SOTA - Black Mountain - 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

Just as I was about to leave the parking spot on the Gospel Pass, a car pulled up and parked beside me. A stranger alighted and immediately walked towards me.
"I hope you're going to stick to CW today" he said!
It was an unexpected encounter with Allan, GW4VPX, who was also going to activate Black Mountain!

Allan, GW4VPX, takes a selfie!

After a quick chat I set off for the summit  as I was on a tight schedule for the day.
I quickly set up after a pleasant walk in the fresh conditions. It didn't take long to set up on the Welsh side of the border. Operating form the English side only adds to confusion for the chasers!

Set up in Cymru

The Shack

 I was through working 20 metres when allan and his XYL, Val, arrived at the activation point. After a few more words and another photoshoot, Allan went off to find a suitable place to set up his shack.

Working 20 metres.

I carried on working on 40 metres followed by 30 metres for a respectable 40 QSOs in 40 minutes operating (including chat time!). 

A welcome S2S with came my way from DL8DXL/p on DM/SX-058.

Log

Before packing up, I walked over to see how Allan was getting on. He was well into the swing of things and just finishing off a stint on 60 metres before QSYing to 40m. He was, like me, sheltered behind his little tarp.

Allan and Val

After another quick chat, it was time for me to bid farewell and pack up and move towards my next summit of the day. 

Two SOTA stations!

Summary

Log2Map

A lovely activation and a pleasure to meet Allan and Val. Check out Allan's Blog  for a wealth of SOTA information.

SOTA - GW/SW-041 - Black Mountain

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

Leaving the house at 07:15, I planned to be on the summit by approx 10:30. Unfortunately it soon became clear that wasn't going to happen. It took me over an hour to travel the 2 miles form my house to the A40 because of a vehicle accident somewhere on the M5! Even then the traffic towards Gloucester was just crawling along and I was already way behind schedule..

It ended with me setting off from the southern Carpark on the Gospel Pass at 10:15, somewhat behind schedule. A pleasant walk in the sunshine over the solid frozen ground. temperatures were well below zero.

Setting up on the English side of the border, I went about working 14Mhz for a great run of 37 QSOs including a S2S with HB9CBR/p on HB/BE-151. Whilst having a quick break to warm up and change band, the 2metre handheld burst into life, with Viki, MW6BWA/p calling CQ from GW/SW-009. I was pleased to make the contact for a S2S and after trying and failing to reach her on 70cms, I was lucky to also pick up Alan, GW4VPX/p on GW/SW-003 for a third S2S. For Alan's contact I crossed over into Wales to make it a GW - GW S2S!

Back in England it was getting very cold and the clouds were now rolling in.

A brief period on 7Mhz netted an further 16 contacts including a fourth S2S with Peter, GW3TJE/p on GW/SW-015.

With time ticking on and another summit planned, I gave up on 10Mhz and packed up and returned to the car.

A busy summit with many walkers out during the half term holidays.

Total QSOs = 55 

S2S = 4

4.8 miles and 827' ascent.

SOTA - GW/SW-041- Black Mountain

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

SOTA - Black Mountain - 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

This is a nice hill to activate. I arrived at the parking spot on the Gospel Pass (SO240373) to find one other car there. The weather was fine with temperatures hovering around freezing point. After an initial hard climb, the path contours around the hill and eventually switches back to the Hay Bluff trig point at 677 metres. From here the path is almost flat following Offa's Dyke path to the summit at 703 metres.

The summit itself is featureless. I opted to operate on the Welsh side of the path only because it felt more sheltered. Once again contacts came quick and fast with 52 QSOs and 16 DXCC. The US stations worked were extremely loud today. 
Although this is a popular summit, today I only saw 6 other people who had braved the cold but lovely sunny weather. On the steep slippery descent my feet went from under me, so I arrived back at the car with a muddy arse to accompany the 9 points for the day!

Hay Bluff - 677 metres

Hay Bluff from the carpark

Lord Hereford's Knob in the background

Still plenty of snow on the northern flanks.

 

An icy wasteland.