Part 1 is here: SOTA in Madeira Part 1 (10th May 2025) - Activation Reports - SOTA Reflector
Part 2 is here: SOTA in Madeira Part 2 (11th May 2025) - Activation Reports - SOTA Reflector
The first two parts describe two days of activations that added up to 7 points. Helen (M0YHB) was now only 3 points from achieving Mountain Goat and I was still 20 points away from double Goatdom, at least 3 activations away. The plan was to visit the two largest hills. Pico Riuvo de Santana (CT3/MI-001) and Pico do Arieiro (CT3/MI-004), for 18 points (hopefully when there was less cloud) later in the week so we decided that the four point summit of Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008) would be a good choice for the morning of Tuesday 13th May 2025 when the cloud and rain were supposed to be less likely.
We read that some people had approached from the southeast (from Boca da Comdo) but a number of websites had reported the erection of a high fence and locked gates blocking that route. Looking at geocaches, we found that there was one near the summit and better still had parking and waypoints to mark the route up from the southwest, initially following a winding 4x4 track. This would be a 3 km walk with about 350 m of ascent.
The route up and down Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008) from the southwest
We set off reasonably early after a hearty breakfast (our hotel included a buffet breakfast) and drove along the main road until we reached the turn off to the twisty mountain roads. Not long after, Google Maps decided to send us on a “short cut” up a tight “lane” through a group of houses (along Tv. da Ladeira). This turned out to be only half a km shorter than the winding road that led to the same junction further up the hill. At various points we were not sure the car was going to pass between the walls on both sides (the C4 is quite a wide car, we could not have opened the doors (or turned around) never mind avoiding the various drains, steps, posts, drop-offs and dogs along the way. We decided when we returned, we would go back down the “main” road. This was the only time we found ourselves uncomfortable on a road in Madeira.
Image from Google Streetview. Google Maps sent us up to the right! Funnily enough Streetview does not go that way
We parked up on a space by the road, equipped ourselves with boots, bag and pole and set off. It started off as a concrete road then gradually deteriorated to become a dirt track after the camping ground. This was one of those annoying routes that had a continuous gradient all the way, although at least that meant most of the time we were not suffering anything too steep. The dirt track continued until it degraded further into something akin to a farm track and we could hear the various moos and cow bells not too far away. At this point we passed a gate, via a frame that could be climbed over, and saw more evidence of bovine activity in the form of fresh cowpats. The track now became more like a footpath and then non-existent other than the slight marks left by people walking up the slope to the summit.
The dirt track working its way up Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008)
Looking south over the winding route up to Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008)
Often you see lots of people on the popular hills and know you want to be out of their way but, apart from a couple walking down earlier, we had seen no one so far. This seemed like one of the quiet hills we would have to ourselves so we decided to set up in the shadow of the trig-point with the view down the deep valley before us and the central massif to our right. We could pick out three summits which we were not destined to visit; the two larger summits, Pico Riuvo de Santana (CT3/MI-001) and Pico do Arieiro (CT3/MI-004), were round further to the right and hidden in cloud.
The view before us while activating Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008) looking down the deep valley towards Sao Vicente with the summit of Queimadas (CT3/MI-007) to the right
CT9/G6WRW/P activates Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008) with a view (from left to right) of Queimadas (CT3/MI-007). Pico Casado (CT3/MI-005) and Pico Grande (CT3/MI-002)
I invited Helen to start on 20 metres where she quickly made 16 contacts in 15 minutes, all into Europe and this included a summit-to-summit with Stephan (F/DD6DO/P) on Roc Marot (F/PE-200). The radio went quiet, propagation had dropped, and it was at this point the first visitors to the summit arrived. They happily walked a little further on, passed the antenna, to grab some photos of the view. This was the first of four groups to appear, most wanting to photograph the view, one pair running back and forth along the trail and many continuing on the track. In hindsight we should have set up just a small distance away from the trig-point. During this time I had set up for 17m, qualifying with seven contacts into Europe. We then went back to 20 metres for a couple of summit-to-summits with (GW0MHF/P) on (GW/NW-053) and (DF7TF/P) on (DM/BW-085). Conditions were still not great with lots of QSB and the best skip jumping back and forth but there was less noise on the bands.
We packed up and set off further along the ridge to another false top (to grab the geocache which had provided the details of the route) where we had seen from afar that the cows were enjoying the sun and grass. They ignored us as we passed by and then on our return, continuing onwards back down the path and track we had climbed earlier.
Part way down, we suddenly realised that with all the sudden activity we had not taken a picture of Helen on her Mountain Goat activation. This was corrected with a quick photo of the view before the cloud obscured the sea and the route we had taken up.
Moo! Cows near to the summit of Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008)
A happy Helen, now a Mountain Goat, after activating Pico Chao dos Terreiros (CT3/MI-008), looking south with the winding route down behind
We spent the afternoon on lower ground on the south coast, visiting the Skywalk, a mere 550 metres above the sea at Cabo Girão amongst other things, before heading back for a celebratory fish dinner at the restaurant at our hotel overlooking the sea.
Looking towards Funchal from Cabo Girão showing the contrast between the clear coast and the cloudy mountains to the left
The following day was another rest day for SOTA (the weather was not looking too good for the higher mountains although we did venture up Pico do Arieiro (CT3/MI-004) in the late morning and decided it was too busy with rain in the air), so we visited the eastern promontory near Caniçal to take in the views of the rugged coastline and islands.
Helen had achieved Mountain Goat, I still need, at least, two more activations (of the highest values available) for double Goat. We had four days left so I was hoping for some better weather.
Carolyn
Part 4 is here: SOTA in Madeira Part 4 and my 2k point activation (15th & 18th May 2025) - Activation Reports - SOTA Reflector
