GM4ZFZ/P - Mountain Adventures with a Radio

Geal Charn & Beinn a'Chlachair

29th January 2005

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and varied outing. Variable weather conditions, variable band conditions, stunning views from the tops, tricky navigation through the clag below.

GM/WS-031 - Geal Charn - 1049m - NN 504812 - 8 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 1, 30m CW - 3

Set off from the car on mountain bike at about 0530 and abandoned the bike near Lochan na Earba. A steady plod saw me at the summit nearly an hour before my scheduled activation time. It was clag all the way but as I approached the summit the cloud fell away and gave spectacular views all around and a magnificent sunrise.

I worked DK1KQ on 40m CW and then went and had a look around the higher bands. I came back and called CQ on 7030 at 0930 for about half an hour with no joy. The skip was long and the band was swamped with - . ... - so I didn't stand much a chance! Up to 30m then where there was deep QSB in play. I am realising a quick report is essential in these conditions, by the time I had got through ...[gm om tnx fer call, ur rst 559 559 559 = name is jon jon jon es QTH is hill top nr fort william nr fort william sota ref ws031 = hw?, etc] the station had faded away! I lost three QSOs this way! But then a more quick fire approach gave good chats with DL0HWI, DK7LX (which was one that got lost but found me again, thanks Georg) & OK1AJ giving me my fourth and 'qualifying (!)' QSO.

GM/WS-023 - Beinn a'Chlachair - 1087m - NN 471781 - 8 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4

The compass led me faithfully back to the beallach and I headed straight up the steep broken ground up to the plateau where there were a couple of very tame ptarmigan waiting for me. By the time I'd got my camera battery warmed up they had grown a little more wary and I spent quite a while chasing them across the snow fields! So, already late, I was now even later!

There was now a very vicious northerly gale wipping across the plateau and I was rather concerned about not finding shelter up here. However, on getting to the summit there was a remarkable corniced holllow just lee of the summit that was almost perfectly sheltered.

A CQ on 7030 brought G3CWI, EI7CC, G4RQJ & GM0AXY in fairly rapid succession. There were no other takers so I was up and away , back around the corrie rim and onto the north ridge and back to the bike. Then a simply marvelous 5km free wheel back to the car. This is otherwise quite a slog out after a long day as testified by the dogged looks on some walkers I sailed pass on the bike!

2.5 watts into multiband dipole on walking poles througout.

Here is a video of the 360 deg view from Geal Charn (836k) (mpeg4 file - you will need quicktime or similar)

Carn Dearg, Sgor Gaibhre, Meall na Meoig & Sron Smeur

30/31 December 2004

This was a bit of an epic weather-wise but thanks to the chasers I managed to activate all four tops on 40m & 80m CW. I was aiming for a weather window which I thought would start about midday but didn't appear until about 4pm so the first two tops were activated in atrocious conditions.

GM/WS-088 - Carn Dearg - 941m - NN418661 - 6 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 5

Leaving Corrour Station with a gale force wind and torrential rain at my back (best place to have it!), I headed along a very boggy Road to the Isles to its summit at NN395657 before turning left up Carn Dearg's broad west ridge to the top.

After finding some shelter, I set up the dipole on the walking poles and had a sniff around on 20m before putting out a CQ on 40m at about 1145z. Thanks to G3TWJ, EI7CC, M0DEV, G4EHT & PA0XAW who were worked in fairly rapid succession.

GM/WS-081 - Sgor Gaibhre - 955m - NN444674 - 6 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 5

All the way across to my second top I was looking behind me wondering when the weather was going to break. I had obviously misjudged the transit of the cold front which separated the current maelstrom from fine clear conditions. I was willing it to hurry up and shift south a little quicker!

No change on the summit of Sgor Gaibhre by which time I was getting damp all through despite full Goretex body armour. Nothing escapes this sort of rain, and it is at it's most unpleasant at near zero degrees!

I was glad again for a fairly rapid activation with 40m CW yielding G3MJX, M0DEV, EI7CC, PA0XAW & DJ4EL.

As I was finishing up the rain ceased, the clouds lifted and the wind started to ease. At last!

GM/WS-136 - Ben Pharlagain, Meall na Meoig - 868m - NN448642 - 4 points
QSOs: 80m CW - 7

It was dark by the time I reached the summit. It was a still, clear, moonlit, starry night...and very cold! I found a bivy spot, set up a Long Wire and counterpoise before stripping off all my soaking gear and diving into my 5 season down bag.

The skip by this time had lengthened severely on 40m and Age, PA0XAW's signal was somewhat subdued even on 80m so I hunkered down for an early night. I awoke about 4ish to a deep frozen morning and switched on the rig to find french stations coming in strong on 80m. I worked F5SJB (559 both ways) and then a very difficult QSO with G3KJC nr Newbury (339/229). I also heard a US station calling on 80m.

At 0700, I could just about hear EI7CC calling me. He was a 229 at best. However, I worked DL1HSI and got a 589 report from Radisleben. By 0800, some crucial part of the Ionosphere had started to wake up and thanks to G4YSS, EI7CC & GM0AXY I had the activation tied up, all on 80m CW.

Having already had an extended lie in it was a serious problem getting out of the sleeping bag into -6deg C and wet and/or frozen gear! However, once moving I appreciated the fabulous views and firm going under foot. Breakfast was had by the river in Coire Eigheach.

Frozen Bivi Bag!

Sunrise from Meall na Meoig

GM/WS-300 - Sron Smeur - 511m - NN452602 - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4

By the time I had reached this summit, the weather window was starting to close again with winds howling and sleet. PA0XAW, EI7CC & G3KKQ were worked quickly but I then really struggled for a 4th. I was hugely relieved when Richard G3CWI came back to my call allowing me to pack up and leg it off the hill and start the long walk to Rannoch Station to catch the train back. I had to wait an hour for the train while pondering the very dubious value of a CLOSED station tearoom!

2.5 Watts into dipole for 40m and long wire & counterpoise for 80m.