GW/SW-002

Summit Information for GW/SW-002

Waun Fach - 811m, 8 points

Association: Wales  Region: South Wales   

Latitude: 51 57 46 N, Longitude: 3 8 38 W

Grid Reference: SO 215300, QTH Locator: IO81KX

This summit was planned originally for Saturday the 19^th of December but due to poor weather  it was delayed until the 20^th. Present were Mal (GW6OVD) and myself Andy (GW7RKC). We arrived at our chosen starting point in the Mynydd Du Forest at around 10.10. 

 

There were limited parking spaces in the area and these had already been taken by other vehicles but we managed to find a spot and started to get our kit together. 

By 10.18 we had begun our hike, we walked up the road until we found a bridge across the stream where we crossed into the forest.

Looking back down the trail at Grwyne Fawr

A short trek through the forest led to another stream and the open hillside at Grwyne Fawr. At this point we began the ascent.

  

 

This section of the hike was long and steep and frequent stops were required to catch our breath.  

 

View of Pen-y-Gadair Fawr from the trail

 

There were few clearly defined trails here so we were relying on our GPS to guide us toward the summit. 

As we got higher the wind strength increased significantly.  Eventually we reached the top of this section, and the wind was now cold and very strong. It was also very boggy which made progress slow as we tried to find routes around the worst areas.

An island in the bog!

We made it to the top of Waun Fach at around 12.15 but it took us a while to get started as we had to negotiate another muddy bog that encircled the summit. The only shelter available was the boulder that marks the summit and we crouched down behind it to get some relief from the wind. There was no way to guy the antenna in the mud so we pinned the antenna mast to the boulder by leaning against it.  

We began the activation and within around thirty minutes had logged around 11 contacts. At this point we were getting very cold so we decided to pack up and make our way back down.

We took a slightly different route back down the mountain side (see GPS track below) to avoid some of the more difficult terrain. 

Many thanks to all the contacts listed below for helping us with this activation!

73 from Mal & Andy

 

A Well earned break on the descent!

The end is in sight, Mynydd Du Forest in the distance

View to the North East from the trail, you can just make out Grwyne Fawr Reservoir on the left side.

GPS Tracklog

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
12:40	GW0SFI	144MHz	FM	Baz
12:42	G4SGI	144MHz	FM	Simon
12:43	2W0GJE	144MHz	FM	Gary
12:50	G4VPT	144MHz	FM	Don
12:53	G0LGS	144MHz	FM	Stewart
12:54	2E0MDJ	144MHz	FM	Matt
12:55	G0RQL	144MHz	FM	Don
12:58	MW1AND	144MHz	FM	Mel
13:00	G3RMD	144MHz	FM	Frank
13:02	MW0UAA	144MHz	FM	Dave
13:35	GW0IRT	144MHz	FM	Phil

List of Contacts