Sunday 26 March 2017

GW/NW-012 Cadair Berwyn

GW/NW-012 Cadair Berwyn

25/03/2017

Rather late on summit today

We had hoped to be on time today but that was not to be as the car journey up to Pistyll Rhaeadr took two and a half hours so we were late starting from the car park (£3).  
Our GPS track
On our way up
Much of the track was boggy and slippery as there had been a lot of visitors to the summit over the last few weeks so that slowed us down as well.  
Still a long way to go....Cadair Berwyn centre of pic
Follow the fence
Approaching Moel Sych...turn right here
Approaching the cairn on Cadair Berwyn...trig in the distance
I pushed ahead of Val and Rhodri and managed to get Viki (Tor y Foel GW/SW-013) in the log on the handheld from the Cairn on Cadair Berwyn...I still had a few hundred metres to go to set up near to the trig.  I could hear Rod calling me so I rapidly cable-tied the 2m dipole to the mast and answered him as they were about to leave their summit....the HF stuff was still in the rucksack.  Rod was soon in the log followed by  Phil and Andy on Fan Nedd GW/SW-007…thanks for waiting for me guys.  I could hear a pile-up building in the background and I called in John ZPL/p near Caernarvon and then Paul  MCQ in Oldham on his handheld  before announcing a ‘QRZ’ then 28 minutes of chaser activity.
11:58z
MW6BWA/P
144MHz
FM
Viki s2s
12:17z
MW0JLA/P
144MHz
FM
Rod s2s
12:19z
MW0PJJ/P
144MHz
FM
Phil s2s
12:20z
GW7RKC/P
144MHz
FM
Andy s2s
12:21z
GW4ZPL/P
144MHz
FM
John-Caernarfon
12:22z
M0CQE
144MHz
FM
Paul-Oldham
12:26z
G6NHW
144MHz
FM
Pete-Birmingham
12:28z
G4AZS
144MHz
FM
Adrian-Shrewsbury
12:30z
GD4SVD
144MHz
FM
Tony-Oncan, Isle of man
12:31z
M6RUG
144MHz
FM
Dave-Crewe
12:32z
G0LGS
144MHz
FM
Stuart-Cheltenham
12:32z
2E0MDJ
144MHz
FM
Matt-Cheltenham
12:34z
GW4TJC/P
144MHz
FM
Simon s2s
12:35z
M0XOT/P
144MHz
FM
John-Hump HWB-025 +Trig
12:35z
2E0YYY
144MHz
FM
Mike-Stoke on Trent
12:37z
GW7HEM/P
144MHz
FM
Mike s2s
12:38z
M0GNA/P
144MHz
FM
Alan-Birkenhead
12:39z
M6UKZ
144MHz
FM
Dave-Dudley
12:39z
M6HPE
144MHz
FM
Paul-Stafford
12:40z
EI9GLB
144MHz
FM
Jim-Co Wexford
12:41z
M6ODS
144MHz
FM
Ash-Roessendale,Lancs
12:42z
G0VOF
144MHz
FM
Mark-Blackburn
12:43z
G7LMF
144MHz
FM
Graham-Telford
12:43z
2E0GPO
144MHz
FM
Owen-nr Ashton
12:44z
G1BRF
144MHz
FM
Philip-Halesowen
12:46z
M3COY
144MHz
FM
Mike
12:47z
GW7MHL/P
144MHz
FM
John
12:48z
M0PLA/P
144MHz
FM
Paul s2s
I had not really organised myself today and was feeling rather chilly having not put on an extra layer when I arrived due to the sudden pile-up.  Val and Rhodri arrived about 20 minutes later so I hastily took the 4m hh from Rhodri’s rucksack and called Simon to get an s2s on 4m…he was waiting and soon in the log…thanks Simon.  
Late on 60m
Rhodri and Val had arrived
I was late on 60m and sadly I missed Barry M0IML on his summit in G/SE.  He had sent me a few text but the phone reception had been iffy and a pile-up tends to focus your attention…sorry Barry.   I never even heard G4OBK/p and gang up in the Lake District but they were only using handhelds…thanks for the heads up Victor GI4ONL.  Just one of those days when things don’t come together as planned.
Our view North towards Snowdonia
12:48z
GW4TJC/P
70MHz
FM
Simon s2s diff band
12:59z
G3SEY
5MHz
SSB
Ron-Ossett, West Yorks
13:04z
G4ZRP
5MHz
SSB
Brian
13:06z
G1BLJ
5MHz
SSB
Steve-nr Dudley
13:07z
EI3GYB
5MHz
SSB
Michael-Co. Mayo
13:08z
GI4ONL
5MHz
SSB
Victor-Bushmills,NI
13:09z
G4IAR
5MHz
SSB
Dave-Loughborough
13:10z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don-Holsworthy, Devon
13:11z
M0BKV
5MHz
SSB
Damian-Cornwall
13:12z
G8VNW
5MHz
SSB
Nick-Skipton, North Yorks
13:13z
GM4WHA
5MHz
SSB
Geoff-Annan, Scotland
14:03z
2E0LMA/P
144MHz
FM
Lee s2s
As I was leaving the summit Lee was calling from G/WB-019 so he was soon in the log …thanks Lee.   
Final s2s
Lake Lluncaws  below Cadair Berwyn
Busy summit...
Chaser points..caught Viki on 2m and 70cms at Moel Sych
Creativity on the cairn at Moel Sych

Today, I had tried to lighten the load by bringing the KX2 although only using it on 60m with excellent reports both ways.  I’ve saved about one and a half pounds in weight by using this rig and my 33 litre Osprey rucksack without neglecting the essential safety equipment/clothing….certainly made a difference.  It was a lovely day although cold on top and especially nice to have Rhodri as additional company for the weekend (home for Mother’s Day).
The waterfalls at Pistyll Rhaeadr

My activation set up:-  (HF) Elecraft KX2 (10 watts). Battery 4Ah LiPo ,  Antenna 3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m extensions +80m loading coils),  (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a ‘cable tie’ dipole. Wouxon KG699E 4m.  Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.
Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX

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