So far, I’ve done three activations with Fraser (MM0EFI), and only one hasn’t involved snow and a gale. Today was no different on Ben Rinnes, but at least the sun was out for most of the climb and descent.
Ben Rinnes is an easy climb for a reasonably high hill (2,700ft), and if you can see it, there is a path all the way up. Once at the trig, it was quickly apparent that the wind chill was going to be our biggest challenge, so without discussing anything, we both set up on 2m FM, Fraser with his yagi and me with a Slim G attached to a 6m pole that I was hand-holding.
Fraser MM0EFI before hypothermia
Despite a little bleed over at times, we quickly made enough contacts to activate, and for once, Fraser was keener to get going down sooner than me; I think it was one hour up, thirty minutes of activation, and one hour down. The views were outstanding, the numb fingers not so much.
After Alex’s (GM5ALX) 40-on-40-on-40 plan, we were too quick and missed him, but we managed a complete just before we got back to the Landys. A cracking 2.5 hours, we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.
Time for a brew…
(Personally I’m not convinced that the take off of EVs in rural areas will gather enough pace to support the Government’s timeline.)
