SOTA - Mynydd Troed - GW/SW-009

Mynydd Troed - 609m, 4 points

Association: Wales Region: South Wales
Latitude: 51 57 21 N, Longitude: 3 12 54 W
Grid Reference: SO 166293, QTH Locator: IO81JW

Uncharacteristically, I chose a weekend day to do some SOTA activating. This of course meant that I probably wouldn't be alone on the hilltops!
And so it was. When I arrived at the parking spot on the coll between Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse, there was only a single parking spot left and there were already numerous people on the hillside.

I quickly grabbed the parking spot, booted up and started off for the summit of Mynydd Troed.
As I approached the summit of Mynydd Troed, I was surprised to see the unmistakable sight of an antenna sprouting above the trig point.
Who should be there but Mike, GW7HEM, working Vicky (M6BWA) for a S2S on 2 metres.
A brief introduction and I found a spot to quickly setup out of the wind under my tarp.

The Shack

I was just finishing off my first QSO (and S2S) when Mike departed for Mynydd Llangorse, where I sort of expected to see him later.

There was a fairly steady stream of walkers arriving and I was glad I'd not set up right by the trig point. Custom was brisk, and I soon had 51 QSO's in the logbook, including S2S with YU1WC/p on YU/ZS-078, Z35m/p on Z3/WM-046 and DL/HB9JOE/p on DM/BW-629.

Log

Having operated for an hour, I didn't bother with 30 meters but instead  packed up and headed onwards for Mynydd Llangorse.

The sun was out and it was a fantastic day.

Pen y Fan in the distance

Summary

Log2Map

SOTA - GW/SW-009 - Mynydd Troed

Mynydd Troed - 609m, 4 points

Association: Wales Region: South Wales
Latitude: 51 57 21 N, Longitude: 3 12 54 W
Grid Reference: SO 166293, QTH Locator: IO81JW

An early start got me to the interconnecting col between Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse by 0900 on a fine Sunday morning. The mist was still hanging over the hills, and I was surprised to see 4 or 5 runners sprinting up the towards the summit of Mynydd Troed.

It's quite a tough climb on this one but was soon setup in my favourite hollow by the trig point. The runners had disappeared and I appeared to be on my own.

Quickly setting up, I immediately heard a familiar pile up on 14Mhz. Having previously spoken with Roger, F5LKW, the night before, I was hoping it would be him so that we could have our scheduled S2S! Indeed after a few minutes it was pretty obvious that hi who it  was, and it turned out he was my first QSO of the day. We'd agreed to video each end of the activation, and this is the result!

With the successful S2S out of the way, it was time to start the day off with some 14 Mhz activating.

A good run on 14Mhz followed with a total of 22 QSO's including 2 further S2S with YO2BP/p on YO/MC-096 and OK1CZ/P on OK/PL-007.

10 Mhz and 7 Mhz netted a further 22 contacts and a solitary one on 18Mhz before packing up and moving on.

Al this achieved in a mixture of bright sunshine interspersed with times being in thick swirling mist!

Whilst not seeing anyone, a Border Collie came up and licked me on the face and promptly disappeared...

Time to depart for GW/SW-015.

SOTA - Mynydd Troed GW/SW-009 and Mynydd Llangorse GW/SW-015

Mynydd Troed - 609m, 4 points

Association: Wales  Region: South Wales  
Latitude: 51 57 21 N, Longitude: 3 12 54 W
Grid Reference: SO 166293, QTH Locator: IO81JW

Mynydd Llangorse - 515m, 2 points

Association: Wales  Region: South Wales  
Latitude: 51 55 56 N, Longitude: 3 13 28 W
Grid Reference: SO 159267, QTH Locator: IO81JW

SOTA - Mynydd Troed - GW/SW-009

Mynydd Troed - 609m, 4 points

Association: Wales  Region: South Wales  
Latitude: 51 57 21 N, Longitude: 3 12 54 W
Grid Reference: SO 166293, QTH Locator: IO81JW

View from the col.

The plan today was to take a run to South Wales and rack up 12 activator points in one go. This would be my most productive day to date if I pulled it off. The two summits, Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse, can both be accessed from the col which separates them. I set off from the house with temperatures hovering around freezing point, so I knew this was going to be a cold day. The narrow country lane leading up to the parking spot (SO161283) was strewn  with ice patches where run off covered the road.

Trig point

I quickly booted up and set about attacking the higher of the two summits first. This is quite a climb which gets very steep towards the top. Luckily, with it being a popular hill, there were plenty of  foot holds kicked into the hillside from the regular walkers. Towards the top there is a path which contours around to the tri point which makes the final climb much easier.
On the summit I opted to set the pole into the trig point as I didn't expect I'd be in anyone's way today, the ground was frozen solid so pegs were going to be a problem, and there were no other obvious supports.

The strong wind also meant I couldn't raise the mast completely as I was worried it would break.
Setting up in a hollow to keep out tf the wind, the thermometer was showing -11C. With the wind chill operating without gloves was not an option!
Contacts came quick and fast, knocking off 60 contacts, 18 DXCC.

Getting down out of the wind

As I was packing up a couple of walkers arrived. we had a quick chat before they left. They were the only other people I would see all day on both hills.
I quickly gathered by kit and started down the descent. At the car I ate some lunch, warmed up a bit and then started on the ascent of Mynyyd Lllangorse.

Ice

View over to Mynydd Llangorse