I left everyone sat outside in the sun at the Bothy as I returned for school pick up. Great to see everyone, and meet some new faces too!
Spectacular weather! Was too hot on my summit for a jacket!
Even tried some 2m SSB!
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Only 2 Scottish S2Ss, but loads of others and a brilliant day to be in the hills! Glad take 2 was such a success
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I wasn’t sure if I was going to have time for GM/ES-012 Glas Maol, but the snow gates were opened at 0845. By 0915, I was setting off. The 50 minute walk took an extra 30 minutes due to fresh snow and old snowpack. Crampons donned at 700m and most certainly required for the plod up the final ridge, which was a delight on excellent névé.
I managed a few with the HT and whip, then set up the slim G. I worked all of the local summits, as well as all of the GM/SS guys who were out on the Pentlands.
I couldn’t go without doing some HF, despite promising to be at the bothy for 1pm. 40m and 20m SSB were working well, and I had pileups on both bands, as well as adding a few more summits.
I left the top at 1200 and walked into the bothy at 1305, so not too shabby and not too late.
I really appreciate those that travelled distance to get there, and to Andy & Gavin for going with Plan B’s when the road was closed.
It was a fab day, and brilliant to meet everyone. Of course, the fun doesn’t end there, as there are at least four activators staying over and doing more summits on Saturday, some on Sunday and even on Monday.
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Great pictures! Looks like it was a spectacular day up in the frozen north. Some interesting HF conditions, too. 
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Myself and MM7TXZ went up GM/SS-167 (Black Hill) and I took this as my chance to do an actually fully bike outing. Cycled from the QTH. Cycled to the top of the hill.
Cracking day out. Sunny and clear with hardly a breath of wind. Followed by lunch and cake with Team Allermuir!
45 minutes to go up. 15 minutes to get back down. Weeee!
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Team Allermuir had a grand day out just about in sight of the Black hill mob.
We had some dancing around to share 2m but I did a load of qso’s on 40m as well and let Paul MM0RTO have fun with his tripod yagi.
The airwaves were alive with signals, I managed 11 s2s from a total of 35 qso’s and I think I missed a few.
The weather was a little chilly initially but warmed up in the sunshine. Views all around were spectacular.
Eventually we packed up and met at the cafe for coffee rolls and chat.
A good day was had by all, thanks to Fraser MM0EFI for organising this.
Andy
MM7MOX
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Firstly thanks to Fraser for organising this and booking the weather - even if I had some doubts last night that he had got the snow bit right! While I wait for the jacket potato to cook slowly in the oven of the camper I thought it would be good to write the report, and the pictures tell the story well.
Meall Alvie GM/ES-055
The walk starts with a promising track…
and then a less promising track… Jet was in his element with a choice of rolling in the snow or carrying timber…
The walk is up through the forest and the snow made the slog through the heather quite magical
There isn’t an amazing view from the summit as there are a lot of trees, but the view was good today
This shows the “office”!
The way back included a slight detour to recover the walking poles which I inadvertently put down. Thankfully the snow made retracing the route much easier!
Going back to the van. Once again thanks to all the chasers and apologies for Woody joining in the QSO’s! 73 Paul (Jet & Woody)
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What is the source of these maps?
You’re welcome.
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Fantastic day. It was looking a little dodgy last night with plenty of sleet sticking on cars last night and the snow gates for the A93 closed. In the end I was delayed by road works and traffic so I had decided I would not have time for Ben Gulabin and the meeting. The gates were still closed when I left home and with the delays, I diverted to Mount Blair GM/ES-035 which is about 50-60mins ascent. As it was the snow gates were opened when I parked up.
Easy ascent and I decided just 2m this time. Plenty of activity (the log is in the car still) but I think there were 10 GM S2S qsos.
But it was the WX. -1C when I parked, about 4cms of fresh snow, lots of blue sky and sun and no wind at all. Absolutely fabulous.
85-60km distant, Stob Binnein, Ben More, Ben Lawers, An Stuc, Meall Gharbh and Schiehallion.
A pleased GM4LLD (as MS0TA), 2m only no time for HF so again no M5OTA MS0TA QSO 
Great chat with everyone at the Bothy, MM0EFI, GM4IPB, GM3GAV, GM4KNU, GM5OLD, GM7STP & XY and GM5ALX. A brilliant day out.
EDIT; I forgot to say thanks to Fraser for organising everything including more sunny WX even if there was a bit more snow than expected 
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Much obliged.
Spring Activity Day … GM/ES-036 : Geallaig Hill
A great day up Geallaig Hill today. Fantastic weather with fantastic views to match: 
View of Lochnagar from nearby the summit of Geallaig Hill.
Easy setting up in the rock shelter around the trig point;
Well settled in for a number of great QSOs:
QRV just after 10:00 so managed to catch Tim as GM5OLD/p on his way up Carn na Drochaide GM/ES-025 and then Alex as GM0ESS/p on his way up Morrone GM/CS-060. Not surprisingly it was then a day of S2Ss. My 1st S2S of the day was with Paul @G4IPB as GM4IPB/p, then with Andy @GM4LLD as @MS0TA/p, then Tim as GM5OLD/p, Paul GM4IPB/p again ! , then Gavin @GM3GAV/p, our 2xMG Fraser @MM0EFI/p, our recent MG Alex @GM5ALX/p, Chris @MM0UHR/p and my final S2S for the day was with Archie @GM4KNU/p. Worth listing my S2Ss as 8 x S2Ss from a single activation is a first for me ! Thanks for all the QSOs.
Many thanks to Fraser for organising the Spring GM/ES Activity Day and to Tim for the SOTA GM/ES '26 coasters.
Being in the hills would have been enough on such a great day weather-wise, but combined with SOTA and the meet up at The Bothy afterwards made it a very special day out indeed.
Edit: 8 x S2Ss … 
… maybe get 10+ next time !
I just missed completing a S2S QSO with C’tri MM7TXZ after managing a S2S with Chris @MM0UHR/p and I heard Paul @MM0RTO/p and Andy @MM7MOX/p but didn’t manage a S2S
… there’s always next year !
Edit: An apology to all my Summit-to-Summiteers … I see I spotted myself incorrectly as being on GM/SS-036, of course my correct summit was GM/ES-036 Geallaig Hill. Spots now edited. Sorry for any confusion caused on the day. 
73 to all, Peter
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Man, today was painful - sat at work looking out the window at the sunshine knowing everyone would be out having a brilliant time. Best I could manage was catching the Pentlands squad from the WebSDR in Dalgety Bay on my work computer, but I reckon it must’ve been too low down to catch any of the ES 2m traffic.
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Love that photo! Fantastic!
I could see Lochnagar the whole drive from Aberdeen, even just a mile from my house.
We even had some official event stash!
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Thanks to Tim for making up some beer mats and to Alex for the pin badges. They’re sure to become collectors items!
Alex almost had to hand his back because he did a CS summit, but one which we’re thinking of taking over to join our Big Beautiful ES area. It will be the best SOTA area ever. Very powerful. We can just take it if we want it. Everyone says that. Make SOTA great again.
So, anyway we let him keep his badge.
momentus momentos for all
Here’s a photo of the gang, minus Alex, who had to dash away for the school run.
alfresco dining in Braemar
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I believe someone drew up the correct assignments of summits previously. (Using the Topographical areas of The Relative Hills Society no less).
So the badge is still valid.
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A bit breezier and cooler on GM/ES-022 this morning, with @G5OLD Tim.
I did 20m with the QMX and Tim did everything else. Then we jumped on to 2m FM to work @GM4LLD @G4IPB and @GM4KNU on their summits.
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Not so pleasant on Ben Cleuch GM/SS-059 today.
Warm sunshine walking up the first 2/3 then strong bitterly cold damp wind at the summit.
Too windy for the pole and HF antenna, I thought it was going to be a handheld only activation. One of my regular chasers could only just hear me break squelch on 2m FM and suggested 2m ssb. I got the FT818 out and stuck the rubber duck on it, there he was 5/7 ! He put out a spot and next thing I got an s2s call from M0PJE/P on G/NP-002. Amazing. 198km on 2 watts.
Sorry to my regular HF chasers but my fingers were getting numb every time I popped up from shelter to call or answer calls.
So , not the day I was hoping for but an adventure all the same. I have to say though yesterday is going to be pretty hard to beat.
Andy
MM7MOX
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Another BIGLY AMAZING DAY ON THE SUMMIT STOLEN FROM ES…. sorry I’ll try harder. Climbing GM/CS-060. Another really nice walk, with the ice axe and microspikes never seeing any action.
A much colder wind on the summit today with little shelter, apart from the various comms buildings. I normally like masts but wasn’t really a fan of the ones on Morrone.
As well as smelling a bit like my old 300TDi Landrover (there is nothing like the enchanting smell of diesel) the summit was also complete with various mechanical bits including what appeared to be a cam belt….
The view away from the masts was stunning
I went back through Braemar, which in the last 24 hours seems to have morphed to become very touristy with the Bothy almost full and the sounds of pipers echoing out of busy shops…
On the summit I worked on 40m and 2m. On 40m the band was very busy so hard to find a clear frequency. Thanks to those who worked me. I didn’t hear a lot on 2m, I’m not sure if my FT270 was being somewhat desensed by the rest of the comms gear on the summit.
One (possible) activation to go on the way home before I pick up the paintbrushes…. Sunday possibly West Lomond GM/SS-154. 73. Paul
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