Flag Peak ZL3/CB-737 18th January 2020

This is my third activation of Flag Peak but first blog. It's one of those hills that grows on you, I didn't particularly enjoy my first activation of it, I left the track too early (twice!) and ended up covered in scratches from Spaniard and Gorse. This time it was a doddle, great weather and I had Francie along with me.

Looking down at Akaroa and a visiting cruise ship

Mark ZL3AB was activating Mt John (Observatory) and there was a relatively unobstructed path so I decided to take my portable 2m 3 element yagi. Lucky there wasn't many branches overhanging the track!














Upon arriving I set up the yagi and climbed right to the summit to try our luck south, unfortunately nothing heard either way, maybe if we had gain antennas at both ends? I did work David ZL3DRN on Red Hill and Ian ZL3GIG on Lavericks, 59+++ both ways unsurprisingly!

Why is that Madman waving a TV antenna around?!

HF was set up quickly and a quick 40m CW contact with Mark on 40m had us both smiling.

Tactical Mini pole to left (North) of me, nice rock for me to perch on.

 

Usual setup, KX2, QRPGuys UNUNTenna with 41' wire and 35' counterpoise

This is a spectacular summit, thoroughly deserving of a panorama ;-)
It's so good you suddenly realise that you are seeing in real-time what you have seen since childhood on maps of Banks Peninsula.

Francie had her book and was enjoying the sunshine so we stuck around for the 1pm UTC rollover.

Looking East - next landmass is Chile! Francie in right of picture enjoying the view and her book.

An uneventful packup and walk down, followed by a very nice lunch in Akaroa and home!

How to get there:
Drive to Akaroa and head (carefully) up Stony Bay Road to the Misty Peaks Carpark at the top. Walk back down the road 100m to the track start. Walk well past the peak to where the track turns left and at the gate, turn left and walk up the spur to the summit.
Easy 30 minute walk, 190m altitude gain.
Permission, none needed, Armstrong reserve.