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