Wet and windy on Mynydd Mawr
Mynydd Mawr GW/NW-026
20/09/2015
Val and I had booked into ‘The Stables’ in Llanwnda which
was just 4 miles from Mynydd Mawr. After
a very nice breakfast we made our way towards Y Fron to a spot at SH5160 5512 with
ample room for parking. (3.04 km to summit)
My GPS track
Mynydd Mawr ..left and the Nantlle ridge right
We could see and feel that rain was in the air and as
we started our journey the wind started to pick up so by the time we were half
way up we had stop and put on our waterproofs as by now it was well and truly
raining :)
Wisps of cloud appearing..Ynys Mon distant
First summit Cairn in sight
It was nice to see one of the cairns appear as we reached
the summit so I quickly picked the best one that would afford the best
protection from the elements. I kept the fishing pole as low as possible and
with Val keeping it steady as well I was
ready but thinking that this would have to be a short stay on top in the strong
wind and rain.
I started on 2m and immediately picked up a trio of contacts
from 'the gang' on a Wainwright and Hump up in the Lake District, although this
time Phil was absent and Geoff WHA had joined the other two.
10:14z
|
G4WHA/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Geoff
LDW116 HLD18
|
10:15z
|
2E0NON/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Geoff
LDW116 HLD18
|
10:16z
|
G4OOE/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Nick
LDW116 HLD18
|
10:16z
|
MW3PZO
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Sean
|
10:18z
|
M6TXB/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Conor
s2s
|
10:19z
|
M6EPW
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Liz
|
10:20z
|
2E0MIX
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Derek
|
10:21z
|
GW4TQE/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
John
s2s
|
10:23z
|
GW4TJC/A
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Simon
|
10:27z
|
GW3XRM
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Dave
|
10:27z
|
GI4ONL
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Victor
|
10:29z
|
GW4ZPL/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
John
IO73wd
|
10:31z
|
MW6RHD/M
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Robert
|
10:32z
|
EI5HYB
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Dom
|
10:35z
|
EI9GLB
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Jim
|
I picked up two s2s
with Conor TXB on Dale Head G/LD-020 in the Lake District and John TQE on Moel
y Golfa GW/MW-027...thanks both. It was great to get Victor GI4ONL on 2m as
well as Dom EI5HYB using his newly acquired licence....it was wonderful to get so
many regular chasers in the log on 2m especially so as I hadn’t been spotted!
Thanks everyone.
Mist, wind and rain closing in
I spotted myself for 60m but the visit was a brief one as only
5 SOTA regulars appeared and despite many final calls I decided to leave the
comfort of the cairn to change the links...quite windy out there :(
10:43z
|
G8ADD
|
5MHz
|
SSB
|
Brian
|
10:45z
|
G4OBK
|
5MHz
|
SSB
|
Phil
|
10:47z
|
GW2HFR
|
5MHz
|
SSB
|
Jonathan
|
10:48z
|
G0RQL
|
5MHz
|
SSB
|
Don
IO70uv
|
10:49z
|
G3RDQ
|
5MHz
|
SSB
|
David
|
Out to change the links..both smiling
Val, get back here to hold the antenna
With a spot up on Sotawatch Mike G6TUH was first in with a booming
signal...band conditions were better today. A good run of regular chasers followed
including Barry M0IML asking if I liked his mountain...you can imagine my reply
under the circumstances....all good clean fun :) With final calls being made I
decided to pull the plug as the weather was not improving and we had a few
places to visit on the way home.
10:59z
|
G6TUH
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Mike
|
11:01z
|
M0IML
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Barry
|
11:01z
|
G0HRT
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Rob
|
11:02z
|
DJ6OK
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Oliver
|
11:03z
|
MW0XOT
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
John
|
11:03z
|
G0VWP
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Terry
|
11:04z
|
EA3DT
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Manuel
|
11:05z
|
EA2CKX
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Pedro
|
11:06z
|
GW4TJC/P
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Simon
|
11:06z
|
M0MDA
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Mick
|
11:07z
|
MW0BYS
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Bill
|
11:07z
|
M3FEH
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Karl
|
11:08z
|
G4ZRP
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Brian
|
11:09z
|
ON4EM
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Manuel
|
11:10z
|
PA1BR
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Pascal
|
11:11z
|
M0PAR
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Roy
|
11:11z
|
DK7ZH
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Manfred
|
11:13z
|
GW6STK
|
7MHz
|
SSB
|
Robert
|
With everything packed away the dulcet tones of Gerald
MW0WML/p were heard calling from Craig y Castell GW/NW-074 on my 2m handie....he was soon in
the log..thanks G.
11:37z
|
MW0WML/P
|
144MHz
|
FM
|
Gerald
s2s
|
Heading back down I called Sean MW3PZO on 2m to arrange a quick ‘hello’ as we were
passing his house...it was great to see you Sean. Also thanks to John GW4ZPL/p for keeping in
touch with us on 2m over the two days...thanks for your company John.
Back at the car
Now I had also arranged with Simon GW4TJC to meet up at Rhyd
Ddu on our way home so I set the Sat Nav to take me through the Nantlle valley
with the clouds still hanging low over the tops of the Nantlle ridge and Mynydd
Mawr.
We had a lovely cup of coffee and Welsh cakes at the Tea Rooms in Rhyd Ddu and
it was nice meeting you’ face to face’ Simon.
My activation set up:-
(HF) Yaesu FT817 (5 watts)
(4Ah LiPo), 4 band link dipole (60/40/20+15m),
(VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a
‘cable tie’ dipole.. Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.
Thanks everyone for
the contacts
73 Allan GW4VPX
