Awesome snowscapes, Fraser.
You had a very good signal at this end for 10 W SSB. Glad to be one of the few to catch your 10 m spot in time and overcome the wind noise to boot. The recently re-installed SpiderBeam with four elements on that band probably helped!
73,
Matt
Dang, those are festive! Perhaps easier to find when dropped also. A nylon or rubber washer will go a long way toward keeping them on the radio.
Matt, You’re right there. I had 10w into 5m of lossy (at 28MHz) rg-174, an 88% efficient auto transformer and an EFHW which is two wavelengths long on that band.
So, I reckon about 6.5w radiated from a non ideal antenna. Gotta love 10m 
Despite still having a long wooden handled ice axe in the cupboard, I usually choose to walk with trekking poles. It used to be just one but now I am a dedicated user of two (and only occasionally got them caught in the gaiter elastic…) When still only using 1 pole back in 2014 I descended Tal y Fan GW/NW-040 ( is it still known as the easiest 4 pointer in Wales?) and, on reaching the wall ladder onto the road I started up and then gently chucked my pole onto the grass on the verge beside the road. I was mildly surprised by a small tinkling sound on impact but was stunned when I picked up the pole and discovered that the pointed bit and about 8cm of stem was now hanging by a thread at right angles to the rest of the pole. I had no idea there was a weakness there and knew there had been only slight impact with a hidden stone. Only a cheap pole and I can’t remember the make. Some years (and birthdays!) later I decided I wanted to save weight and splurged on a pair of Fizzan compact ‘lightest in the world’ poles which I love. Looking at them, M0JLA prophesied that they wouldn’t even last one of our (gentle) Scottish trips but they have done 3 so far and the 4th starts in a month’s time so here’s hoping. They are occasionally difficult to adjust but getting them colder (or is it warmer - I can never remember!) seems to solve the problem. Long may they last - but i do realise that they only get fairly ‘gentle’ use with me and wouldn’t survive long on Fraser’s expeditions.
73 Viki
That’s good to know. I’ve looked at lightweight alloy and carbon poles but always been afraid I’d break them.
I bought a pair of these badged “Cotswold Outdoor Ultra Light” about 10 years ago, and I’ve been very happy with them. I Probably haven’t stressed them too much, but they always come with me and often get used as antenna supports…
Frazer I did exactly the same. The first activation with the KX2 I managed to loose one of thumb screws. I contacted the UK supplier at the time - Waters and Stanton I think it was - and they had some spares. I don’t recall them being expensive - and delivery was either free or reasonable.
Dave
The amazon thumb wheels arrived today. A pack of 5. Slightly larger than the elecraft ones, but a perfect fit.
Now, if I were in your position, I’d have to order another one to enable the rig to have matching ones. 
It does. I got a pack of 5.
…and apply some fluorescent pink paint so that you stand half a chance of finding the one you drop into the blooming heather…
Which will make them a lot easier to tighten and undo.
Rod
