After many very windy activations in GM/SS, G/LD and G/NP [the wind capitals of the world?] trying not very successfully on my own to hold the mast up with antenna wires flapping about and getting entangled whilst pegging out the guy strings, I too found reversing these steps the best technique for high winds. I already know the approximate distance from the mast where the pegs (with guying strings attached) need to go, I find it helps to have the O-ring [to which the 3 or 4 guy strings are attached] loose and up the mast a bit and let it drop down into its final position between two mast sections as I raise the mast around it. The guys are usually a bit loose when done this way so I move the pegs out a bit to make the strings taut.
This is always a nightmare. It seems to be worse when the mast and my hands are wet. I get visions of having to carry a partly-extended mast down the mountain. But persistence has always won the day.
Wow! Your first photo [of the GH road], I’ve never seen the on-road parking that bad [busy] but then I’ve never been brave enough / daft enough to go up that lovely but very popular summit on New Year’s Day.
Great report and photos as usual.
P.S. We all missed the obligatory sheep photo [I know there’s none there so you need to take your pet one]
Happy New Year to all,
Andy