on air for around 25 minutes and worked a total of 13 stations including 2 S2S contacts with Peter VK3PF on VK3/VE-023 and Rod VK2TWR on VK2/SM-039.

Mt McKay   VK3/VE-007
Activated 30 December 2013

We were able to drive to the summit of Mt McKay quite easily via the very dusty Mt McKay Road. Upon reaching the top we grabbed our radio gear and headed down outside the activation zone and back in. There is a shelter with benches inside ideal to set up on and I went for this option to stay out of the wind that was picking up since being on the previous summit. I suspected that we were going to get clobbered by various RF noise from all the comms gear sharing the peak with us and this did prove to be the case with S7 background noise to cope with.

  None the less my first contact was an S2S once again with Peter VK3PF this time from VK3/VE-081. This time I logged a total of 15 contacts in 18 minutes. Allen set his antenna up around the other side of the shelter using it as a partial windbreak and worked 20 metres. By this stage it was time to reach into the esky and pull out a couple of beers before packing up and heading back down to the camping ground where we had left Allen's car for the day.

Allen hit the road home while I pulled out the swag and set up for a quiet night with my own fire place and seating area to spread out. I set up the radio to have a listen around and before dinner had a 2 way QRP contact with Anthony VK3YSA/ZL holidaying in New Zealand and about to embark on a cruise. I had a relatively quiet night as I wanted to start the climb to Mt Bogong reasonably early before the heat of the day would make tougher.

Mt Bogong   VK3/VE-001

Activated 31 December 2013

Another walker who we conversed with on the way back from Mt Nelse suggested that with the warm weather forecast that I make a reasonably early start for the climb to the summit of Mt Bogong to avoid the heat.

My gear was packed and I had a good breakfast and left from the Mountain Creek camp site shortly after 7.30 am for the 2 km walk to the start of the Staircase Walk. This section can be driven in a 4WD crossing several shallow streams to the start of the Staircase depending on the seasonal opening of the road. The climb to the summit from here is only 6 km but the track is aptly named and rises consistently to the first level area at Bivouac Hut, a good place to take the backpack off and rest awhile.

From here the track soon continues its steady rise to the top and soon breaks out above the tree line to magnificent views to the north and Kiewa Valley. A memorial not far from the summit marks the place that three hikers perished during a blizzard in the 1940's. This is a sobering reminder of the harshness of the environment. The final ascent to the summit levels off as the cairn comes in to view. Plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the view from Victoria's highest peak although the sun was strong, a fairly stiff breeze was about and I had to put on a jacket to stay comfortable during the activation.


 I worked 27 stations in a little over an hour all on 40 metres with only one other summit station logged, Tony VK3CAT in VK3/VE-012. I was aware that Wayne VK3WAM was on another summit but with only CW capability from his end and my lack of morse skills, unfortunately I couldn’t count this as another S2S contact.

The total walking time from the start of the Staircase to the summit took me 3hours 15 minutes and the return took 2 hours. Add another hour for the walk from the camp ground to the staircase and return. This was pushing it a little and I would rate it as the toughest SOTA hike I've done to date but well worthwhile.

After getting back to the car I rested for an hour or so before heading back into Mt Beauty to get a few supplies and head towards the Mt Buffalo National Park to camp New Years Eve and climb The Horn and The Hump the following day. I was fortunate to find a camp site at the Catani Lake camping ground which had signs saying all sites were fully booked. A polite chat with the ranger and I had a small spot to myself to roll out the swag for the night. I was able to have a good shower and relax but didn't last to midnight for the New Years celebrations. I was pretty stuffed after Mt Bogong and was asleep around 10.00pm.

  The Horn    VK3/VE-014

Activated 31 December 2013 & 1 January 2014

After a leisurely start in the morning I headed to The Horn and set up the antenna on a corner of the railing of the viewing platform. Shortly after getting on air it started to rain lightly. I unfurled my light weight tarp covered the radio and worked 21 stations before the UTC New Year. 13 of these were S2S contacts. The activity on air was frantic as working both sides of the UTC New Year allowed activators to take advantage of getting double points for the summit. Once the time rolled over into the New Year I worked another 9 of the 12 stations logged were S2S contacts. With the weather not looking to improve I pulled down the antenna and packed my gear to head off to climb my last summit for the day, The Hump.

The Hump    VK3/VE-019
Activated 1 January 2014

This is my second visit to The Hump, the first being on 6 October 2013 when I worked the summit both sides of the UTC rollover and also got 3 bonus points for a winter activation. The drizzling rain returned on my walk to the summit and already being close to the top I was prepared to sit it out if required before setting up my equipment. Regardless this was going to be a quick activation. I set up the antenna first after considering a sheltered position for the gear and self. I set up the radio in a sheltered rock ledge and tied my tarp up between two large rocks that also provided a comfortable reclined seating position.

It was indeed a short activation. Only 4 contacts in 4 minutes as the rain arrived. My second contact was with Ron VK3AFW mobile on his way home from activating more summits due to the rain. I also received a text message from Allen VK3HRA telling me not to wait for him to appear on another summit because he had also called it a day due to the weather.

After packing up the rain cleared but it was still visible around me and I could have done another summit on the way home but after bagging six 10 point summits in three days and earning an extra 10 points on The Horn and a respectable number of S2S contacts, I called it time.

Thanks to all the stations I worked over this Christmas and New Year period. Most of the time I didn't have reliable mobile phone or data coverage and could not post alerts or self spot but with the amount of SOTA activity around that did not matter.

Hope to work you from another summit soon.

With a break between Christmas and the New Year, it was obviously a good time to get some summits under the belt. These summits are some of the closest to home that I hadn’t yet activated and I had my chance to do so with the family camping at O'Tooles Flat in the Eildon National Park. Due to the adhoc nature of these activations, I did'nt put up alerts prior and couldn’t reliably spot myself when on the summits.

Mt Terrible Spur  VK3/VE-134

Activated 27 December 2013

This summit is accessed via the Eildon-Jamieson Road from Bald Hill Gap. The vehicle track climbs steeply from here and was no problem to get to in dry conditions in 2WD. I parked on the northern side of the summit just before the activation zone and hiked to the top. The summit is a cleared area but to the side there are plenty of large trees to string an antenna from. I elected to spike the vertical HF antenna into the ground and run the radials out to save time.

My first contact was an S2S with Ian VK1DI and over the next 20 minutes I only logged another 6 stations. Not wanting to hang around I packed and went back to the car and continued south along the Mt Terrible Track to Mt Terrible.

Mt Terrible   VK3/VE-067

Activated 27 December 2013

Mt Terrible Track gets a little more challenging from Mt Terrible Spur. I was able to do it in 2WD but the additional ground clearance of my vehicle was an advantage over the spoon drains and rocky bits. Forget attempting this track in the wet unless you have 4WD capability.

On arriving at the summit I parked past the fire tower and strolled around to contemplate a suitable position to operate from. I was tempted to set up by the remnant concrete foundations of Mt Terrible Hut that is no longer but I was sure that it would have been noisy with all the other comms gear on the site. The guy in the fire tower was looking down at me and yelled out hello. I told him what I was up to and he suggested setting up on the nearby helipad well within the activation zone as other radio operators have done. This seemed to be a sensible option so I strolled to the site and beyond to ensure that I walked out of the activation zone and back prior to setting up the vertical HF antenna.

  My first contact was an S2S with Glenn VK3YY in company with Kevin VK3KAB and Trevor VK3ATB on Mt Reynard. After working all three I quickly worked another 4 stations before packing up hand heading back to the car.

Bald Hill   VK3/VE-131

Activated 27 December 2013

Bald Hill is oddly named as it is not bald at all. It is accessed by a steep track heading north from the Bald Hill Gap on Eildon Jamieson Road. I drove up to near the summit in 4WD and had to walk out of the activation zone and back in past my parking spot to a sheltered clearing providing good opportunity to string up a dipole. Because I wanted to hurry along, I spiked the vertical HF antenna into the ground and was on the air a few minutes later.

I was only on air for 10 minutes and logged 7 stations, all regular SOTA chasers. I was kept amused during the activation watching ants carrying off a number of stunned march flies I swatted. With the march flies constantly attacking and seemingly unbothered with a liberal application of Aeroguard, I was glad to pack up quickly and head back to rejoin the family at our camp site at O'Tooles Flat to partake in a good camp meal and a bottle of red.