Allt yr Esgair GW/SW-023
Bit of a delay in posting last weekends SOTA activities (how inconsiderate of work to get in the way🤣). Having been off the mountain for a couple of weeks due to a fractured foot, this weekend was a trial run to see if the foot could cope with being back on the mountains, and with notification that Ben Yaesu Man was heading for the hills, I though it fitting to drag the kids and dogs along to try and make it for an S2S.
The summit of choice this time was Allt yr Esgair GW/SW-023, as with all the others being new to SOTA this was a first for me, and was chosen using my usual "last minute" summit planning technique, (a quick look at SOTLAS whilst making breakfast). With the summit picked, I packed the gear, kids and dogs into the car and we were on our way.
This summit turned out to be a relatively easy walk up from the large lay-by on the side of the A40 via the public footpath, with great views out over the black mountains to Llangorse lake and the twisting Usk river in the valleys below. We were very fortunate with the weather on the way up and we arrived at the top within 20 minutes nice and dry, albeit a little wind swept.
I got to setting up the station whilst the kids and dogs ran around with far too much energy for a sunday🤣, and was on air just in time to make the S2S with Ben, thanks for that buddy, it was great to get you in the log on both SSB and CW (and thanks for slowing down from your usual 500WPM for me 🤣🤣).
The bands seemed to be in great shape again and I went on to work a great pile up making some 25+ contacts on 40M alone, before mother nature cut our activation short with sharp wind and rain that came from nowhere.
The walk down seemed to take an age in the heavy rain 🌧 but a great time on summit and another successful activation made it worthwhile. I did have to make a detour into Brecon on the way back home to get the kids waffles at llanfaes dairy as "reward" for doing a summit with me🤦. As always a big thanks to everyone that called in to us, your support is much appreciated, and it was nice to be back on the mountains.
73, Matt MW0KAX
