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
