Tuesday 22 September 2015

Mynydd Mawr GW/NW-026



Wet and windy on Mynydd Mawr

Mynydd Mawr GW/NW-026

20/09/2015

Val and I had booked into ‘The Stables’ in Llanwnda which was just 4 miles from Mynydd Mawr.  After a very nice breakfast we made our way towards Y Fron to a spot at SH5160 5512 with ample room for parking.  (3.04 km to summit)
 My GPS track
Mynydd Mawr ..left and the Nantlle ridge right
We could see and feel that rain was in the air and as we started our journey the wind started to pick up so by the time we were half way up we had stop and put on our waterproofs as by now it was well and truly raining :)
Wisps of cloud appearing..Ynys Mon distant 


First summit Cairn in sight
It was nice to see one of the cairns appear as we reached the summit so I quickly picked the best one that would afford the best protection from the elements. I kept the fishing pole as low as possible and with Val keeping  it steady as well I was ready but thinking that this would have to be a short stay on top in the strong wind and rain. 
We were not alone on top..they had come up from Rhyd Ddu
I started on 2m and immediately picked up a trio of contacts from 'the gang' on a Wainwright and Hump up in the Lake District, although this time Phil was absent and Geoff WHA had joined the other two.
10:14z
G4WHA/P
144MHz
FM
Geoff LDW116 HLD18
10:15z
2E0NON/P
144MHz
FM
Geoff LDW116 HLD18
10:16z
G4OOE/P
144MHz
FM
Nick LDW116 HLD18
10:16z
MW3PZO
144MHz
FM
Sean
10:18z
M6TXB/P
144MHz
FM
Conor s2s
10:19z
M6EPW
144MHz
FM
Liz
10:20z
2E0MIX
144MHz
FM
Derek
10:21z
GW4TQE/P
144MHz
FM
John s2s
10:23z
GW4TJC/A
144MHz
FM
Simon
10:27z
GW3XRM
144MHz
FM
Dave
10:27z
GI4ONL
144MHz
FM
Victor
10:29z
GW4ZPL/P
144MHz
FM
John IO73wd
10:31z
MW6RHD/M
144MHz
FM
Robert
10:32z
EI5HYB
144MHz
FM
Dom
10:35z
EI9GLB
144MHz
FM
Jim
I picked up two s2s with Conor TXB on Dale Head G/LD-020 in the Lake District and John TQE on Moel y Golfa GW/MW-027...thanks both. It was great to get Victor GI4ONL on 2m as well as Dom EI5HYB using his newly acquired licence....it was wonderful to get so many regular chasers in the log on 2m especially so as I hadn’t been spotted! Thanks everyone.
Mist, wind and rain closing in
I spotted myself for 60m but the visit was a brief one as only 5 SOTA regulars appeared and despite many final calls I decided to leave the comfort of the cairn to change the links...quite windy out there :(
10:43z
G8ADD
5MHz
SSB
Brian
10:45z
G4OBK
5MHz
SSB
Phil
10:47z
GW2HFR
5MHz
SSB
Jonathan
10:48z
G0RQL
5MHz
SSB
Don IO70uv
10:49z
G3RDQ
5MHz
SSB
David
Out to change the links..both smiling


Val, get back here to hold the antenna
With a spot up on Sotawatch  Mike G6TUH was first in with a booming signal...band conditions were better today.  A good run of regular chasers followed including Barry M0IML asking if I liked his mountain...you can imagine my reply under the circumstances....all good clean fun :) With final calls being made I decided to pull the plug as the weather was not improving and we had a few places to visit on the way home.
10:59z
G6TUH
7MHz
SSB
Mike
11:01z
M0IML
7MHz
SSB
Barry
11:01z
G0HRT
7MHz
SSB
Rob
11:02z
DJ6OK
7MHz
SSB
Oliver
11:03z
MW0XOT
7MHz
SSB
John
11:03z
G0VWP
7MHz
SSB
Terry
11:04z
EA3DT
7MHz
SSB
Manuel
11:05z
EA2CKX
7MHz
SSB
Pedro
11:06z
GW4TJC/P
7MHz
SSB
Simon
11:06z
M0MDA
7MHz
SSB
Mick
11:07z
MW0BYS
7MHz
SSB
Bill
11:07z
M3FEH
7MHz
SSB
Karl
11:08z
G4ZRP
7MHz
SSB
Brian
11:09z
ON4EM
7MHz
SSB
Manuel
11:10z
PA1BR
7MHz
SSB
Pascal
11:11z
M0PAR
7MHz
SSB
Roy
11:11z
DK7ZH
7MHz
SSB
Manfred
11:13z
GW6STK
7MHz
SSB
Robert
With everything packed away the dulcet tones of Gerald MW0WML/p were heard calling from Craig y Castell  GW/NW-074 on my 2m handie....he was soon in the log..thanks G.
11:37z
MW0WML/P
144MHz
FM
Gerald s2s
Heading back down I called Sean MW3PZO  on 2m to arrange a quick ‘hello’ as we were passing his house...it was great to see you Sean.  Also thanks to John GW4ZPL/p for keeping in touch with us on 2m over the two days...thanks for your company John.
Back at the car
Now I had also arranged with Simon GW4TJC to meet up at Rhyd Ddu on our way home so I set the Sat Nav to take me through the Nantlle valley with the clouds still hanging low over the tops of the Nantlle ridge and Mynydd Mawr. 
Looking East up the Nantlle valley
We had a lovely cup of coffee and Welsh cakes at the Tea Rooms in Rhyd Ddu and it was nice meeting you’ face to face’ Simon.

My activation set up:-  (HF) Yaesu FT817 (5 watts) (4Ah LiPo),  4 band link dipole (60/40/20+15m), (VHF) Yaesu FT270 (5watts) into a ‘cable tie’ dipole.. Antenna support - 7m Fishing pole.

Thanks everyone for the contacts

73 Allan GW4VPX