GW/SW-004 – Waun Rydd

GW/SW-004 – Waun Rydd

04/02/2019

Great company

I had an unexpected text the night before from Mal GW6OVD asking if I would like to join him and Ian to activate Waun Rydd…obvious answer :).   I arrived at the car park at SO 056175 at 9:10. Ian started out whilst Mal waited for me to get ready…we were soon away in hot pursuit of 2W0IWM.

Our GPS route

Heading up..Mal with Ian way out in front

It’s a stiff climb up on to Craig Fan Ddu which took us about 40 minutes.

Mal and Ian

Allan and Ian..mist rolling in again

GW4VPX with 2W0IWM  behind

Mal heading for a misty summit

It’s then a long walk along Craig Fan Ddu and Craig Fan Las to the meeting of the ways  at SO 056191 which is 10 minutes or so away from the  summit ..total of 4.60km (2.76 miles)…..we were well ahead of time and eventually started our activation exactly on our alerted time and the weather was improving... 

Summit cairn...Mal and Allan

The 'pop up' tent for 2m...Pen y Fan in the clouds...radio shack with a view

The weather had changed and the mist was rolling away leaving glorious sunshine…what else do  you want?  Whilst the other two set up for 2m a few meters away from me  I quickly erected the 5m pole and set up for 60m without raising the ends with the walking sticks…quick dab of the atu button seemed to work.  I drafted a spot on the phone as well as calling on my alerted frequency which brought an immediate response from Andrew and the offer of a spot…thanks Andrew.  I spent an enjoyable 15 minutes in a relaxed pile-up and a nice chat with G3UHN in Hertfordshire…thanks everyone.

11:14z	G4AFI	5MHz	SSB	Andrew, Hants
11:15z	M0TMD	5MHz	SSB	Helen, Glossop
11:15z	G0ELJ	5MHz	SSB	Dave, Norfolk
11:16z	GI0AZA	5MHz	SSB	Esther, Dungiven, NI
11:17z	G0FEX	5MHz	SSB	Ken, Leicester
11:18z	G3UHN	5MHz	SSB	Peter, Hertfordshire
11:22z	GI4ONL	5MHz	SSB	Victor, Bushmills,NI
11:23z	G4IAR	5MHz	SSB	Dave, Loughborough
11:24z	GM6ZAK	5MHz	SSB	Andy, Fife
11:24z	G7AFM	5MHz	SSB	Phil, Hereford
11:25z	G4OOE	5MHz	SSB	Nick, Scarborough
11:25z	MW0ISC	5MHz	SSB	Stephen, Pantymwyn
11:26z	GM3VAL	5MHz	SSB	Alan, Selkirk
11:27z	PA0SKP	5MHz	SSB	Sake, Netherlands
11:28z	G6NHW	5MHz	SSB	Pete, Birmingham
11:29z	MM0GGI	5MHz	SSB	John, Sutherland
11:30z	G0RQL	5MHz	SSB	Don, Holsworthy

GW4VPX /p

 60m pile-up makes you smile...not wearing gloves today..very comfortable

I popped over to see Mal and Ian and took some pictures from inside the ‘pop up’ tent including catching my friend Roy GW6DGU in Cardigan for a 2m contact.

Happy camper..2W0IWM/P

Mal in QSO on 2m...12deg C in the tent...

I had alerted for 80m so I set up the loading coils quickly….I was aware the boys would soon be finished on 2m and ready to head down hill.  Spot up and I was away picking up a few that are unable to work 60m and a few that had missed me earlier…thanks everyone.

11:35z	GW6DGU	144MHz	FM	Roy
11:45z	G0BFJ	3.5MHz	SSB	Brian, Huddersfield
11:47z	DG1NPM	3.5MHz	SSB	Nobi, Germany
11:49z	2E0FEH	3.5MHz	SSB	Karl, Saltash
11:50z	G4OBK	3.5MHz	SSB	Phil, Pickering
11:51z	G0VWP	3.5MHz	SSB	Terry, North Yorkshire
11:52z	M0TMD	3.5MHz	SSB	Helen, Glossop
11:52z	G4IAR	3.5MHz	SSB	Dave, Loughborough

Heading back down...managed to keep our feet dry again

Waterfall by the car park

It was a wonderful activation and as can be expected we did a lot of talking on the way up and on the way down :)  Looking forward to the next one…..

My activation set-up

HF:- Elecraft KX2 (10 watts) and 4Ah LiPo

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

Antenna support – 5m Fishing pole

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX