GM4ZFZ/P - Mountain Adventures with a Radio

Cnoc Ceislein

29th January 2004

GM/NS-105 - Cnoc Ceislein - 523m - NH589706 - 2 points
QSOs: 2m FM - 4

High winds and deep snow was the lasting impression of this activation. I really struggled to get four contacts. Cnoc Ceislen is a stone's throw from Alness and overlooks the Cromarty Firth and the Black Isle.

I parked at about NN599714 but walked down to Wester Lealty, took the track to NN600722 and then followed the stream to another track and then up to the summit. This was all rough going with frequent floundering in deep snow drifts and deep heather. I was was exhausted by the time I reached the summit! There was no appreciable shelter on the top so I was glad to eventually work GM0UDL on the Black Isle, GM4AFG, 2M1VKP and then mercifully MM3LOZ (same station for the last two calls! Thanks Laurence).

The way back was a very pleasant walk down the track that leads to Easter Balone. This, in hindsight would have been a much better approach.

Ben Cruachan

27th January 2004

GM/WS-013 - Ben Cruachan - 1126m - NN069304 - 10 points
QSOs: 2m FM - 6

This was lightning quick activation with 6 QSOs on 2m FM within about 15 minutes. Good thing too, it was in the grip of a howling storm and I was with a companion who, quite understandably was not minded to hang around!

We parked on the road near the power station visitor centre and took the path up to the reservoir. We decided to take in Meall Cuanaill and then take the steep south ridge to the summit of Ben Cruachan. It was pretty wild and after the activation we did the ridge traverse in the grip of full on winter conditions. It was after all supposed to be WinterML training for my companion!

Thanks to GM0AXY, MM0NDX, MM1FEO, GM4VGR, MM3USU & MM0THE/M. All worked with the rubber duck on the FT-817.

Cruban Beag

24th January 2004

GM/WS-271 - Cruban Beag - 590m - NN668924 - 2 points
QSOs: 2m FM - 2, 40m SSB - 2

This was my first activation!

I parked at NN658935 on the Glentruim Road and headed straight to the summit, the fence line acting as a useful guide. The plug in the trig point is missing making a useful support for the pole. There is also a very handy niche just below the summit in which I found very welcome shelter from frequent squally hail showers.

On 2m FM I worked Robin, GM7PKT on CS-083 (nice to have a summit to summit for my first SOTA QSO!), GM1VAD (on a search and rescue exercise near Glenmore Lodge) and on 40m M1GTR (Leeds) and MM0GTX (Cambletown). Used a long wire on a SOTApole for 40m and a SOTAbeam for 2m.