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