This weekend was the annual Scouthike event, a competition hike for Scouts, where safety communications are provided by the Scout Radio & Electronics Service Unit. As in previous years my son Ashley, VK3FASH, and I set up a station at one of the sleep points, working mainly 2 metres via the Unit’s VK3RSR portable repeater.
Saturday morning was quiet once the Scouts had moved out so I headed for a walk from the camp up and over SOTA summit Mt Hickey VK3/VN-015.
Fire spotter’s tower
The walk from the camp site in Landscape Rd to the summit, via Mountain Track, was four km with the return along Caddell Track and Gravel Pit Track slightly shorter.
On the summit I used my linked dipole antenna and Yaesu FT817. I made 13 QSOs on 40 m including summit to summit contacts with Brian, VK3MCD, on Mt Toolebewong, VK3/VC-033 and Rod, VK2TWR, on Mt Buckland VK2/SM-080.
On 12 m I worked four stations, W7RV, N4EX, W5UN and VK6MB.
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