GW/SW-002 Waun Fach

Bands in poor shape today

GW/SW-002 Waun Fach

17/03/2016

My GPS track

Another cold day today but at least the sun was shining again although it would be slightly different on top a little later in our journey. We left the car at SO187289 and made our way up  Rhiw Trumau towards the cairn at SO204286 then North and  up over Pen Trumau passing  the ‘woollen line’ on the way.

On our way

Heading up Rhiw Trumau

Towards the cairn

Heading up Pen Trumau from the cairn

Looking back towards the cairn from Pen Trumau

Past the 'woollen line' ....Google it

There are now steps to the summit!!

Val starting up the steps

It was bitterly cold and the wind was really battering us as we made our way towards the summit. We set up out of the wind and the bothy bag was deployed.  

Bothy bag deployed

With a self spot I was away on 60m but with only 7 chasers and numerous calls I decided to move to 40m.

12:28z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
12:30z	G6TUH	5MHz	SSB	Mike
12:31z	G4OBK	5MHz	SSB	Phil
12:31z	EI9GLB	5MHz	SSB	Jim
12:32z	PA0SKP	5MHz	SSB	Sake
12:36z	G4IAR	5MHz	SSB	Dave
12:36z	PA7ZEE	5MHz	SSB	Geert

No pile-up today

It was not much better on 40m with only 3 chasers making the log. I called for while with no luck and then my callsign attracted my attention on 2m so I called QRT on 40m and turned my attention to the FT270.

12:44z	M0JLA	7MHz	SSB	Rod
12:46z	DL6KR	7MHz	SSB	Martin
12:48z	EB2CZF	7MHz	SSB	Jose

It's gone..the trig base

Me last year with the trig base behind

Now Alan and John knew how bad the band conditions were and therefore decided to give me a call on 2m fearing that I might be unable to qualify the summit. They were soon in the log quickly followed by Mal and Phil who had been unable to hear me on 40m. In fact 2m was quite productive when Keith, Matt and Don called in ending with a nice s2s with another Matt on The Wrekin G/WB-010..thanks everybody.

12:52z	MW0YCC	144MHz	FM	Alan
12:54z	MW0XOT	144MHz	FM	John
12:58z	GW6OVD	144MHz	FM	Mal
12:59z	GW7MMG	144MHz	FM	Phil
13:03z	MW6KPF/M	144MHz	FM	Keith
13:07z	G8XYJ	144MHz	FM	Matt
13:09z	M0HCU	144MHz	FM	Don
13:12z	2E1IHZ/P	144MHz	FM	Matt s2s

In QSO

I decided to have a listen on the WAB net as I had promised them SO22, however only Phil and Peter made my log even though Phil told me to call out there were no takers.

13:23z	G7AFM	7MHz	SSB	Phil
13:24z	MM3PDM/M	7MHz	SSB	Peter

My activation set up today:-  (HF) Yaesu FT817 (5 watts) (4Ah LiPo),  3 band link dipole (60/40/20),  (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) - 7m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts and the spots.

73 Allan GW4VPX