GW/SW-004 Waun Rydd

Another cold but sunny day

GW/SW-004 Waun Rydd

13/03/2016

The car park was nearly full when we arrived so this part of the Brecon Beacons was going to be busy. It’s a stiff climb to the top of Craig y Fan Ddu but then it’s a pleasant but long walk along Craig Fan Las to the summit.

My GPS track

A busy route

Long way to the top

On Craig y Fan Ddu...Craig Fan Las and summit to the right

Before I had unpacked John MW0XOT/p was calling me for an s2s from Pen y Fan GW/SW-001 quickly followed by Peter G1FOA/p on Long Mynd-Pole Bank G/WB-005...both on the FT270 hh…thanks both…only two more to qualify.

11:40z	MW0XOT/P	144MHz	FM	John s2s
11:42z	G1FOA/P	144MHz	FM	Peter s2s

Val and I had to drop down slightly from the summit as there was an icy cold wind blowing so the bothy bag was brought out which ensures a comfortable activation. I was able to self spot and a nice flow of regular chasers called me on 60m.

12:01z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
12:04z	G4MD	5MHz	SSB	Paul
12:05z	G0TDM	5MHz	SSB	John
12:05z	OZ7JZ	5MHz	SSB	Ronald
12:07z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB	Andrew
12:08z	G0VOF	5MHz	SSB	Mark
12:08z	G0WFH	5MHz	SSB	Christopher
12:09z	G8XYJ	5MHz	SSB	Matt
12:10z	G0ELJ	5MHz	SSB	Dave
12:10z	G4WSB	5MHz	SSB	Bill
12:11z	G6LKB	5MHz	SSB	David
12:11z	GM4WHA	5MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:12z	G8ADD	5MHz	SSB	Brian
12:12z	G3RMD	5MHz	SSB	Frank
12:13z	M0NTC	5MHz	SSB	Gez

Our office..Pen y fan in the distance

Nearly all the chasers were 5/8-9 so the band was in good shape/ Brian G8ADD let me know that Jonathan GW2HFR was on his way to a summit to give me an s2s so after I finished I did not rush to change the links but decided on a quick visit to 2m but monitoring 60m as well.

12:16z	MW0UAA/M	144MHz	FM	David
12:18z	GW1YVV	144MHz	FM	Ivan
12:20z	2E0MDJ/P	144MHz	FM	Matt

An ‘out of breath’ Jonathan eventually called me from GW/NW-047 Mwdwl-eithin and we made the s2s so thank you Jonathan..I owe you a drink to repay you for your exertion :)

12:27z

GW2HFR/P

5MHz

SSB

Jonathan s2s

Out of the wind

As soon as I changed the links I could see that PA1EW/p was on PA/PA-003 Observat so a few s2s calls with the help of a few chasers Ed was in the log for yet another s2s…thanks Ed.

12:39z

PA1EW/P

7MHz

SSB

Ed s2s

Our view from the 'office'

I spotted for 40m and it was nice to get Barry M0IML in the log followed by a steady stream of chasers from all over the UK and Europe.

12:47z	M0IML	7MHz	SSB	Barry
12:48z	HB9MKV	7MHz	SSB	Rudi
12:49z	EA2DT	7MHz	SSB	Manuel
12:50z	G6WRW	7MHz	SSB	Carolyn
12:50z	G0TDM	7MHz	SSB	John
12:50z	2E0FGQ	7MHz	SSB	Nick
12:51z	M0MDA	7MHz	SSB	Mick
12:51z	EA2CKX	7MHz	SSB	Pedro
12:52z	EA2IF	7MHz	SSB	Guru
12:53z	G0GWY	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:53z	G0FEX	7MHz	SSB	Ken
12:54z	GM4WHA	7MHz	SSB	Geoff
12:54z	M6RUG	7MHz	SSB	Dave
12:55z	M1MAJ	7MHz	SSB	Martyn
12:55z	M3ZCB	7MHz	SSB	Caroline
12:55z	MI6LZL	7MHz	SSB	Peter
12:56z	M5AML	7MHz	SSB	John
12:56z	G4TQE	7MHz	SSB	John
12:57z	G8MIA	7MHz	SSB	Andy
12:57z	G4APO	7MHz	SSB	Roland
12:58z	GW6DGU	7MHz	SSB	Roy
12:58z	MW0BYS	7MHz	SSB	Bill
12:59z	PC9DB	7MHz	SSB	Mark
12:59z	GW7MMG	7MHz	SSB	Phil
13:00z	2W0JYN	7MHz	SSB	Steven
13:02z	G8VNW	7MHz	SSB	Nick
13:03z	GW4CQZ	7MHz	SSB	Martyn
13:04z	2E0GEL	7MHz	SSB	James

From my side 5/9s were the order of the day although chaser reports for me varied between 4/7 and 5/9+ with just one 4/4..thanks everyone.

Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du

Craig y Fan Ddu casting a shadow down to the valley below..our route back

The car park on our return

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