A day of Double Horseshoe Pass hill activation. GW/NW-042 and GW/NW-043
No snow for me when I left QTH. Once I got near to the Horseshoe Pass I could see some snow on the hills.
Approach to GW/NW-042 and GW/NW-043
Parked up opposite the Ponderosa Cafe - still closed 
but is for sale.
First hill, GW/NW-042, Moel y Gamelin
Not a bad walk up. 40mins up and 40mins down.
Decided to use walking poles for the walk due to the snow and ice.
Stopped off for a breather and to take a panoramic picture
and onwards to the cairn
Got setup and spotted.
Got talking to people who had just turned up their camper van and had park down the valley
Managed 10 on 2m FM and then 5 on 2m SSB and 3 S2S contacts
Back down the hill. A quick brew from the car and then onto GW/NW-043, Cyrn-y-Brain and to collect my 70cm beam from the car
The road up to the top of hill was OK for the most of it. There was some sheet ice towards the start of the Armco barriers. Walking along the edge in the fresh snow help.
The walk up the hill was slow going. Partly due to the snow/ice and partly due to carrying the beam.
Arriving at the top, I got one comment “Taking an aerial for a walk?” from a passer by.
The snow/ice had started melting and falling down the mast structure which gave the odd clunk noise as it fell.
At the top
Looking back at the road up to the top
The 70cm beam
The beam fitted OK onto the telescopic mast and once guyed, it was quite stable.
On 2m FM I managed 10 contacts and then a further 4 on 70cm SSB
By this time I was getting cold and was time to depart the hill and make my way down the hill.
Again 40 mins up and 40 mins back down.
Back at the car and time for another brew and to get loaded up.
On the way home stopped at the local cider place and picked up some cider and had a good chat with the farmer about Land Rovers
Cheers to all the chasers and S2S activators.
John
M0VAZ