UPDATED July 2018
Barraba Trig, VK2/HU-065, 22/07/2018 by VK2NU/p.
This was my second go at Barraba Trig, the first attempt from April, 2017 is at the bottom of this page. I thought I'd update the blog, as I didn't take too may photos on the previous trip, and I accessed the summit via a different route this time.
On the previous attempt we got to the summit from the South, parking on Congewai Rd, and heading up the Great North Walk. This was about 4km each way, and pretty steep.
Checking Sotawatch, a previous activator had commented that the summit could accessed from the East, along Georges Rd, and that it was possible to get to within about 3km via 2wd, before walking the rest. This seemed like the go, as this route if less hilly.
Left home at 06:30, 50 minutes drive via M1 Motorway, turning off at Freemands Waterhole, Leggets Drive, Sandy Creek Road, and then onto Heaton Road, which leads into the Watagans NP. See map above.
A fuzzy photo, but you can see the 0ºC showing on the drive out..
After entering the Park, turn right onto Georges Road.
From this point the AZ is 11.5km (so the sign above says), along a dirt track that forms a section of the Great North Walk. The plan was to drive this track, for as long as I could, before parking and walking the rest. I was hoping to get 7-8km down it, but this proved to be optimistic.
The track was rough with pretty deep ruts and some quite large rocks in places. I was starting to lose my nerve, after scraping the bottom of the car a few times, and ended up parking at 'Narrow Place Lookout', which the odometer told me was 4.6km along the road. There was room to turn around here and parking wouldn't block the track.
So far so good, but instead of the hoped for 3km walk, I now had '11.5km - 4.6km = 6.9km'. Anyway the sun was shining, I had time, and was keen for some exercise.
The track is a little up and down, and follows a ridge line, every now and then dipping down and climbing back up. Certainly easier than the route from the south but it still worked out the legs. Views to the north are excellent. After about 4-5km, you leave the National Park, and cross over to private property, but access is granted for walkers and this still forms part of the Great North Walk.
From here its about another 2km to the summit.
The AZ incorporates a rest area/camping ground, which is flat and great for operating.
First QSO was at at 23:38UTC, and managed 10 contacts before and after the UTC rollover, with 5 x S2S contacts. Best DX was ZL1, and the higher bands (20m and up), seemed closed.
Last QSO was in the log at 00:38UTC, exactly 1 hours after starting.
The walk back was uneventful, if a little painful/slower due to a blister picked up on the way in.
About a 2 hour walk back, had me back at the car around 12:45 local, for a quick lunch before heading off..... Not quite, got 20m up the road and something felt wrong.... Flat tyre...
Fortunatly the spare, which hasn't been used in the time I've had the car (3 years), was pumped up and ready to go...
Summary: even with the longer walk, blister and flat tyre, it was a pretty good day. I'd recommend this route to the summit, but the next time I'll leave the Car at the Junction of Heaton and Georges Roads, and walk the full 11.5km in (unless someone wants to lend me a 4wd).
Being the weekend, there were a few people about. I was passed by several groups on the way in, who were running the track. These never came back, so I assume they exited via the Congewai Rd route?? There was also a couple of trail bikers, and several hikers. Thankfully my time on the summit, was people free. I only saw one other vehicle on my travels, a 4wd as I was coming out.
If only I had another 10+ summits like this, within an hour of home !!!
__________________________
Barraba Trig, VK2/HU-065 (17/May/2017) David, VK2NU and Tony, VK2WFT
Spurred on by our initial success the next effort was to be Barraba Trig, which is situated on the 'Great North Walk', again in the Watagan Ranges.
There are a couple of ways to access the summit, but we chose to park on Congewai Road, to the south and follow the Great North Walk. After talking to some hikers on the summit we discovered that this was the shorter, but much more difficult route. There is a 4WD track at the summit, but as we didn't come in the road way, I can't confirm how good the access is.
The route we took was about 4km each way again, but was very steep for several sections, as my legs testified for several days afterwards.
Circle indicates starting point on the unpaved Congewai Rd.
Forgot to take any photos of the activation itself, but the pictures below show after packing up....
Winding up the 404UL OCF Dipole after use.
Equipment.
Elecraft KX3
LiFePO4 Battery
404UL OCF Dipole antenna on 9 Haverford Pole
Contacts Made.
10, all on 40m SSB and CW
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