A fun day today on 2m!
I wanted to do Ben Macdui (GM/ES-001) and Carn a’Mhaim (GM/ES-013) via Derry Cairngorm (tick off that hill), and Caroline had told Fraser they were doing Geallaig Hill (GM/ES-036) and Craigendarroch (GM/ES-078) today. I was hopeful we’d manage a S2S on one at least, but timings don’t always work out. The weather forecast was a bit mixed, maybe sun, maybe cloud, maybe rain, but in the end it was mostly wind!
Up and over Derry Cairngorm, barely able to stand up at the top, and onward to Ben Macdui. The cloud was about 1300m, so would come in and out - in being grey and out being lovely views all round. Thankfully there are multiple shelters at the top and I picked one and call CQ on 2m. Caroline and Martyn were in the car and so chased as /M. A few familiar voices on 2m and then I moved to HF. The wind and band conditions were annoying so I was pleased to give up when I saw Jeff, MM/WJ7V (@KK7DAK), and Amy’s, MM/KC7JNU, spots on Morrone GM/CS-060. They were working Caroline and Martyn when I tuned in, who had just got into the AZ, and afterwards we continued the trend of 59 2m QSOs. (Jeff and Amy are on their MM Holiday as well, GM/ES being a popular destination - you will recall Morrone is technically part of the Democratic People’s Republic of GM/ES).
I packed up and headed off, whilst Caroline and Martyn got setup on Geallaig. Just being a little bit lower meant the views were lovely all round. The wind was still relentless, but now was mostly behind me, so helped me along!
I just managed to catch you both again as you were packing up! Making 6 2m S2Ss today.
After a long walk back, I was wondering if you were still doing Craigendarroch, or the tea rooms of Ballater had trapped you for the afternoon! I had the HT on the passenger seat and when I saw the spot on my phone I pulled over and we managed 2m and 70cm QSOs. I was actually outside Dinnet (not Aboyne as I thought) so only 9km away. Everyone here has 2m hamalerts set for GM/ES, but I pinged the whatsapp group anyway, and saw you managed to get some more: VHF+ from Craigendarroch isn’t easy!
I was home in time for dinner, chicken curry and then finished off the chocolate sponge from a previous night (alas no custard, which I was meant to buy for myself yesterday but forgot🤦)