End of Year 2025 - Lugnaquilla EI/IE-001 activation report.

[EI4JY]

I wanted to wrap up the year activating the Lug, the highest summit on the East Coast at 925m ASL. Partucularly as I’ve never managed to hike it earlier during this year. The forecast was okay’ish, with my only concern of fairly strong wind and lowish temperature.

I’ve started reasonably early, arriving at the Western carpark at 09:30 sharp. I’ve climbed the Lug few times before, but from the Eastern slope. The Western side meant to be easier so I was kind of relaxed and in no rush. Disgracefully, it took me slightly over 3 hours to get to the summit, providing Eastern ascent normally took me 2h 15min that is something to think about …

On my way up I’ve heard @EI3IX/P from Blackstairs EI/IE-006, my TH-F7 wasn’t fully charged and I had some hard time to get a QSO with Joe, but we’ve made that finally.

Getting closer to the summit the wind started to get heavier, to the point that I’ve started to concern about the overall activation idea.

It would be a serious waste of everybody’s time not to try at least something though, so I’ve started from my VHF FM routine (3el Yagi and 20W). It was freezing cold at that stage already, with ice starting to build up on everything. Nevertheless, first QSO with Don @GW0PLP and 5 more in minutes!

Next, a critical decision needed to be taken - to try 20m or not. With heavy winds and icy condx the idea didn’t look great, but curiosity has won

To set the mast up and run dipole ends was fast and easy, until I’ve realised I’ve never connected the cable to the feed point The mast went down again, feeder connected, up again. A seriously pleasant surprise was to find SWR spot on after all!

CQ SOTA several times and nothing! Ups … 5 Watts only, no time to play with QRP under weather like this! Crank up to 50W and CQ again. Now we are in business - 19 QSO in 17 minutes! I found my straight key is very good with winter gloves

Next moving to SSB and after a self-spot 20 more QSOs in the log!

I’ve spent on the summit around an hour, my thermometer showed exactly 0C and ice layer has built up on everything, around 5mm on antenna wire and guys, a tripod and even the rig was iced all over. Now I know what “all assets frozen” means! BTW, I’ve used screwdrivers as pegs, worked as a charm!

That’s All Folks

Happy New Year de EI4JY

Short video clip to get an idea on operating condx

[EI3LH]

Fair play heading up there when it was taters out today. As usual I saw your alerts but I’m in work this week so couldn’t chase.

Here’s to a successful 2026 for you.

[EI4JY]

Cheers Ian! I am hoping to return there in Jan or Feb again and forget about the place till 2027

[MM7MOX]

That looks like hard core SOTA, well done for persevering.

Andy

MM7MOX

[EI6FR]

Hi Alex,

Well done on the Lug, it’s always a challenge. If going up again from Fentons (West) in a non holiday period remember to check the firing schedule on the range on the military.ie website as that approach is frequently closed for live firing exercises during the week.

HNY

Declan EI6FR

[EI4JY]

@MM7MOX

That looks like hard core SOTA

I can’t express how much I was relieved seeing dipole’s good SWR! While I am confident with my VHF Yagi in any weather, the dipole still needs some adjustments. In a weather like that it would be a small disaster.

@EI6FR

remember to check the firing schedule on the range on the military.ie website

Thanks Declan, last year, when climbing from the East, we’ve actually heard explosions. Apparenly, they can close the access several times in a month.

[MW0WML]

Cold!!! I’ve had trouble getting the mast collapsed down in those conditions, with the sections frozen.

Great report.

[GI4ONL]

@MW0WML

getting the mast collapsed down in those conditions, with the sections frozen.

So have I, and occasionally had to use hot body fluid to thaw it out

HNY GI4ONL

[MW0WML]

@GI4ONL

use hot body fluid to thaw it out