A heads up… myself, Alan MM0VPM and Andy MM7MOX are currently making out way up to the Floe Country and will be staying about 20 miles from the Northern coast. They are plans for some activations on the way but it’s a wee bit damp in the near of Kingussie right now!
Over the coming days we are planning a visit to Cape Wrath for a couple of summits, we can’t go too far as His Majesty’s troops are blowing stuff up on the range, so just the periphery this time. We also have plans for quite a few “odds & sods” summits, many 1pointers or barely 2points but very infrequently activated. There’s also plans to try to give each other completes as few other people come this far North. There are summits on the list that have not been activated for upto 14-16 years, so pleased keep your eyes on the alerts and see if you can chase a properly rare GM/NS summit. There should be activities over at least the next 6 days and we have HF and VHF gear. (You should see how much radio gear 3 blokes can bring between them!).
I’ve just finished a sublime coffee and (naughty) cake so I must climb something. Andy has just stopped for 2nd breakfast about 5miles North and Alan was up by Lairg last night.
WX forecast is looking ok for coming days after today’s rain. See you on the bands.
Bear in mind, even for greater distances (than mine) 60m will still be better for [UK] daytime QSOs due to greater D-Layer absorption and higher daytime QRM noise floor on 80m.
There was nothing to see other than the inside of a cloud whipping past at 25mph hence a very brief activation of Ben Loyal, the Lee side being a bit steep…
Thanks for the rapid qsos to achieve activation .
Skies have cleared and we look forward a bright few days now!
Sorry to miss you and Alan. Horrible ground, very strong wind and so so RF conditions. Odd that the wind, 40kmh speed was hot. So t-shirt activation but blown about.
Sorry for the less than perfect activation today on Beinn Akie GM/NS -149. We had a less than ideal walk-in, a few navigation challenges, 35+ mph winds, diabolical ground. We were late so we shared one antenna to get qualified. After that I did some CW, Alan did FT8 and Andy did ssb. RF conditions not brilliant either. Full reports and pictures to follow.
I start my trip south on Monday and I hope to activate Knock Toul GM/NS-137 around mid morning. Should be the same time as Andy and Alan are on Ben Griam Mor GM/NS-089. Depending on WX and legs maybe another summit, Struie? Back home Tuesday with something on the way South.
Expedition did two hills simultaneously today. GM4LLD on GM/NS-137 and MM0VPM & MM7MOX on GM/NS-089.
We split up the bands on Beinn Griam Mor, 6m was on good form today with an ODX QSO to IU1QMU at 1662km. 20m was also good with half a dozen s2s. Meanwhile MM0VPM was doing 2m and DATA.
The wind got really cold and gusty after a while so we packed up and descended. The views were spectacular all around and we could see both the Moray Firth and Pentland Firth to Orkney.
The view to the south had Cairngorms visible in the distance.
A small disturbance in the force means I’m behind with logs and reports but Cnoc an t-Sabhail (Knock Toul) is quite simple since the harvesting of 50% of the trees. More soon.
Last day in Sutherland today before heading South tomorrow. Ben Hutig GM/NS-132 was today’s expedition, right on the North coast above Melness beside the Kyle of Tongue.
There was some activity on 6m again today, mostly Italian stations but very deep qsb prevented any successful qso’s. 20m and 15m provided enough qso’s to qualify the summit .
Heading south tomorrow perhaps with a flyby activation on the way down the A9.
You find plenty of these chaps/chapesses lolling around near the buildings by the Helmsdale River. They don’t get shot there so it’s a safe place for some social activity. These were in Glen Loth so may well be less safe. I saw more deer in 4 days than I’ve seen for years.
Coming south yesterday I stopped off on the Black isle for a flyby activation of Mount Eagle GM/NS-151.
I was fortunate with the timing an managed to catch Alan MM0VPM for an s2s from Ben Hope GM/NS-020 on 2m FM.
A few more QSO’s on 40m, 20m and 17m, but nothing on 6m.
Whilst sitting activating on an old stump at the edge of the brash, I saw a large raptor circling on the thermals, but it’s cry identified as a Buzzard rather than an Eagle.
The weather was warm and sunny which made the journey south more pleasant than last weeks rainy road up.
It’s going to be a bit dull inside at work after this past week outdoors.
