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Sunday 24 August 2014

GW/MW-029 & 035

Friday 22nd August 2014

Summit Information for GW/MW-029
Hafod Ithel - 361m, 1 point
Association: Wales  Region: Mid Wales   
Latitude: 52 17 26 N, Longitude: 4 2 22 W
Grid Reference: SN 610678, QTH Locator: IO72XG 
Today's Sunrise: 05:13 UTC, Today's Sunset: 19:23 UTC 

After a long drive from my home qth at Hirwaun, I arrived at the start point for the first of today's activation's GW/MW-029.  I parked up on the verge at SN-608-678.  From here it was just a few hundred meters to the east to the summit.  I erected the HF link dipole and my trusty Slim Jim and thought I was just about ready to get started, how wrong I was.  In place of my usual FT-817, today I brought along my FT-857 for a change,  Unfortunately what I failed to bring along was a BNC to PL259 adaptot...... The only option left open was to activate on 2M FM, which I thought might present a bit of a challenge from today's chosen summits. Luckily there were enough people about to secure my activation fairly quickly, with my best contact being Peter (MW5ADW) in  LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH















Summit Information for GW/MW-035
Rhos Ymryson - 327m, 1 point
Association: Wales  Region: Mid Wales   
Latitude: 52 7 36 N, Longitude: 4 15 9 W
Grid Reference: SN 459500, QTH Locator: IO72UD 
Today's Sunrise: 05:14 UTC, Today's Sunset: 19:23 UTC

It was around 11.45Z when I arrived at the large lay by near today's second summit where there is ample parking for 4 or 5 cars.  (SN 459-507).  Opposite the lay by there is a gravel track which heads south up to the summit of MW-035 which is around 750 meters away.  Shortly after setting up I heard the familiar voice of Allan (GW4VPX) who kindly invited me to his home for cup of tea on my way home.  
Yet again I was lucky enough to activate the summit without too much difficulty and soon found myself heading down the hill ready for the journey home.