This is the summit of Ben Avon (Ben A’an) GM/ES-006 - 1172m high.
Ben Avon - Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe (Bed of the yellow stag)
One of the largest high plateaus you’ll come across (in GM) and dotted with tors. One of those is the summit. A tricky place to operate from, so most opt to do HF from the ground at the rear, which is just inside the activation zone. (When I say most, I mean just five other people.) I’d activated it twice before. Once using the ground to the north of the tor and the other from the tor, however that was on 2 m FM. I really wanted to do HF from the summit but didn’t have a suitable antenna. Then Gavin @GM3GAV came along.
Gavin used a short wire with two counterpoises on an expedition to Skye. It works on 20m upwards with a tuner. I copied this but wanted to see if I could get it to work on 40m as well. Obviously, we are short of tiny rocky summits in GM/ES, so it had to be Ben A’an. Just a 22 mile round trip then.
Wednesday 31st May 2023
0715 BST. I set off from the car park at Keiloch, a few km east of Braemar, just off the A93. Easy tracks through the estate eventually turned north. I resisted the delights of the limestone Gleann an t- Sluggain, as it’s no place for a bike, and kept to the higher northern track. I eventually dumped the bike NO116 955. This kept my options open should I decide to take in Beinn a’Bhuird GM/ES-004 as well. It took me an hour of cycling with a bit of pushing up the steeper bits to get there.
low cloud in the glen
The cloud was low, very low, however the forecast was for blue skies and sunshine all day. Hmm…
I followed the excellent path that heads gradually up towards The Sneck, the high bealach between Beinn a’Bhuird and Ben A’an. A watery sun appeared to my right. Within five minutes it had burnt the cloud away and the blue skies appeared. The transformation was sensational!
the clouds lifting quickly
Looking down, the Dee valley was still in cloud and it would remain that way for some hours.
cloud still in the valley
On reaching The Sneck, I turned east, ascending steeper slopes that soon eased off onto the plateau. The summit tor soon came into view. Ben A’an isn’t a difficult walk. It is just very, very long.
I scrambled up a chimney to gain the tor, too lazy to walk around the west side for an easier route. I was aiming for the southerly most block - the one at the end in the first picture. This always looks the highest, but is harder to get to, so no one bothers. From below the main block, this required me to traverse a sloping shelf with no hand holds, drop down to a small flat area and then climb up a bit, before making an awkward move around a bulge in order to gain the top. All on nice rough and dry granite. On looking back I could see that my top was about 0.5 m lower that the one I’d left, however it was perfect for my needs, being just 4 m x 2 m in size and had a handy crack for my mast, as well as scoured hole for all my gear. I also wouldn’t be bothered by anyone over here. It was a nice day and I expected to see others. I was wrong. I’d arrived on top at 1015 BST, a 3 hour bike/hike. Perfect timing for my 1030 alert.
The Activation
I had business on 2 metres FM to deal with first. The local chat group, twitter and whatsapp groups had been informed, so I was hopeful of some traffic from this remote place. I wasn’t to be disappointed. Using the Yaesu FT-3d and telescopic Diamond RH-770 whip, I made 10 contacts, from Wick in the far north (70 miles/ 112 km) to Glasgow in the south (90 miles/145 km), as well as more local towards Aberdeen, (60 miles/95 km) to the east of me. Oh, a couple of the chasers asked me to QSY to 70cm. @M6BWA Viki, what have you started?!
On to HF. I unreeled the radials and threw them over each edge of the summit block. The pole sleeve jammed superbly well in the crack, in went the pole and I hoisted it with the wire pre-attached near the top. The lower HF bands wouldn’t be great today. Lots of solar stuff going on at the moment, with a K index of 3. I got a 1:1 match on 20 m and started there.
Despite QSB, I rapidly worked six stations, with a summit to summit in the mix - LX/HB9HCS was on LX/LX-001, so that’s one down three to go for me to complete chasing the LX summits!
40 m was next. Now this antenna won’t tune on 40 m. I’d already tested this at home. However, it will tune with a 49:1 in line, so that is what I did. I wasn’t sure if it would get me any contacts at all due to the band being quiet, with lots of static crashes evident. Also, I was running a vertical, which some would say isn’t the best for inter-G.
I logged another five calls. Reports were up and down. Ritchie @2W0LWF was 5/9 to me but only gave 3/3 in return from his perch on GW/SW-003. Allen @2E0AGB was 5/9 both ways. however, contacts were made, so point proven. It works.
I randomly tried 17 m next. Not so many on there, but boy it was working well into Europe. S57S came on for a rag chew, 5/9 both ways, with a further three contacts @SV3IEG Dinos being ODX. I’d forgotten to take the 49:1 out of the circuit, but I got a 1:1 match, so just continued.
operating from the small rocky block on top of Ben A’an
It was now noon and I was getting rather hot. Of course, this being my first “summer” hike of the year, I’d neglected to pack a sun hat. So, I packed up and had some lunch. I really didn’t want to leave this place though. It was such a lovely day and the views were stunning. That time of year when there is just enough snow left to remind you of where you are.
Eventually I packed up and peered over the edge. I couldn’t remember the way I’d come up - all the rounded granite blocks looked the same. Eventually I chose a line and eased down and around the various bulges. It was neither graceful or elegant. On gaining terra firma, I retraced my route down to The Sneck, wandering around to investigate the rock formations. I’d already decided not to push on and do Beinn a’Bhuird.
Beinn a’Bhuird from Ben A’an
heading back down to The Sneck
looking back up the Ben A’an ascent path. I have no idea how that rock has survived all those years!
finally back at the bike
With no pressure, I was free to enjoy the descent, ambling down and stopping to take many, many photos. After an age I saw the bike. The ride down to the car park took just 30 minutes and I was back at the car for 1500, very slightly sunburnt.
Summary
I love Ben A’an. I know it is a long hike from any direction, but it is a unique mountain and there is no better mountain scenery to be seen. I’m glad I skipped Beinn a’Bhuird. I’ve activated it twice already and it was nice just to view it in the passing for a change.
The antenna proved itself and I proved that I could erect it in a tight spot without the need for any guying etc. Now I just need to find another small rocky summit to use it from…
Footnote:
Mo has grounded me. I went over my right ankle (again) on the way up. It is an annual occurence. Unfortunately, this time my other knee went down hard onto a granite boulder, removing some skin and some fabric from my trousers. Thankfully Rohan do repairs on their products. I know, because these ones have been away before for a new knee…
my favourite summer trousers, ruined again
)
. Thanks for the VHF, UHF and HF contacts from a great hill. Good work. 73 Mike
