In reply to ALL:
TO TOM, M1EYP:
Hi Tom, Thanks and glad you could re-live it a little. It’s always better to read about when you’ve been there yourself. You might consider the two next year. The second time I did WS1 in Feb-06, I didn’t do anything else. We walked WS3/WS1 in 1998 but back then you needed to devote much less time to your activations than we do now. In fact on that activation, the ICT7E Handheld got soaked and packed up while calling CQ at the top of WS1, so we ended up with no QSO’s!
The tourist path is a curse to many but it’s well graded and has a reasonable surface and easy nav to get you there.
Yes, I knew about the feeding of club-calls into the database; you alerted me to it in 2004. I’m quite happy with the allocation of points, that’s not an issue. I log under my own call for some that I regard as ‘special’ because if I don’t the summit history gives the summit to the call used and not the user. As you know any member can use a clubcall and I feel our efforts are such that individuals should at least be personally recognised for what is very often a lot of effort.
To make this happen, I must send the call on the summit as Clubcall/my call/P and also announce that I will be using my own call for the database at intervals during the activation and in any subsequent report. It ups the workload and delays things somewhat but it would seem to be the only way to get properly credited for the activation in the summit history when using clubcalls. This has been a concern for me for many a year now. The first 1000 points were obtained with clubcall/my call/P for every single QSO but now I think it only needs a reminder every so often. For the vast majority of routine work I use the clubcall in the database anyway. It’s certainly a problem. If I saw MX1SWL in a summit history on a really big mountain with a 12km walk-in, I wouldn’t have a clue who’d made this magnificent effort.
I hope you enjoy the Cairngorms next August. I think you will but they ain’t half remote. I remember summit camping Ben Macdui about 15 yrs back (but we only managed 1 QSO, on 80m) and a few unactivated WAB areas. Brilliant area. (I also recall all but sinking with the XYL in Loch Morlich, 1976 when my cheapo plastic beach inflatable got a puncture!)
Great QSO with Roy on 2m CW the other morning, by the way. He was really pleased with it; his first ever 2m CW QSO.
Take care, 73, John YSS.
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TO FRANK G3RMD:
Hello Frank, Thank you for reading. I will put some photos on, it’s just a case of getting half a day free. The aftermath of these jaunts can be (as you will know) quite extended if all is to be properly recorded and dealt with.
I looked at the abseil point. The notice says, Abseil Posts at 50 feet intervals, for roping down only.’ The ‘only’ is underlined. I had a look down there and it looks as though one could get down with care, in dry, ice-free conditions. I would think coming up is easier. It doesn’t look any harder than Broad Slack onto Great Carrs in LD and can’t be as hard as the gully up the Triple Buttresses of Ben Eighe. My photos of the arete and surrounding areas show a surfaces much greener than I remember. I think there may be more grass, higher up after two damp summers. I will try to illustrate it when I put the photos on.
Keep calling!
73, John.
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TO ANDY MM0FMF:
It’s nice to know someone understands from experiencing of the same racket. What you stated is right; the 817 can’t handle that level of QRM! You might just cope by climbing in the shelter and shutting that stainless-steel door; taking care not to guillotine the coax of course! Nice display though.
Keep climbing,
73, John.
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TO MARC G0AZS:
Marc you made me green with envy. I would deem what you did as somewhat beyond my capability. That would be an experience to stay with you for a lifetime. I think Jon GM4ZFZ does that kind of thing too. These places can get nasty in winter. I thought it was cold enough for me in Feb-06. One thermometer read minus 14 and another minus 12. Needless to say there was no visit to the arete for me on that day!
All the best, John.
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Thank you for all comments.