I actually had plans to do something special for my 50th activation of Scald Law but events got the better of me. I had chores and jobs to do this morning which meant it was lunchtime before I could leave. My target was Allermuir Hill GM/SS-171 but the car park was overrun with cars and there were more trying to leave and many more trying to get in. Drat! So up the road a mile or three to Scald Law were the car parks were busy but I got a space and annoyed the bejesus out of a hot Mercedes driver who set off with pops and bangs and flashes in the exhaust. AMG something or other with a right fin-de-cloche driving.
With the change to an alternate summit I couldn’t be bothered fishing exotic aerials out of the boxes and thought “50th activation, work 50 QSOs”. That was the plan but an SFI of 103 and K index of 3 made it unlikely to be. 24 QSOs in the end.
Anyway, warm and hazy day and as I had been delayed I pushed myself and managed to get up in 42 minutes which is not bad. 90mins the first time when I was much fatter and less fit. It was T-shirt WX at the top though it was cold when the cloud built up. That was my signal to leave. 15&17m were “Nul Points” but I worked 9A, EA, HB9, OK, OH, SV, S5, CT, G, GM, ON, DL, I & OE on 20/30/40m CW & SSB.
I packed up and managed to get a 50th celebration photo at the trig.
I felt pleased I’d done it in 42mins so on the way down I looked over at Carnethy Hill (a Hump) across the col and its trench of a path and decided I’d bimble up it for giggles. And I need more exercise. I don’t know why but I was able to get up the 610m distance and 113m climb in 16mins which felt good. A few photos, a KitKat and back down to the car. Some water and boots changed for shoes back at the car and I was flying. I can’t remember when I last had a good Endorphin high, but I was definitely on a higher plane. There was lots of traffic so it was a leisurely drive home.
50 activations came about because I decided if I wasn’t going to activate something new or something with a bit of a drive, I should do something for the exercise and SOTA equipment testing and the nearest decent path and decent bit of exercise is Scald Law. You’d think by now I could do it with my eyes closed… you’d be wrong.