GM4ZFZ/P - Mountain Adventures with a Radio

Leum Uilleim, Beinn na Cloiche, Glas Bheinn

11/12 July 2004

Managed to activate 3 summits from an ambitious plan for 5. Even this resulted in a manic forced march for the 1110 train from Corrour with only minutes to spare!

Leum Uilleim - GM/WS-110 - 906m - 6 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 2m FM - 2

Arrived at the summit to find difficult conditions on 40m. Nevertheless Pete, EI7CC came booming in as usual from Dublin following by a 339 report from G3TFV in Leicester. On 2m FM, GM7PKT (at home) & MM0PWR/M in Falkirk completed the activation in about an hour. I was unable to hear MM3USU, Falkirk just a few miles away from PWR or GM0AXY who had also tried earlier to work me from Edinburgh on 40m (I could hear him about 519, but he couldn't hear me).

These hills are about 200/300m lower than the Grey Corries last week and therefore *much* more difficult to get out to the central belt on VHF.

Beinn na Cloiche - GM/WS-253 - 646m - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4

A longish walk to this top took me past a temporary village of a bothy working party (about 10 tents). These were the only folk I saw for the whole trip.

Didn't even bother trying on VHF for this one, wouldn't have stood a chance. But 40m was also extremely difficult with the skip being too long for inter G contacts. Long calling brought nothing until Age, PA0XAW appeared strong as usual from the Netherlands. EI7CC from Dublin also seems to be completely independant of any propogation and thundered in at 599 again but it took me it two me about two and a half hours to activate the summit. Two other PA stations finally came to the rescue and allowed me to move on.

Glas Bheinn - GM/WS-177 - 792m - 4 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 5, 2m FM- 2

Obviously something had shifted in the ionosphere in the hour or two it took me to arrive to the top of Glas Bheinn. After working GM7PKT & MM3USU on 2m I put up the Walking Pole Dipole and on switching on the rig found G3CWI just finishing off a QSO. He came back to me for my first HF contact and then EI7CC, PA0XAW, GM4UBJ & GM0AXY all with strong signals. Sorry Richard for rather monopolising the frequency for a while!

This is an outstanding viewpoint and the evening sun was shining. Beautiful views down Loch Leven, across to a dramatic profile of the Aonach Eagach ridge and behind in the distance was the looming bulk of Ben Alder clearly visible. Most striking were the cliffs of Buachaille Etive Mor in sharp relief against the evening sky. Looking north I was able to see my route across the Grey Corries from last week. Magic.

I descended some way down the north ridge before deciding I had walked quite enough for the day and crawled into my bed for the night surrounded by inquisitive stags lurking at a distance. Had a very solid night's sleep and dreamt of a talking reindeer! Woke and a huge battle of mind over mattress (or thermarest) ensued with me eventually leaving the warm cocoon of my sleeping bag at about 7am.

The top of Creag Ghuanach is quite charming but 40m yielded no contacts and I was running rather short of time so didn't hang around too long. And then on closer examination of the map realised I was much tighter on time than I had realised. I collapsed two hours later at Corrour station with just 3 minutes to spare!

Aonach Beag, Sgurr Choinnich Mor, Stob Choire Claurigh & Stob Ban

4th/5th July 2004

Wind, rain, hail and the odd glimpse of sunshine made this an invigorating experience! Thanks to a small band of chasers, each summit was activated fairly easily making a total of 34 points for the outing.

Aonach Beag - GM/WS-002 - 1236m - 10 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 2m FM - 3

It struck me as I walked across the top of Aonach Mor that this was the first time that I had been up here in the summer. It was strange seeing grass where I am used to snow fields. Having said that there are some sizable snow patches left on the east face. Apart from the top 10 feet, Easy Gully was still complete. So if you fancy a grade I snow climb in July, this is the place to come!

Some very fine views of the Ben and out beyond to the Isles. Excellent visibility.

Above is the view from the col between Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag over towards Sgurr a'Mhaim (Mamores).

This one shows the Grey Corries ridge, my route follows the ridge over to the highest peak (left of centre) which is Stob Choire Claurigh. Click for larger photo.

After this the weather closed in so no more piccies!

Got to the summit of Aonach Beag at 1630, bang on schedule and worked Age, PA0XAW and Dave, MW0MWL on 40m and Robin GM7PKT, Pete GM1CMF in Dundee and Andy MM3USU in Falkirk all on 2m FM. There were no more takers so packed up and moved on.

The descent to the col from Aonach Beag is tiresome all the way down over broken ground and the top section is really quite steep and exposed. Care needed here especially in the wet.

Sgurr Choinnich Mor - GM/WS-021 - 1095m - 8 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 1, 2m FM - 3

Got rained on and pummelled by hail on my way over to this shapely summit. PA0XAW, GM1CMF, GM7PKT and MM3USU again on 40 and 2. The skip on 40m was obviously quite long. Age was booming in from Holland but no G stations responding both now and for the rest of the trip.

Then set off for a full traverse of the Grey Corries ridge before the next Marilyn...

Stob Choire Claurigh - GM/WS-005 - 1177m - 10 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 2m FM - 3

Finally arrived at 2230bst. Really quite cold, windy, misty and wet. Pete, EI7CC joined the above chasers who were all worked again. Both Age and Pete very strong signals on 40m. They were both worked after 2300 so thanks for staying up guys!

Set off from the summit about 2330 and wandered down to the col and was glad to get into my sleeping bag.

Stob Ban - GM/WS-072 - 977m - 6 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 3, 2m FM - 2

I was woken at 0430 by torrential rain beat on the bivi-bag which thankfully stopped an hour later for a few minutes, just enough time to get myself sorted and away. It was wild conditions on Stob Ban. Worked Age at 0640 on 40m CW, found Pete, CMF on 2m a few minutes later, then OK1DX (Czech Repub), DJ1PQ (nr Frankfurt) on 40m before finding Andy USU back on 2m. I was very glad to get moving again.

Once off the summit and out of the worst of the weather I sat with map and figured that I didn't really have time for GM/WS-262 and called it a day and started the long walk out.

Walking Pole Dipole, SOTABeam (which rather wonderfully fits snugly onto one of the joins of my walking poles) and 817 were used throughout. Power 2.5 watts or less. Took the 7Ah battery and still had bags of juice left at the end so could have probably got away with the 3Ah and saved weight.

Creag Ruadh, Laggan

A pleasant hill with lots of little summits with cairns on giving a variety of views of the surrounding area. A sizable lochan nestles quietly in the summit area. Easily accessible from the A86.

Creag Ruadh - GM/CS-095 - 622m - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4

Another outing for the walking pole dipole (details below). I was up for just before 0800 bst.

Variable band conditions brought Andy DL3LQM (Wittenburg), Pete EI7CC (Dublin), Alan G4UEV (Norfolk) & Dick GW3KVX (Llansantffraid). 3 out of the 4 were also QRP stations running under 5W. I was running 5 Watts for DL3LQM and 2.5 Watts for the rest. Done in just over an hour.

A number of people have expressed interest in the Walking Pole Dipole, so here are some detailed photos. Click on the photos for larger size.

This photo directly above shows the jumper link for changing the dipole from 40m to 30m. Obviously there is one of these on each leg.

Here is the view down Loch Laggan toward Binnein Shios. The dark cliffs of Creag Meagaidh are on the right with the notch of 'The Window' just visible.

Cruim Leacainn

A very accessable top indeed, a pleasant wander up a good track leads from the A82 up to the top and radio masts. My first 1 pointer!

Cruim Leacainn - GM/WS-344 - 232m - 1 point
QSOs: 40 CW - 4, 2m FM - 1

I was set up and running by 0730 with the 'Walking Pole Dipole' which is proving a thoroughly practical antenna. I am sure the band sounds much quieter with the feed point only 2m off the ground and yet the signals come in very clearly and I don't seem to be having any problems getting out. I am using a simple jumper dipole for 40m&30m. It is erected extremely quickly and requires no guying.

Today it was raining again so didn't hang about but worked the following stations in <25 mins with only 1 watt.

EI7CC, Dublin - 539
2E0OOO, York - 539
G4MZC, Isle of Wight - 539
GM0AXY, Edinburgh - 559

Both Ken, AXY & Pete EI7CC were coming in strong at 589. When I first started, an initial tune around revealed really quite flat band condx and I wondered how I would get on. There was some QSB but even on max fade out every station (even the qrp 2E0OOO) was readable due to the band being quiet. The FOF2 at Fairford was 6.0MHz at time of activation.

I was packed up and ready to go less than half hour after arriving on the summit, just in time to catch Robin, GM7PKT/M for a quick natter on 2m FM.

Meall Luidh Mor

I discovered the other day that because of the slightly unconventional shape of the handles of my trusty KOHLA walking poles, they strap together beautifully to make a near 2.5m pole when fully extended (just 2x70cm when collapsed). So took it for a test drive this evening with a simple 40m dipole.

Meall Luidh Mor - GM/WS-296 - 515m - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 5

The forest track leading up along the west side of the hill is in a pretty desperate state of repair and I had to drag the bike through swamp half the time! So I was up on top at 2030bst, a little later than planned.

EI7CC - Dublin - 579
2E0ATZ - Canterbury - 589
GM0AXY - Edinburgh - 579
G4RQJ - Walney Island - 589
IZ6FYI - Camerino, Italy - 559

Obviously good band condx, but not bad especially when used to the 6-7m of the SOTA pole. I used the full 5 watts of the 817 throughout because it was tipping down with rain and I didn't want to stay there a minute more than I had to! I'll try with lower power next time. But considering I take these poles with me anyway, this is good news.

Thanks to the chasers I was all done in under 50mins. Thanks guys!

Currently drying out - dram in hand!

The picture is somewhat poor because I didn't have my camera with me and had to use the one on my phone. It shows the general idea though.

Stob Coire Easain & Sgurr Innse

An adventure in thick clag! 12 hours of very low visibility made for an interesting if slightly surreal expedition. A good exercise in micronavigation.

Stob Coire Easain - GM/WS-015 - 1115m - 10 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 3, 2m FM - 2

Feeling keen I took the mountain bike a fair way up Coire Laire until I was utterly exhausted and the terrain became too rough. Shanks pony took over and I headed towards the NE Ridge. I'm getting to know this place pretty well. Saw a golden eagle here a couple of years ago. Halfway up I was into the clag and wasn't then out of it until mid morning the next day when coming off Sgurr Innse.

Once on the summit (about 2130) I made the discovery that the 40m dipole tunes rather well on 2m and then promptly worked Robin, PKT who informed me this is no new thing as GM4COX does it all the time! Pretty cool though and worked MM3USU in Falkirk on it also. 40m CW found Age, PA0XAW with a very strong signal as always and then F5VAO (with difficulty due to big static crashes) and Roger, MW0IDX (again a strong signal).

By the time I was down the hill the clag had reached the coire floor so had to navigate off the ridge and across to the bealach and then hunkered down in the bivi bag for the night.

Sgurr Innse - GM/WS-166 - 809m - 4 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4, 2m FM - 1

Got up and away just before the heavens opened (about 0530). Greatly relieved by this since getting my 6'3" frame dressed and sorted in the confines of my bivi bag is quite a trial. Made my way up the SW ridge of Sgurr Innse which gets quite steep and interesting near the top (in the low vis. it's possible I didn't take the easiest break in the summit defenses).

DJ1QR, DF7IS, G3ICO & PA0XAW were worked on 40CW in fairly quick measure followed by a rather marginal qso with Robin, PKT/M on his way to work in the fort. By this time I was very wet and cold and so beat a hasty retreat back down to Coire Laire.

Effort expended on mountain bike on an approach is amply repaid on the way out. Picked up the bike and weeeee...all the way home!

Binnein Shuas & Binnein Shios

A windy & overcast day ended up sunny for an extremely pleasant walk back. These are really enjoyable hills in a great area. Binnein Shuas has some outstanding rock climbing on its south side including the celebrated Ardverikie Wall. The area is also great for cycling.

Binnein Shuas - GM/WS-198 - 746m - 4 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 3, 30m CW - 1

This hill provides good atomospheric interest up the craggy north side. The descent towards Shios requires care but due east from the summit there is a steep grassy gully that provides escape from the summit area.

I was on the summit by 1300 and after finding some shelter from the wind had the jumper dipole up and was working G4DMP from Leeds within minutes followed by DJ4ST, Hamburg & G3GUR, Bognor before moving to 30m and working DL4ZU near Berlin.

Binnein Shios - GM/WS-239 - 667m - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 30m CW - 2

This top also provided some good shelter from the wind and fine birds eye view over Ardverikie Castle (aka Glenbogle!) and the Lochs on both sides. On 30m DL8IG, Wilhelmshaven & DL5DTL, Dresden, followed by G3SES and G3RLG in Chester and Wimborne respectively on 40m. The battery was starting to struggle towards the end so dropped down to 1 watt for the last qso and still received a respectable 589 into Dorset.

This brings me up to 100 activator points. Seems small fry compared to those at the top of the table!

Cnoc Dearg & Beinn na Lap

A very pleasant day in the mountains but not wholly successful due to 1) Running out of battery power and time so not managing to activate Beinn na Lap, 2) Missing the train at Corrour thus adding about 3 hours and 14km to my day!

Cnoc Dearg - GM/WS-032 - 1047m - 8 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 2m FM - 2

Tried a variation on the start point for this hill. Parking the bike at the dam at Loch Trieg and crossing the railway, the forest track passes close to the railway about 50 yard up the railway track. Contrary to what is marked on the map, taking this forest tract north leads out onto the hill. Some pleasant bits of scrambling/bouldering to be had on Sgriodain depending on the route taken.

I reached the top of Cnoc Dearg at about 0900 as planned and worked DK5JPL amidst QRM, then MM0BHX in Cumbernauld and MM0PWR in Falkirk before going back to 40 and finding Rob, G4RQJ. Difficult conditions means this took the best part of two hours.

Beinn na Lap - GM/WS-091 - 937m - 6 points
QSOs: 2m FM - 2, 40m CW - 1

Quite a slog up from the north, but got to the top around 1300 and worked GM7PKT/M in Fort William and Shirley, MM0YLS/P on the Ballachulish Horseshoe. 40m CW then yielded a nice chat with George, G3ICO in Yeovil after which I found I was running out of time and battery power. Some frantic calling yield nothing so I admitted I would have to try this one again and legged it for the train.

Missed by 5mins - ouch! Next train 6 hours time, what to do? It was a pleasant sunny evening so I decided to walk the 14km or so back to the bike. The last few k had to be done on the track which is trying. They seem to have placed the sleepers at an infuriating distance apart!

Beinn a'Chaorainn & Creag Meagaidh

One gets so used to gales, blizzards, clag and cold that a day like today is quite a shock to the system!

Beinn a'Chaorainn (GM/CS-012) - 1050m - 8 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4, 2m FM - 2

My wife dropped me off at Roughburn and after a couple of hours I arrived at the south summit for about 2330. I settled down for the night which at that time was still light enough not to have even thought about the headtorch. I slept extremely well and woke to a perfectly still and sunny morning. Wandered over to the main top and was setup and going on 40m by 0640. Worked John, G3NGN in Bracknell; Einar, SM5CBC in Sweden; Age, PA0XAW & Pete EI7CC. All giving me good reports on the 2.5 watts setting on the FT817. GM7PKT & GM8AOB were both worked on 2m FM before setting off for Creag Meagaidh.

Creag Meagaidh (GM/CS-002) - 1130m - 10 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 4, 2m FM - 3

I have been up here a few times but never really appreciated the spectacular views from this hill until today. In fact the last time I was up here I pulled a tooth while faffing about with an ice screw on Last Post (a steep ice climb). After topping out it was micro-nav through the clag and down as quick as I could to an emergency appointment with the dentist in The Fort thanks to whom I still have my grin intact!

It couldn't be more different today. While sunbathing I worked GM8AOB again in Fort William, GM4JNB in Inverness and Tiger, 2M1BYW in Dalkieth on 2m and then MW0DKF in Abergavenny on 40m CW followed by EI7CC and PA0XAW again (congratulations to Age for his 250 points!) and then Rob, G4RQJ to finish off.

And then a very pleasant stroll down the south ridge to the road where I stuck the thumb out. The 14th car picked me up and took me back down the glen!

The picture shows Beinn a'Chaorainn from the summit slopes of Creag Meagaidh. Behind is Aonach Mor and behind again, just visible, is Ben Nevis rearing its head. Behind that somewhere is a big, mean front sweeping in from the Atlantic! Not good news for the weekend!

Beinn a'Mhonicag (Bohuntine)

This is probably the most accessible hill in the area but not a soul in sight at this time of the morning! Just 45mins to the summit from the carpark/viewpoint in Glen Roy. Third attempt at activating! Successful this time and a shear pleasure in the early morning sunshine with stunning views across Lochaber.

Beinn a'Mhonicag (GM/CS-101) - 563m - 2 points
QSOs: 40m CW - 2, 2m FM - 2

Was up and running by 0700 and answered Steve, 2W0ASJ who was calling CQ on 7.0315. Got a 559 report into Swansea and then managed a 599+ report from Jean Paul, ON7AMI in Belgium. 2m FM then found GM7PKT & GM8AOB both mobile on their way to work.

Picture shows the remaining patchy snow cover on Aonach Mor & Aonach Beag (click on the photo for the big picture).