Mt Beenak VK3/VC-016, and a last resting place in the hills

Mt Beenak, 745 meters, is a four – point summit roughly between Gembrook and Warburton.  You can approach it on the C424 from either Gembrook traveling north or Launching Place travelling south.   I used Peter VK3ZPF’s map as a guide.  At about 8.5 km north of Gembrook I turned right onto Beenak Rd.  After 3.3 km I passed the unexpected and quaint Beenak Cemetery on the left, a tiny but ‘operating’ and well kept cemetery in a clearing on the north side of the road — an idyllic place for ‘silent keys’ surrounded by  tall eucalyptus forest.   At the Junction called Basan Corner on Peter’s map, I followed Beenak Rd around to the left. About 600m further on there is a logged hill top, and ‘The Squeeze’, where the road is guarded either side by two huge boulders.

The next junction about 2.3 km further on is with Mt Beenak Rd.  Turn sharp left and follow Mt Beenak Rd for 800m to the junction with the access track to the summit on the right.  I parked there and walked up the well maintained track for about 15 minutes to the summit.

Peter’s map states ‘limited views’ but I think it must have been recently logged because there are excellent views over a forest of sub-2 meter high new growth.  I set up the squid pole on a granite outcrop to give the scene as more rugged mountain top look! Conditions were excellent,  17 or so degrees and high cloud with patches of blue and not a breath of wind.  I spotted myself on 7090 and after about 2 minutes of unplanned delay, called CQ SOTA, and was immediately swamped by chasers.  Although it was early mid afternoon the signals on 40 meters were strong in both directions. I predominantly exchanged  5×9 and received the same back.  It was good to work a number of the regulars.  A pleasant surprise was my neighbour and GippsTech buddy Chris VK3KIH with whom I share a train ride to work with some days.  The MST400 performed well as usual.  An enjoyable activation in an interesting, albeit partially logged State Park with some early settler history.

Date:24/May/2015 Summit:VK3/VC-016 (Mt Beenak) Call Used:VK3HN Points: 4 Bonus: 0   Delete

Time	Call	Band	Mode	Notes
04:15z	VK3YAR	7MHz	SSB	Ray, Central Vic
04:17z	VK3CRG	7MHz	SSB	Craig, Lara
04:19z	VK3PF	7MHz	SSB	Peter, tnx fer comment on audio overdriving!
04:19z	VK3FQSO	7MHz	SSB	Amanda, Wedderburn
04:20z	VK3UH	7MHz	SSB	Ken, Yarram
04:21z	VK2BO	7MHz	SSB	Richard, Cowra
04:22z	VK3OF	7MHz	SSB	Rex, Swan Hill
04:22z	VK5WG	7MHz	SSB	Neville
04:23z	VK2LX	7MHz	SSB	Grant, Canberra
04:23z	VK5LY	7MHz	SSB	Larry, Renmark
04:25z	VK3AGD	7MHz	SSB	Adam
04:25z	VK3IL	7MHz	SSB	David, central Melbourne
04:26z	VK2IO	7MHz	SSB	Gerard, Sydney
04:27z	VK3ARR	7MHz	SSB	Andrew, Geelong
04:27z	VK3AFW	7MHz	SSB	Ron
04:27z	VK3DN/2	7MHz	SSB	Robert, Byron Bay
04:28z	VK1RX/P	7MHz	SSB	Alan
04:28z	VK3ARM	7MHz	SSB	Rob
04:31z	VK3YB	7MHz	SSB	Brenton, Beaconsfield
04:32z	VK3NBL/P	7MHz	SSB	Ray, Keilor
04:35z	VK3NBV	7MHz	SSB	Bob, Ballarat
04:35z	VK3FPSR	7MHz	SSB	Peter, Cobram
04:36z	VK3CAT	7MHz	SSB	Tony
04:37z	VK3HRA	7MHz	SSB	VK3/VN-024
04:37z	VK5FTRG	7MHz	SSB	Tom, Millicent
04:39z	VK1AT	7MHz	SSB	Jim
04:40z	VK3FJAE	7MHz	SSB	Doug, Maryborough
04:42z	VK3FCDL	7MHz	SSB	Col, Murray Bridge
04:44z	VK3LHB	7MHz	SSB	Bill, Melbourne
04:46z	VK3BWZ	7MHz	SSB	Bob, Blackburn
04:47z	VK1MA	7MHz	SSB	Matt, Canberra
04:48z	VK3DMP	7MHz	SSB	Des, Bairnsdale
04:57z	VK2UH	7MHz	SSB	Andrew, Yass
04:58z	VK3KIH	7MHz	SSB	Chris, Blackburn
05:01z	VK3DAC	7MHz	SSB	Fred, Yarra Valley