GM/SI-114 - An Sgurr

GM/SI-114  An Sgurr

13/06/2018

Storm Hector approaches

On our way to the boat

MV Sheerwater

When the skipper of the boat announces that  ‘it is going to be rough on the way back’  and ensuring that we are all happy to make the journey it doesn’t make you feel confident….Storm Hector was approaching.   Nobody left the MV Sheerwater and away we went leaving Arisaig ( NM 657863) and heading West towards the little port of Galmisdale on the Isle of Eigg  (NM 484838).  It was a bit choppy on the way out but approximately an hour later we arrived safely at our destination. 

Is that An Sgurr.. a shadow in the distance?

Does he know something?

Nearing Eigg..

An Sgurr from the harbour

By the time we reached the port it was raining heavily….with waterproofs on we made our way via the track leading through NM 480839 then NM 474840 following the track (NM 471846) to the North side of An Sgurr and through a rocky passage way which leads to a scrambly route to the summit.  

Heading up

Clear on top at the moment

Oh no!!!

We meet the Marilyn baggers on their way down!!!

Thank goodness someone at some time had painted reb blobs to make route finding to the summit a lot easier. We were in the middle of the mist made worse by the rain and high wind….Storm Hector was arriving.

Thank goodness for the red blobs

We managed to find some shelter and with a combined effort we erected the 4m pole and dipole…this was going to be a super fast activation provided we could get a spot..…did I really want to take my phone out!  This was a time when it has paid dividends to Alert the working frequency…Barry called out on our nominated 60m frequency and ‘bingo’ Michael EI3GYB was waiting for us…thank you Michael.  Even with a spot it was a difficult 10 minutes with rapid QSB and the little FT817 becoming more and more saturated with water. There were some ‘good ears’ listening for us.

12:41z	EI3GYB	5MHz	SSB	Michael
12:45z	GW0PLP	5MHz	SSB	Don
12:46z	G0VWP	5MHz	SSB	Terry
12:47z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don
12:51z	G4IAR	5MHz	SSB	Dave

With a final ‘last calls’ we beat a hasty retreat from the summit and regretting having not been able to see the wonderful view that An Sgurr has to offer.  As soon as we left the summit we were sheltered by An Sgurr and took the time to have something to eat behind a rocky outcrop and contemplate how rough the return journey would be…those M&S sandwiches were tasty :)

Heading down

Lunch in the shelter of a rocky outcrop

We think it would be possible to activate both summits.  Some sort of transport would be needed (hire bikes available) to take you to your starting point for GM/SI-134 Sgorr an Fharaidh. The Marilyn baggers on our boat did both but did not hang around on summits….you have only 5 hours island time before the boat departs back to the mainland. Yes, we did have a very rough crossing back to the mainland but it passed without incident in the safe hands of our skipper. Storm Hector was here….

Val and Rhodri had decided to skip the trip to Eigg and had secured a ride on the The Jacobite from Fort William to Mallaig. The steam train crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the Harry Potter films) which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument.  https://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm

The Jacobite in Fort William (Pic by Rhodri)

Crossing Glenfinnan viaduct (Pic by Rhodri)

(HF) Yaesu FT817ND (5 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

Antenna - 3 band link dipole (60/40/20 (+15m extensions +80m loading coils)

Antenna support - 4m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX and Barry M0IML