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Wednesday 26 February 2014

GW/SW-011 & 041

 GW/SW-011  Sugar Loaf - 596m, 2 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 51 46 N, Longitude: 3 3 30 W
Grid Reference: SO 272188, QTH Locator: IO81LU 
Today's Sunrise: 07:01 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:48 UTC 







Today's double activation starts at the small car park at SO 268 167
From here there's a clearly defined path all the way to the 596M summit, around 2.5 K to the north.  Starting with a gentle gradient the path flattens out for a while until the final push to the summit.





There are some great views of the surrounding countryside as you approach the summit. 
This is normally a very popular summit with walkers, but this early on a cool Wednesday morning I found myself alone on the mountain
Unlike most South Wales summits which offer little or no shelter, Sugar Loaf has, on its northern edge, the ideal spot to operate from.  A small hollow, well within the activation zone, where I set up and got out of the strong wind.
Following a quick S2S chat with Allan GW4VPX/P on SW-041, I made several more S2S contacts , mainly on 5Mhz, but then switched to 145 for a S2S with Viki, MW6BWA/P who was on SW/MW-010. Then finally with Steve, MW0BBU/P, who was on Black Mountain with Allan.





Not the largest of summits, but certainly enough room for a large HF antenna.




Date:26/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-011 (Sugar Loaf) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 
TimeCallBandModeNotes
10:16zGW4VPX/P144MHzFMAllan S2S GW/SW041
10:19zG6LUZ5MHzSSBSteve
10:22zGW4VPX/P5MHzSSBAllan S2S GW/SW041
10:25zG4ZRP5MHzSSBBrian
10:27zG3RMD5MHzSSBFrank
10:30zG3TRB5MHzSSBRoger
10:30zG0RQL5MHzSSBDon
10:31zG6TUH5MHzSSBMike
10:32zG6ODU5MHzSSBRob
10:33zG4UXH5MHzSSB
10:34zG8VZT5MHzSSBDave
10:35zGI0HWO5MHzSSBJohn
10:36zG4HHX5MHzSSBRichard
10:38zM0IML5MHzSSBBarry S2S G/SE015
10:41zMW0JLA5MHzSSBROD S2S GW/MW-010
10:42zG3VCG5MHzSSBDon
10:43zG4ASA/P5MHzSSBDave S2S G/TW-005
10:47zG8VNW5MHzSSBNeil
10:52zMW6BWA/P144MHzFMViki S2S GW/MW-010
10:57zG4WTF144MHzFMIan
11:00zG4ILI144MHzFMGrant
11:03zM6NRW144MHzFMNick
11:06zG4MCQ144MHzFMSteve
11:19zG0VFK144MHzFMMike
11:24zGW0IRT144MHzFMPhil
11:27zG4EIA144MHzFMMartin
11:29zGW0FGO144MHzFMBill
11:34zG7OPI144MHzFMAndy
11:36zM0NTC144MHzFMJez
11:38zMW0BBU/P144MHzFMSteve S2S GW/SW-041

GW/SW-041  Black Mountain - 703m, 6 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 52 0 30 N, Longitude: 3 5 12 W
Grid Reference: SO 255350, QTH Locator: IO82KA 

Today's Sunrise: 06:59 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:50 UTC






Following a 35 minute drive up some very narrow lanes I arrived at Gospel Pass, just in time to see Allan & Steve 
coming down from their Black Mountain activation.
After a quick cup of coffee and a chinwag, it was soon time to set off on my second activation of the day.






A new route for me, as I usually start this one from Hay Bluff. 
Despite being a little further at around  8K there and back, I found it a lot easier than my previous route.
Most of the climbing is in the first 500M and the rest of the route is fairly flat.  The path is currently being upgraded and easy going for the most part.


Trig point at SO244 366
Not the one we want for this activation.
The true activation zone is another 2K from here and a less well defined.
Conditions at the summit were cold and very windy and after 40 minute it started raining heavily.  With a dozen or so vhf contacts in the log I took this as a sign that it was time to pack up and head back to the car.

As I drove home and took a look back, it all looked so calm and peaceful up there.
How quickly conditions can change in the mountains!








Many thanks to all stations who helped with today's activation of SW-011 and SW041
73

Mal








Date:26/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-041 (Black Mountain) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 


TimeCallBandModeNotes
14:08zMW6BWA/P144MHzFMViki S2S GW/MW-009
14:09zMW0JLA/P144MHzFMRod S2S GW/MW-009
14:28zG7CVC144MHzFMMorris
14:33zG4NKU144MHzFMDave
14:34zG4MCQ144MHzFMSteve
14:36zG3RDC144MHzFMAlan
14:37zMW6BWA/P144MHzFMViki
14:41zG3XQE144MHzFMKen
14:43zG0WIS144MHzFMGeoff
14:45zG6DQN144MHzFMNick
14:46zG0PPM144MHzFMKen
14:48zM3XMJ144MHzFMSean
14:54zM3NFL144MHzFMNeil
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Wednesday 19 February 2014

GW/SW-002

Summit Information for GW/SW-002
Waun Fach - 811m, 8 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 57 46 N, Longitude: 3 8 38 W
Grid Reference: SO 215300, QTH Locator: IO81KX 
Today's Sunrise: 07:16 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:36 UTC 





The rough track runs from the car park at SN252285 up to Grwyne Fawr Reservoir, (about 3 kilometers)





The view from the top of the dam,
Its a long way down!





The cloud base was at 600m for most of the day, but lifted on the way down when I took this shot of the reservoir.


Still a little snow hanging about in the hollows from the previous week
The walk from the reservoir up towards the summit gets a little steeper, taking around 45 minutes.  Its very boggy in places and there are many streams running below the surface.  The summit itself is also very boggy and I found it hard to find a suitable spot to set up. There is plenty of room for any antennas you may have but on this occasion I just put up my 60m  inverted V and a slim jim for 2m.

Date:19/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-002 (Waun Fach) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 

TimeCallBandModeNotes
12:14zGW4COX/P144MHzFMJack S2S GW/SW-003
12:16zG4ERP144MHzFMRichard
12:20zG8ADD5MHzSSBBrian
12:21zG4ZRP5MHzSSBBrian
12:23zM0JLA5MHzSSBRod
12:24zG0RQL5MHzSSBDon
12:24zG4OBK5MHzSSBPhil
12:25zGW4VPX5MHzSSBAllan
12:26zG6TUH5MHzSSBMike
12:26zG0TRB5MHzSSBRoger
12:27zG4FGJ5MHzSSBGordon
12:35zGW4ISJ/P144MHzFMPeter on Black Mountain
12:38zG3VKV144MHzFMGraham

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Tuesday 18 February 2014

GW/SW 006 & 007




Summit Information for GW/SW-007
Fan Nedd - 663m, 4 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 51 12 N, Longitude: 3 34 46 W
Grid Reference: SN 913184, QTH Locator: IO81FU 
Today's Sunrise: 07:20 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:36 UTC







Fan Nedd summit




Fan Nedd, taken from the west











Date:18/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-007 (Fan Nedd) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 

TimeCallBandModeNotes
10:05zMW0BBU/P144MHzFMSteve S2S GW/SW-006
10:17zG6LUZ5MHzSSBSteve
10:18zG0RQL5MHzSSBDon
10:18zG4UXH5MHzSSB
10:20zG8TMV5MHzSSBColin
10:21zG8ADD5MHzSSBBrian
10:22zGW4VPX/P5MHzSSBAllan S2S GW/SW006
10:23zM0MDA5MHzSSBMick
10:24zG0TRB5MHzSSBRoger
10:24zG0TDM5MHzSSBJohn
10:25zG4ZRP5MHzSSBBrian
10:25zM0LEP5MHzSSBRick
10:27zG1PIE5MHzSSBMark
Summit Information for GW/SW-006
Fan Gyhirych - 725m, 6 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 51 33 N, Longitude: 3 37 35 W
Grid Reference: SN 881191, QTH Locator: IO81EU 
Today's Sunrise: 07:20 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:36 UTC 







Fan Gyhirych trig point with
Fan Brycheiniog in the background





Fan Gyhirych, takrn from the east










Date:18/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-006 (Fan Gyhirych) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 

TimeCallBandModeNotes
11:45zMW0BBU/P144MHzFMSteve
11:45zGW4VPX/P144MHzFMAllan
12:15zG8ADD5MHzSSBBrian
12:19zG6TUH5MHzSSBMichael
12:20zG0RQL5MHzSSBDon
12:21zG0ELJ5MHzSSBDave
12:21zG0TRB5MHzSSBRoger
12:22zG0TGM5MHzSSB
12:24zGD3YUM5MHzSSBMartin
12:31zON7KJW7MHzSSBJohn
12:41zG4RDQ7MHzSSBDavid
12:46zM0YDH7MHzSSBDavid S2S G/CE-005
12:47zM6GGZ7MHzSSBTom S2S G/CE-005
12:48zG0VWP7MHzSSBTerry
12:49zG6TUU7MHzSSBMike
12:49zG0TDM7MHzSSBJohn
12:50zG3XQE7MHzSSBKen
12:50zMW6GWR7MHzSSBRicky
12:51z2E0YYY7MHzSSBMike S2S G/SP-013
12:55zG0TRB7MHzSSBRoger
12:56zDJ5AV7MHzSSBMichael
13:07zGW4COX/P144MHzFMJack S2S GW/SW-005
13:22zMW0BBU144MHzFMSteve
13:23zGW0GVY144MHzFMChris



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Tuesday 11 February 2014

GW/SW-001 Pen Y Fan

Summit Information for GW/SW-001
Pen y Fan - 886m, 8 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 53 2 N, Longitude: 3 26 12 W
Grid Reference: SO 012216, QTH Locator: IO81GV 
Today's Sunrise: 07:33 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:22 UTC 


After a bad start to the day with snow falling at 200m the sky suddenly cleared and the sun could be seen for the first time in ages. I bundled the kit in the car and headed off to Pen Y Fan.  After parking up the car I started my way up the track.  Visibility was excellent and it wasn't long before many snow covered summits came into view.   By the time I reached 600M the snow was getting thicker and several passing walkers told me that conditions higher up were quite poor.  As I pressed on the wind started to pick up considerably, and by the time I reached the foot of Corn Du it became clear that an activation of Pen Y Fan was not going to be possible today.
As I was most of the way up I decided to continue on to the summit and take some photographs.  As I cut around the base of Corn Du through knee deep snow  I was sheltered from the wind for a while but it soon picked up again as I started climbing Pen Y Fan.  It was so windy at the summit that most of the snow had blown off leaving a thick layer of Ice.  It was difficult to stand still to take a few photos, never mind setting up antennas so I started my way back down without even taking my rucksack off.  "Ill be back"










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Tuesday 4 February 2014

GW/SW012

Summit Information for GW/SW-012
Coity Mountain - 581m, 2 points
Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   
Latitude: 51 45 55 N, Longitude: 3 6 56 W
Grid Reference: SO 231080, QTH Locator: IO81KS 
Today's Sunrise: 07:43 UTC, Today's Sunset: 17:08 UTC 





















Date:04/Feb/2014 Summit:GW/SW-012 (Coity Mountain) Call Used:GW6OVD/P 


TimeCallBandModeNotes
11:04zG0TRB5MHzSSBRoger
11:11zG0RQL5MHzSSBDon
11:13zGW4VPX5MHzSSBAllan
11:15zG0ELJ5MHzSSBDave
11:15zM0JLA5MHzSSBRod
11:16zG8ADD5MHzSSBBrian
11:17zG4UXH5MHzSSBColin
11:18zG3RDQ5MHzSSBDavid
11:18zG3RDQ5MHzSSBDavid
11:19zG1PIE5MHzSSBMark
11:20zGM7KFS5MHzSSBTony
11:21zG8VZT5MHzSSBDave
11:23zGI0HWO5MHzSSBJohn
11:23zG6LUZ5MHzSSBSteve
11:24zG8VNW5MHzSSBNick
11:26zGW8OGI5MHzSSBIan
11:35zG4ZRP7MHzSSBBrian
11:40zG6TUH7MHzSSBMike
11:41zG0TDM7MHzSSBJohn
11:42zON5SWA7MHzSSBFrancois
11:42zG0RQL7MHzSSBDon
11:45zG4OBK7MHzSSBPhil S2S G/DC-007
11:46zG0TRB7MHzSSBRoger
11:47zG3XQE7MHzSSBKen
11:48zG0VWP7MHzSSBTerry
11:48zG6MZX7MHzSSBGeoff
11:49zG4CQR7MHzSSBDave
11:50zG7GYM7MHzSSBRichard
11:50zG0STF7MHzSSBTom
11:51zDK7ZH7MHzSSBManfred
11:52zG0HXX7MHzSSBShaun
11:53zEA2CKX7MHzSSBPedro
11:53zEA2TW7MHzSSBJon
11:54zM6JTJ7MHzSSBJohn
11:54zG4OOE7MHzSSBNick
11:55zG1OHH7MHzSSBSue
11:56zMW6GWR7MHzSSBRicky
11:57z2E0NON7MHzSSBGeoff
11:59zON7KJW7MHzSSBJohn
12:00zM3NHA7MHzSSBTony
12:00zG4ISJ7MHzSSBPeter
12:01zG4ASA7MHzSSBDave
12:02zM6NHA7MHzSSBSara
12:03zDL3HXX7MHzSSBLothar
12:04zG0FEX7MHzSSBKen
12:06zG0ABY7MHzSSBPhil
12:07z2E0HAW7MHzSSBChris
12:08zMM0USU7MHzSSBAndy
12:08zSM6CNX7MHzSSBDan
12:10zDL7UCW7MHzSSBBernd
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