GW/NW-006 – Tryfan

GW/NW-006 – Tryfan

29/09/2018

Tryfan..ticked the box

I was with Gerald MW0WML today. Gerald knows Tryfan like the back of his hand having climbed to the summit dozens of times using all the routes, in all weather conditions and spent hours rock climbing on the many faces available…I was in safe hands.

Our target for the day..Adam & Eve just visible

We parked at SH658601, made our way through the wicket gate at the end of the car park and headed for the North end of Llyn Bochlwyd.

From the carpark looking up the A5 towards Ogwen Cottage

From Llyn Bochlwyd we aimed for Bwlch Tryfan where we took the opportunity to have something to eat before walking sticks were packed away and the real scamble started as we headed NE towards the summit.

Gerald framing Glyder Fach/Fawr and Llyn Bochlwyd

 Perfection...wasted talent...

Leaving Llyn Bochlwyd

Misty summit..long way to go

Not far to go now..summit visible

There is one spot near the top which is about 4 feet wide where you have to scramble ensuring that both hands are grabbing hold of something (that was my theory anyway)…on one side there is a sheer drop to the valley below and on the other a 15 foot drop onto more rock ... I did err on the 15 foot side.  As I was starting to cross Gerald told me not to look down on either side … too late…I’d already had a peep….

Llyn Bochlwyd, Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen visible from the summit

The mist would come and go

Although mist was forming on the summit we were blessed with good views and we set up overlooking the Llyn Ogwen side.  We had opted for 2m and 4m today as there is very little room on top for HF without incurring the wrath of fellow summiteers although I think we would have got away with it as most were very friendly even when someone sent up a drone!

Gerald was already listening to John GW4TQE/p calling ‘CQ SOTA’ from Cadair Idris as we set up the cable tie dipole on the fishing pole.  John had gone out specially to activate Cadair to give us all an s2s contact … the camaraderie in SOTA is unbelievable sometimes…thank you John.

11:08z	GW4TQE/P	144MHz	FM	John s2s .. Cadair Idris
11:13z	M0HZP	144MHz	FM	Dave .. Fleetwood
11:14z	G0HRT	144MHz	FM	Rob .. Southport, Liverpool
11:18z	G1OHH	144MHz	FM	Sue .. Lancaster
11:21z	G7CDA	144MHz	FM	Douggie .. Lancaster
11:22z	MW0ISC	144MHz	FM	Steve .. Pantmwyn, Flintshire
11:23z	2E0MIX	144MHz	FM	Derek .. Whitehaven, Cumbria
11:28z	EI6KO	144MHz	FM	Albert .. Dalkey, Co.Dublin
11:32z	G1OHH	144MHz	DV	Sue diff mode
11:34z	G7CDA	144MHz	DV	Douggie diff mode
11:36z	G0CTO	144MHz	DV	Ian .. Bolton
11:39z	2E0MIX	144MHz	DV	Derek diff mode
11:46z	GW8OGI/A	70MHz	FM	Ian .. Abergele

We never had a real pile-up as such but each contact was pleasurable and we were able to have a chat with each one with Sue, Douggie, and Derek returning for a C4FM contact with 5/9 each way. 

Adam & Eve

Ready to jump??

We never had contacts towards the South as we had Adam & Eve in the way…we had kept way from these as it was very busy so apologies to Roy GW6DGU and any others who had been listening for us.

4m activation - Allan

I think the most surprised chaser was Ian GW8OGI/A in Abergele when I called out on 4m. With 5/9 each way Ian explained that the 4m rig sits silent for months and then today it exploded into life with my ‘CQ SOTA’. Gerald got in on the act with his first ever 4m contact. We never heard anyone else but I hope I’ll get a few contacts on future activations…there are 4m rigs out there.

Llyn Bochlwyd, Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen visible from the summit

We opted to finish off our food noting that it was getting rather cold and really time to leave the summit if we were going to activate Glyder Fawr.  Sliding back over the ‘slab’ on my backside I heard Gerald exclaim that he couldn’t watch what was happening…I concentrated on my slide to safety and turned to see what Gerald was looking at.  A group of 6 youngsters had overshot the North approach to the summit and had come around to the South side and were in a precarious situation…Because it was dry they all made it safely up the steeply sloped slabs….luck was on their side.

Phew!!

Clear view across to Y Garn NW-004 and Elidir Fawr NW-005

From the large boulders we descended via a different route via some scree making the decision that Glyder Fawr was to be kept for another day as I had a long journey home.  It had been a great day and thanks to Gerald it was one of the best SOTA activations I had done in quite a while….

 (VHF) Yaesu FT270 and Yaesu FT2D  with cable dipole on fishing mast

4m Wouxun KG-699E with loaded 4m flexiwhip antenna

Antenna support - 4m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX & Gerald MW0WML

GW/SW-001 – Pen y Fan

GW/SW-001 – Pen y Fan (8 points)

30/08/2018

A very busy summit

Perhaps we should have decided to visit another summit but the sun was shining and we both wanted something easy to try and ease our way back on to the hills and mountains. Not only had John GW4TQE alerted but also Rod M0JLA and Viki M6BWA ….. useful s2s points would be in the bag if all went to plan.

My GPS track

Busy car park

Great views today

Val with Fan Fawr, Fan Gyhirych and Fan Brycheiniog visible...all SOTA summits

As we approached Bwlch Duwynt I could hear John calling.  I gave a call and informed him I would be on summit in 10 minutes and with that I sprinted ahead and left Val to make her way to the summit alone and amongst the growing number of visitors.

View from Bwlch Duwynt

View from Bwlch Duwynt

John was very soon in the log from Black Mountain GW/SW-041 so I then looked around for a suitable spot to set up. Val wasn’t long arriving at my chosen spot so she helped me get the station in order then went to take a few pictures. With the HF bands in poor condition I opted to start on 2m and very soon had a pile up of chasers after my spot hit Sotawatch…thanks everybody.

Unpacking KX2

10:01z	GW4TQE/P	144MHz	FM	John s2s GW/SW-041
10:25z	GW6OVD	144MHz	FM	Mal..Treharris
10:26z	GW0PLP	144MHz	FM	Don..Aberporth Nr Cardigan
10:27z	MW6IUT	144MHz	FM	Brian..Aberdulais Nr Neath
10:28z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki Heading foir GW/SW-003
10:28z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	Rod heading for GW/SW-003
10:29z	G4WTF	144MHz	FM	Ian..Herford City
10:30z	G0RQL	144MHz	FM	Don..Holsworthy Devon
10:35z	G0JMD	144MHz	FM	MIke..Avon Nr Bristol
10:38z	MW0OFA	144MHz	FM	Frank..Blaenffos Pembs
10:43z	MW1CJE/M	144MHz	FM	Andrew..heading for GW/SW-030
10:50z	MW6BMM	144MHz	FM	Billy..Waunarlwydd Swansea
10:54z	G0XAE	144MHz	FM	Mike..Westbury on Severn
11:19z	GM0VWP/P	7MHz	SSB	Terry s2s GM/SI-153
11:21z	EA2DT	7MHz	SSB	Manuel..Pamplona
11:22z	DL3RBF/P	7MHz	SSB	Franz s2s DM/HE-045
11:23z	DL3HXX	7MHz	SSB	Lothar..Wittenberg
11:24z	DJ5AV	7MHz	SSB	Mike..Heiligenberg
11:25z	DL1CR/P	7MHz	SSB	Christoph s2s DM/NS-161
11:26z	M0MDA	7MHz	SSB	Mick..Leeds
11:26z	HB9DHA	7MHz	SSB	Ray..Switzerland
11:45z	IK2LEY/IA5	14MHz	SSB	Fabio s2s I/TO-200
11:46z	SA4BLM	14MHz	SSB	Lars..Sweden
12:05z	MW1CJE/P	144MHz	FM	Andrew s2s GW/SW-030
12:07z	MW0JLA/P	144MHz	FM	Rod s2s GW/SW-003
12:10z	MW6BWA/P	144MHz	FM	Viki s2s GW/SW-003
12:11z	MW6BWA/P	433MHz	FM	Viki s2s GW/SW-003 diff band

2m pile up

There were no takers on 60m but 40m seemed to be working although rapid QSB was a major problem. It was nice to get three s2s in the log on this band. We had a surprise visit from the National Park warden who promptly told me to carry on and moved away quite quickly to chase someone who was using a drone…he was not amused. 

Busy summit now

Sugar Loaf visible in the distance..SOTA summit....Val listening to Viki

Within a short period of time Andrew, Rod and Viki were in the log from their respective summits. Rod and Viki were on Fan Brycheiniog having followed a South approach along the ridge line to the summit…must try that one.

Busy Corn Du from Pen y Fan

We had been on summit for over two hours but the weather had been kind to us…we will probably be back for a few winter bonus points before Christmas so I hope the HF bands will be in better shape.

 (HF) Elecraft KX2 (5 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

(VHF) Yaesu FT2 with cable dipole on fishing mast

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