A period of family business (son’s wedding and such like) meant getting out to the hills was not possible, however I could still hatch plans…
Fraser was needing chases to give him completes on the GM/ES hills, so I had a fine reason to go up to the Cairngorms.
GM/ES-005 and it’s neighbour GM/ES-011 were chosen. Distance from home meant at least one night away and since the weather is still good, I chose to high camp next to Loch Etchachan - last time I was there would be in 1982! It’s an area of big hills…
Copyright OS 2025
So a high camp at 900m then up to 005 at 1182m , activate, back down to 600m, then up to 1082m oh and the small matter of the 14km walk in. It was however, a very pleasant walk in, Glen Derry has some lovely stands of Caledonian pine forest, the air was still and warm for the walk in (and out).
I camped by the loch - had a good night, no rain minimal midge population because of a slight breeze.
The forecast for Friday was not hopeful, the Met Office giving strong winds on summits, thankfully those did not appear although the fog at altitude did.
A nice early start got me in place for the time agreed by Fraser @MM0EFI and we had a good S2S on 2m FM. Only other FM contact was with Chris down in Braemar. There being no further takers, I set up for HF. That wasn’t hugely successful either, perhaps the bands not in good shape. Hill was qualified though, so much thanks to all who managed to decode my morse and send replies slowly (and often) enough for me to get written down. @2e0agb Allen, thanks for confirming everything at the end, I blame the mist (the one in my head that is…)
GM/ES_005 summit tor
Loch Etchacan peeking through the mist on descent.
A not very speedy descent into the valley and reascent to @GM/ES-011 followed. Fraser was needing to get on with life, so was wrapping up on his second summit but we kept intouch and worked successfully right on his time limit (tbf I was 1 hr behind my estimate…)
2m again not so active, 1 qso with Fraser and then MM7MHY down in Edinburgh - he asked what I was using, so I replied 5W into a Slim Jim - however on checking later , I discovered I was on “Low” power ie 1W - maybe why others weren’t hearing me… ah well - there must be a nice gap in the hills down to Edinburgh from that summit!!
HF was called upon again with @G4IVV first to suffer my morse!
Thanks to everyone who managed a qso!
005 from 011 - best view I had of the summit all day!
Frogs on Summits?
The long walk out…
On the way north I stopped off at the Glen Shee cafe/visitor centre - usually I am too early or late for it, but the cakes were good and this pecan tart and clotted cream was really good. I suspect my cardiologist would have something to say about the quantity of clotted cream, but surely I walked it off?
Equipment used, Wouxon KG-UVDP1 hand-held with slim jim. HF is a Venus SW-3B into an end fed wire.
Thanks for reading.
Alan
