Sunday 8 June 2014

SOTA Activation The Rock Hill

With the Queen's Birthday long weekend decided to go further afield for SOTA activations and travel to the Riverina, RI, region. Picked a couple of easy summits that were on public land, The Rock Hill VK2/RI-026 and Galore Hill VK2/RI-047.

The Rock Hill is about 30 Km SW of Wagga Wagga, near the town called "The Rock". There is a proper walking track to the top, Yerong Walking Track, 3 Km with about a 250 m climb. After stopping overnight at Wagga Wagga started walking around 9:30am.


It starts out gently at first, making for a gap at the Southern end.


The track then climbs in a zigzag way up to a gap between the main Rock Hill and the range.


Some excellent views. Looking South West.


The final assault to the top is steep, following the bottom of a cliff


Got to the top after about an hour of walking. The actual summit is nothing much, the remnants of a trig now used as a fireplace...


The views through the trees are still good. Looking North across the flat farmland.


Set up the squid pole on a tree stump. I had problems when it detelescoped, some section is now cracked and could only get it up to 5 m instead of 7m...


The 40 m dipole took up a fair part of the summit too, not that big...Got on air and after getting spotted by Peter VK3PF started a good pileup on 7.090. 4 S2Ss with Allen VK3HRA on VK3/VE-022, Al VK1RX on VK1/AC-032, Nick VK3ANL on VK3/VW-007 and Andrew VK1NAM/2 on VK2/SW-059. Had also spoken to Andrew mobile on the way so stayed about to work him. All up 25 contacts. Some very good S9 + signals, band in good shape.

Around noon the summit suddenly became very popular, many large family groups arriving with children everywhere so decided best to pack up and go. For others activating recommend getting there early to beat the crowds...

Track log of walk


2 comments:

  1. Hi Ian,
    Nice to have got you in the log whilst I was operating portable from the Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park in the South East of South Australia. You had a beautiful 5/9 signal. Here is a link to my write up on my park activation.....
    http://vk5pas.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/tantanoola-caves-conservation-park/
    Best 73,
    Paul,
    VK5PAS.

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  2. Hi Paul,

    You were a good signal too at my end. The band was in great shape. Although to be fair not much to block it to the West from the top of the Rock... Catch you on another park/summit.

    73 Ian VK1DI

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