The forecast was for a reasonable day and as the winter activity season was coming to a close we sought something that would be an interesting radio site for the Worked All Britain crowd but also being a SOTA summit to ensure interest. We've run out of convenient large OS squares without a long drive but GM/SS-223 in NN50, trig TP4227 looked interesting as it is one of the WAB "Golden Squares". It's one and half hours drive so a bit further than we like but not somewhere I've walked before. Just outside of Aberfoyle in the Trossachs, it looked to offer an interesting enough walk which turned out to be 10km long with 400m ascent due to not quite following the route! On the map above we followed the blue route to the northwestern limit and then cross country to the summit. Then continuing northeast to the bealach and down quite a narrow couloir to pick up a track back to the car.
Well, the reasonable day turned out to be a lot damper than forecast!
But with increasingly "Scottish" views, we're glad we went to the northwest point because it was pretty stunning
And it was at this point we'd realised the error of coming so far.
But hey-ho a compass bearing gave us the right way to go and soon we'd got through "leg break heather ally" and the summit was in sight. (real one on the left)
From the gaps between the two peaks the view down to Lake of Menteith was very pretty
And the final bit of the climb took us to the trig
We quickly got the radio set up, the rain was off for now - but for how long?
And how did the radio bit go? Starting on 40m, it was clear things were good, an initial quick call on 7160 brought both Dave (as GB0ABG) and Karl 2E0FEH right back (which became a bit confusing as both were strong, couldn't hear each other and each thought I was talking to them!). Following that, quite a few other WABers appeared and a number of SOTA regulars such as Don G0RQL and Manuel EA2DT and Pedro EA2CKX (in spain) plus a SOTA s2s with Colwyn MM0YCJ/P on a nearby mountain. In total 18 in 16 minutes.
A trip to 80m became slightly tricky as the WAB net were busy with a Welsh station and I couldn't raise attention. It was suggested I go 5khz hf and some found me there, propagation was not good on 80m so early (1300Z) but 6 qsos were had. Serge RV9DC was waiting patiently for me to come to 20m, and I was really surprised to hear him with a great signal calling me! Serge is quite a long way east, nearly as far as India and I was surprised he heard my 4watts. Immediately following Serge was an s2s with S56KVJ/P on s5/pk013 a mountain in Slovenia and immediately following him was KD1CT in New Hampshire! A few more good signals followed including OH3GZ and a further two s2s with Romania and Slovakia.
By now it was getting a bit cold, I have been asked on the internet by Derek 2W0FLW why we stay so long on the summit. Well, activating on HF is not the quick in and out with 4 qsos on a handheld as it is on VHF. Getting setup at all with the telescopic pole and aerial takes time and is often tricky due to the very cold weather gear we need (thick gloves!) although not an issue on this day! Each band requires changes to the aerial to make it work and it can be several minutes gap between each. And then there's the late straggler who turns up, wanting a qso on a band we've already done, eh Derek?
It was on the route out, following to the northeast to make a circular trip that some of the full beauty of this hill was revealed, with terrific views across Loch Venachar due north, and around to Loch Katrine in the Northwest
It was quite steep down on the north edge,
But then the full delight of this route was revealed, a brilliant couloir, the camera inevitably flattens out the steepness.
So a good day was had by all!
