Sorry I missed you on 2m yesterday, I would have been glad of the qso. I’ll linger a bit longer on frequencies today.
I’ve guessed at the time for today’s activation for a window in the weather, its pretty wet at the moment.
Andy
MM7MOX
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Both of us are sorry the activation was very short on Cnoc na Maoile GM/NS-134. We had to wait for the WX to improve enough for us to attempt the hill. Then I choose a sub-optimal route meaning it took longer and as was harder than necessary. We got wet from some heavy showers but as the wind was gusting to 40+mph we were soon dry! Finally at the top it was so wild as there is no shelter we set up a tent fly-sheet and started on HF only to find a contest on CW and not so hot propagation. That meant 4 QSOs for Andy and 7 for me. We decided to stop as soon as qualified and packing up was a real struggle.
However, we feel this may be a uniquely “Andrew” hill as all three activators are called Andrew, myself, MM7MOX and G6PJZ. I think I may rename it “Andrew’s Hill” to commemorate this fact. 
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Yeah, the QSB was “interesting”, presumably at least in part thanks to the X and near-X flares from AR 4098…
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The propagation was interesting again yesterday from Creag Thoraraidh GM/NS-133 above Helmsdale. Andy MM0FMF had CW qso’s to London and New Hampshire on 15m, I (MM7MOX) managed qso’s to GM1TGY in Aberlour on 2m and 70cm and a few others on 2m, but only one ssb qso on 15m and none on 40m ssb.
I’ll see what I can manage solo today from Ben Horn GM/NS-107 on vhf/uhf.
It was showery an blustery today on the way up and on top, but we put up the shelter in the lee of one of the tower buildings and hid from the squalls which sometimes had hail in them !
Andy
MM7MOX
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More squally weather on Ben Horn GM/NS-107 yesterday.
One qso on 2m then I managed to squeeze some 20m qso’s out of the radio to qualify.
Then a squall with hail and crackling noises on the radio started and it was time to get the pole down sharpish.
Between the squalls the views were good.
Cnoc Mor GM/NS-150 on the way south today and hopefully GM/CS-080 tomorrow.
(Solo) Andy MM7MOX
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Hi Andy
Loved your pictures and wish we had got further north but no time and running out of steam. I’m sure you posted somewhere that you spoke to Graham MM0GHM/RS theguard on the 5-star mobile hotel, the Royal Scotsman train (I spoke to him twice when at Tain station and , the next day, from Inverness). BTW there is a picture of him with his handy somewhere (I thought it was in a recent Radcom but I can’t find it now!). Must admit I was amazed to hear him the first time and it took me some time to take in what he was saying. The clients were on a whisky tour and were tasting somewhere at the time… Hoping to finish my log some time and will post some statisitics. Hope you have got the next trip planned. 73 Viki
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Hi Viki,
I was most surprised to hear Graham MM0GHM/RS, and like you was a bit confused initially.
I was very pleased to get that QSO since it gave me the complete for that hill.
The Cape wrath trip was very good but as I said , we were lucky with the weather. It was amazing to qualify GM/NS-139 on 2m, as Andy MM0FMF said the local operators are often very happy to welcome visitors as you have found.
The good news is that I have managed to repair my antenna and I’m looking forward to my next trip to Plockton in a couple of weeks time (21st/22nd/23rd June).
I have another trip at the end of July up to the Northeast (25th/26th) to Portsoy and Fort Augustus. I haven’t picked out any hills for that trip yet but maybe Bin of Cullen or Ben Rinnes.
Looking forward to your pictures and reports when you post them.
Andy
MM7MOX
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Another Andrew who has been busy is Andrew G4VFL. He’s been activating hills on Shetland & even rare activations on the island of Foula.
I’ve been in his footsteps, first in the Orkney Wireless Museum & then on to Wideford Hill GM/SI-189 on Orkney. (My report to follow.)
He’s been activating these hills on the gigahertz bands via QO-100.
73 all John.
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