The 792-metre Corbett ‘Carn Ealasaid’ (pronounced Karn Yal-ah-sid), GM/ES-030, a four-pointer which lies in the Cairngorms National Park close to the Lecht Ski Centre, has been on my to-do list for some time. As so often for we Aberdeenshire-based SOTA folk, it was Fraser @MM0EFI who suggested a straightforward route from Corgarff following little-used but well-defined Land Rover tracks all the way to the wide and featureless summit plateau. He wasn’t wrong……!
After barely an hour’s drive from home, we parked at the small parking area next to historic Corgarff Castle, first built in about 1530 - its turbulent history is worth a read - and a short stroll up the road saw us take the track on the Allargue Estate from behind Kelvingrove Academy’s “Wilderness Campus” building (I preferred it when it was the Allargue Inn). From there, Fraser’s activation report from 5 November 2023 can’t be bettered:-
To continue….
It was an unusually calm and warm day for this part of the world so even our SOTAdog, Sula, enjoyed the occasional rest as we climbed and left the castle far below. I was glad to take advantage of the brief stops, too. The grades are generally not too arduous but the heart-rate monitor on my Garmin watch was ticking ominously upwards on the slightly steeper upper slopes. Great to be walking in the Cairngorms in a polo-shirt, though. Not a particularly common occurrence!
Reaching the summit and its tiny cairn presented me and my ever-present XYL, Ann, with a wonderful panorama. Clockwise from the west lay Ben A’an and Cairngorm, further round to the north-west was Ben Wyvis and to the north, Morven in Caithness. To the east was Bennachie, near our home, while continuing to turn round gave us views of Morven, Mount Keen and Lochnagar, in addition to glimpses much farther away to Beinn a’ Ghlo above Blair Atholl. Quite breathtaking.
If you’ve read this far, thank you, but before I get to the radio stuff, I should put this walk in context. It was my first activation since March. Some of you likely suffer significant physical problems or perhaps recurring and debilitating mental issues, as I do, and the effort of even a modest activation can be almost as frustrating as sitting in the shack chasing other activators who seem to bound up mountains with astonishing regularity, ease and success, desperately wishing you could do that, too.
Occasional friendly jibes about me being lazy, unfit or unambitious at my relative lack of uphill activity can sting a bit (I have more than 2,500 chaser points and more than 500 unique summits chased, but have managed just 34 activations in my three years of SOTA) even although no harm is intended by them. The fact that a successful SOTA chaser is called a “Shack Sloth” implies that it’s a slothful choice. Sadly, some of us don’t always have a choice, as many of you will know. When a fine day arrives, the bands are in good shape and a decent hill beckons, it is debilitating to suffer the sort of problems that sometimes mean just surviving that day, unable to leave the house, is a notable achievement.
Today, however, I was ready, able and willing, and arriving at the Càrn Ealasaid summit to revel in the glorious scenery, I was truly thankful that I was able to be up here, even although it felt as though I’d just climbed Mount Everest, in stilettos, carrying a grand piano! I quickly I set up the KX2 with my trusty 41ft end-fed on a SOTAbeams Carbon 6 pole.
First, though, I gave a few CQs on 2m on my Yaesu FT4xe with a short whip antenna as I knew that Simon @GM4JXP would be listening for me in Aboyne. Sadly, I couldn’t hear him, nor anyone else for that matter. Things on HF SSB seemed pretty poor, too, with no response to a CQ on 10m or 20m, although I did manage to chase one S2S to Austria on that band after a struggle with significant QSB.
However, a further spot on 40m SSB brought me seven quick contacts including Esther @GI0AZA whose lovely warm voice is guaranteed to brighten any day. (Apologies Ian @GI0AZB you were just as welcome in my log but Esther’s dulcet tones can’t be beaten 
).
In a few minutes I’d logged geographically neat calls with Northern Ireland; England (Allen @2E0AGB, Ken @G0FEX and an S2S with Rod @M0JLA/P); Wales (John @2W0ILQ) and Scotland (Andy @MM7MOX) which was particularly welcome as I am usually chasing him, not the other way round!
Despite still being a relative novice, I’d intended to go on to CW which would have made the best of the poor conditions but as I have outlined above, sometimes my anxieties suddenly get the better of me and in no time I lost my nerve to do so. It’s so desperately frustrating to cut short such a glorious day but I know when I’m beaten. A quick coffee and a sandwich (the cheese in which had begun to melt in the warm sunshine) and it was time to head down. But not before snapping a picture at the cairn of my SOTA sunhat - not always my goto headgear on an activation here, unfortunately - and my mountain mascot, Ben the Bear, who does usually accompany me.
SOTAdog Sula was delighted to splash about in the burn as we reached the main track back to the car as it was a warm day for wearing a fur coat. I have to say I was tempted to join her but the car, and a shower at home, beckoned instead, much to Ann’s relief!
So I’m writing this the day after the activation and giving thanks for being able to be back up in the mountains after a really tough few months personally. OK, so the bands were poor, with no DX for me and contacts were few, but the sheer pleasure of being out again, on a fine day, was more than sufficient compensation.
Not all disabilities are visible, or audible, or at a recognisable level, and not everyone can always achieve what they desire. Not everyone is a technical genius and not everyone is a potential mountain goat. Some, by necessity, are much more sloth than goat, but I hope the SOTA family can continue to be supportive, patient and understanding of everyone who participates in our fascinating hobby, at whatever level, and be kind at all times in their words and deeds. After all, it is, and should be, fun.
As for me, well, my boots are cleaned, rucksack re-packed, the KX2’s battery charged and CW paddle ready for my next outing. I can’t predict when that will be as it’s not totally in my hands, but every activation is a joy, as is every successful chase from my shack, and that will never be taken for granted.
Vy 73 Mike 
73 Mike