Quite the day....

Activation Reports
1

I’ve been wanting to activate Glas Maol GM/ES-012 since last summer when I saw it from the Glenshee chairlift after activating GM/CS-030.

I also managed a chase to it this year so it was a complete opportunity for me.

I was a bit wary since big hills are not my forte and also it is a fairly long way for a day trip from Edinburgh.

But circumstances lined up this week, the weather forecast was good for a couple of days and I had some flex time accrued. I checked with Fraser MM0EFI for some local knowledge and he seemed to think it would be fine.

I set off early to avoid some of the traffic and had a good run up to Glenshee on the bike. The road is quite good fun after Perth and some of the Triumph ponies got out for a gallop. The cafe was open when I got there and they had breakfast rolls and coffee, the day was getting even better. The next surprise was when I tried to pay for parking, they didn’t have a category for motorcycles so told me it was free.

I parked up at the Southern end of the car park by the access track and changed into my walking gear, it was already warm.

I stopped for a drink at the top of Meall Odhar and my Quansheng picked up GD7RNX on GD/GD-003. I managed to chase him but he was gone by the time I got to the top of Glas Maol, no s2s.

I was surprised at the distance but more was to come.

The views all around under the clear blue sky were spectacular.

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It was warm but there was a light breeze from the south.

Once at the summit I spoke to Chris MM0UHR via the GB3ED repeater and we agreed to qso simplex once we were both fully set up.

I started on 2m FM and spoke to Chris then heard Don GW0PLP calling, we have qso’d before but on 40m. Today he was ODX on 2m ssb at 538km, quite astounding.

HF was a bit hit and miss, ODX there was EA8CCA on 12m in Tenerife, but I kept going back to 2m and had s2s with Gerald MM0WML on GW/NW-069 , 404km on 2m ssb and also Tony MW9OUD on GW/NW-004 , 420km on 2m FM.

Strangely conditions were not the same to the Southeast, Alan MM0VPM was listening but couldn’t hear me only my chasers.

Soon enough I realised I ‘d had enough time in the sun and headed down.

The run home was a bit more sedate due to my tired legs. After 170 miles on the bike, 4 mile roundtrip walk and 430m of ascent and descent, I’ve got a bit of the John Wayne walk tonight.

A fabulous day out with surprising radio conditions as well.

Andy

MM7MOX

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2

Nice to see views up there in summer, I’ve only been up there in winter!

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3

Well done! Looks like a great day out. Lovely views and some very satisfying 2m SSB!

My first time up there was my introduction to having to QSY on 2m FM :sweat_smile:

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4

Glas Maol… the summit photo on my PC desktop for good reason. The views, especially south, are excellent. It seems you enjoyed the summit as much as I did. :grinning_face:

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5

Fab! Right place, right time for the 2m opening. You won’t forget that day in a hurry.

Next, Mount Keen from Glen Esk. :blush:

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6

It’s a fine wee summit even if you have to pay for parking. One of the first “big ones” I did nearly 20 years back. I’ve been back in unbelievable cold Winter conditions and scorching sunny conditions. It’s nice to get 11 points in Winter for 420m ascent :slight_smile:

On the good days, the view South is impressive, you can see a long way as generally the area is not too hilly, South East is out to the Grampians and a lot of the Cairngorm summits are hidden with just the odd peak like the tip of Lochnagar standing out. What many miss is the amazing views in Caenlochan Glen and Canness Glen to the West of the summit plateau. Though the view is better from Mayar (a Munro but not SOTA) and Monamenach GM/ES-028. A bit of tropo thrown in just to make it even more rewarding is the icing on the cake.

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7

Thanks Andy, Thanks for the contact nice distance and well done on your equipment, Like I have said before I always listen when I see GM//MM Spots on 2mtrs. Never say Never & this time it paid off.

PS. The contact was with a Diamond X-300 Vertical, TS 2000 100W.

73’ Don PLP

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8

Hi Don,

I wondered what the conditions were doing when I heard you clearly, chasing GD7RNX whilst I was on my way up, just on a handheld.

I was using an FT818 running 5w into a home made Flowerpot for 2m hung from the backstay on my 6m pole that supports my HF dipole.

I also managed to work a couple of summits in North wales yesterday on 2m SSB and FM, so the conditions were amazing.

Thank you for making the effort yesterday.

Andy

MM7MOX

2 Likes
9

Heard you after our contact on 145.475 working others you were 4 by 1 but readable. Did not interrupt you as I was in your log. I’m Beaming GM Horizontal today and listening 144.300 Condx well up.

73’ Don PLP.

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10

Absolutely wonderful to get you!

My working conditions were an IC-705 at 10w into a Slim G vertical omni, which makes it all the more amazing! I was just hoping for a few contacts out to maybe 200km… so to double it with you was fantastic. Next most distant was Don G0RQL down in Devon at 272km. Propagation to the north was definitely best for me, I also go a couple of other GM stations in Lockerbie and Gretna.

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