The wind and cold put paid to any HF plans. I had to do everything in big gloves.
It was 0C at the car before starting up Arenig Fach GW/NW-027.
Estimate -4C at the summit, falling to below -10C with windchill.
2m FM, FT-270 into SlimG on pole at 3m AGL.
Thanks to chasers.
Froze my face on the descent when I had to walk into the wind.
It felt slightly better on Mynydd Nodol GW/NW-048, but it was still very cold and windy and it started raining too. I experienced a fairly unusual phenomenon on the summit. Freezing Rain. It froze on my clothing. But then I had a problem getting the mast down as the rain had frozen onto it and the antenna. When I got back to the car my walking poles were hard to collapse due to a thin covering of ice.
That’s a great report and amazing photographs Gerald. Not many people experience conditions like that, on their own, on a mountain. Given that you survived, and haven’t lost any finger, I feel okay saying that being out in those conditions really make one feel alive and in the moment. What an fantastic way to spend your day.
As I set off down in the snow, over rocks and heather, I took a moment to say to myself “this would be a really bad time to turn an ankle… take it easy Gerald”.
Thank you for both summits and for enduring the unpleasant conditions. Great photos for your Sota Album, let’s hope that we see a change in the weather in the next few weeks .
Great to get you Allan. In fact on the first one the antenna wasn’t even off the floor when I first heard you! Great set up you have for 2m FM down there in SW Wales!
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