GW/NW-009 Cadair Idris-Penygadair

GW/NW-009  Cadair Idris-Penygadair

21/05/2015

Bit of a slog today

I met up with Mal GW6OVD at the car park at SH731115. We kitted up for the long 4.8km journey up to the top of Cadair Idris via the Minffordd path. Maybe not the easiest route but the most picturesque on a fine day!

GPS track of the journey

On our way

 Mal had opted for 2m today with his 400ohm slotted wire J-Pole so I packed the FT817 and 60/40/20m linked dipole hopeful  that the bands would be a little better than of late. Now the initial steps up from the river are steep and I knew I would dread this part on the way down :(  We made good progress with many photographic opportunities presenting themselves. 

 The dreaded steps

Could be busy on top?

Track repairs

On our way up we could see that Cadair was continually shrouded in low cloud which did not bode well for any chance of a nice view from the top.  

 It's a long way to the top

Pause for a drink

Well worth the walk. Llyn Cau, Craig Cau middle and Cadair Idris right

A glimpse of Llyn Cau from Craig Cau

Llyn Cau

Final push to the summit ahead

GW4VPX/p above Llyn Cau

It took us 2hrs and 51minutes to reach the top and we soon set up and got the activation underway as it was a little cold to say the least.

GW6OVD/p - Cadair Idris

As I finished setting up I could hear Mal had already had a few contacts having been spotted and was in the middle of an s2s with Viki MW6BWA/p on Y Llethr GW/NW-017. I quickly got in on the action and both Viki and Rod MW0JLA/p were in the log in quick succession...thanks both although Viki was quite disappointed that I did not have my 70cms set up with  me....oh dear  :(

12:15z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s
12:16z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	Rod s2s
12:24z	G8TMV	5MHz	SSB	Colin

I tried to get a spot out for 60m on RRT and Droidspot (SMS based with good phone signal?) but was unsuccessful although when I did call Colin G8TMV came back to my calls then silence.... I changed the links and hunted around 7.118 only to find Barry M0IML/p and Andrew GW4XZL/p in the middle of an s2s...bingo.  Thanking Andrew for the s2s I was then able to announce that I would look for a frequency higher up but Mike G6TUH told me to QSY to 7.125Mhz...the rest is history....thanks Mike

12:30z	GW4XZL/P	7MHz	SSB	Andrew s2s
12:32z	G6TUH	7MHz	SSB	Mike
12:33z	M0IML/P	7MHz	SSB	Barry s2s + TP6473 t2t
12:34z	G4AFI	7MHz	SSB	Andrew
12:35z	G0TDM	7MHz	SSB	John
12:35z	M0MDA	7MHz	SSB	Mick
12:35z	G0TRB	7MHz	SSB	Roger
12:36z	M6KVJ	7MHz	SSB	Dave
12:37z	GI4ONL	7MHz	SSB	Victor
12:37z	G8MIA	7MHz	SSB	Andy
12:37z	MW0YCC	7MHz	SSB	Alan
12:37z	M3FEH	7MHz	SSB	Karl
12:38z	G0DRM	7MHz	SSB	David
12:38z	M6EBC	7MHz	SSB	Mark
12:39z	G6LKB	7MHz	SSB	David
12:39z	G4GEW	7MHz	SSB	Peter
12:40z	EI/G4ASA	7MHz	SSB	Dave
12:41z	M3NHA	7MHz	SSB	Tony
12:41z	M6NHA	7MHz	SSB	Sara
12:42z	EB2CZF	7MHz	SSB	Jose
12:43z	GW6DTN/P	7MHz	SSB	Dave s2s
12:43z	G4OIG	7MHz	SSB	Gerald
12:44z	G0HRT	7MHz	SSB	Rob
12:45z	GW6STK	7MHz	SSB	Robert
12:45z	G4WHA/A	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:46z	G4HOM	7MHz	SSB	Fred
12:47z	EA2CKX	7MHz	SSB	Pedro
12:47z	G4AYO	7MHz	SSB	Mike
12:48z	G6ODU	7MHz	SSB	Bob
12:49z	G0VWP	7MHz	SSB	Terry

It was great to have an s2s with David GW6DTN/p  on GW/NW-034 Cyrniau Nod who had hung around in order to get the contact...thank you David.   

My office

With no more chasers I announced a QSY to the Worked all Britain net and with Ken G0FEX as net controller both Barry and I were worked simultaneously.  Some of the WAB chasers had already worked me so it was a quick run down the list.  I felt a little sad that I was not able to work Bill G4WSB/p who I think was on an ‘island somewhere’ but each time Bill spoke he was being wiped out by an Euro station......sorry Bill.

12:55z	G0FEX	7MHz	SSB	Ken
12:56z	G0BFJ	7MHz	SSB	Brian
12:56z	G0GWY	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:57z	G4JZF	7MHz	SSB	Graham
12:58z	MM3PDM/M	7MHz	SSB	Peter
12:58z	G7BTP	7MHz	SSB	Poul
12:59z	G4CQR	7MHz	SSB	Dave
13:00z	G0FVH	7MHz	SSB	David
13:00z	G7BGA	7MHz	SSB	Geoffrey
13:01z	G4ZRP	7MHz	SSB	Brian

Just about half way into the WAB net I felt a cold shiver and suddenly realised that I had not put on those extra layers so as soon as I finished I called to Mal to say I was packing up. “Me too” came the reply   ”Getting cold here”.   As soon as we got up and dismantled the antennas we were soon warm again also taking the opportunity to partake of a few sandwiches and commentating on the fact that any photo opportunity was a lost cause in the mist and cloud.

This is Mal’s log for the day

12:10z	MW0YCC	144MHz	FM	Alan
12:12z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki S2S NW-017
12:13z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	Rod S2S NW-017
12:16z	G0HRT	144MHz	FM	Rob
12:19z	GW8SFT	144MHz	FM	Dave
12:22z	G6LKB	144MHz	FM	David
12:23z	G6ODU	144MHz	FM	Bob
12:28z	2E0DLF	144MHz	FM	Andrew
12:30z	M6CEQ	144MHz	FM	Roy
12:33z	G0OHY	144MHz	FM	Arthur
12:35z	GW3XRM	144MHz	FM	Dave
12:36z	GW4CQZ	144MHz	FM	Martin
12:37z	M0MTJ	144MHz	FM	Mike
12:46z	EI9GLB	144MHz	FM	Jim
12:47z	G8MIA	144MHz	FM	Andy
12:48z	G7TCQ	144MHz	FM	Shawn
12:50z	G3VWH	144MHz	FM	Brian
12:52z	2W0JCN	144MHz	FM	John
12:56z	MW0UTC	144MHz	FM	Paul
15:15z	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM	Roy

An incident on the way down made us smile...as we crossed the ladder stile on top of Craig Cau we came across three walkers happily munching sandwiches and drinking tea. We exchanged pleasantries and were asked if we were going far...”just back down to the car park....we’ve been up on the summit.  Now that brought the response of “Do you mean to say that this is not Cadair Idris?” .... we then had to explain that they were not on the summit and that involved another mile or so of walking....gloomy faces...ah well.  Took us 2 hrs to get down including those dreaded steps at the bottom :(

 On the way back-Llyn Cau

Craig Cau ahead - return journey

The long way back over Craig Cau

One of the many waterfalls near the start/finish point

Thanks to all the chasers and spotters for yet another enjoyable activation and to all the other activators for the s2s and brief QSOs.

Till the next time....

73 Allan GW4VPX and Mal GW6OVD