After the activation of Moel y Gamelin GW/NW-042, and lunch at the Ponderosa, it was 2.30pm on Monday 11th February 2013, and time to get cracking up to Cyrn-y-Brain GW/NW-043. I climbed over the stile and walked up the snowy grass path to the main track. This track, like all others so far encountered during the day, was very dangerously icy and slippery. I continued to walk along grass where available, and also found areas of deeper snow to be suitable for being able to plant feet more confidently.

   

Because of wishing to avoid the access track, I for the first time followed the wooden footpath sign which appeared to point to cut the corner just before the track bended sharp right and began to climb. However, what I never knew was that this path in fact does not rejoin the access road partway up that next stretch, but continues in a straight line and joins a rather impressive terrace where a very steep drop lurks to one side for 50 yards or so. I kept my head down while on this section, which ascended gently and was very good going underfoot. Eventually, this looped back and rejoined the access track at its hairpin bend.

   

I made a careful mental note of this point so I could descend that way later. The uphill road walk remained to the summit, but now the track was not just dangerous with hard ice, sometimes on very steep gradients, but impossible. I looked for any stretches of grass or deeper snow at the sides of the track to walk along, and even had to get in the heather occasionally to avoid the access road, which was just an accident waiting to happen for the walker.

It was a very wintry and lonely scene at the summit. Again, shelter was needed, and I found this just to the right of the locked gate into the transmitter compound. A call of nature beckoned, but I suspected I might need this for practical reasons later, so I left it for now. The 40m dipole went up with little difficulty, and it was radio time again. in 24 minutes operating with the HB1B I made 30 QSOs. The operating from some chasers was rather undisciplined on this one with one station in particular sending his own callsign almost continuously, included when I was transmitting, and when the station I was working was transmitting. Marvellous thing this full break-in - you can hear everything!

   

Another station repeatedly sent his callsign twice every time I sent a partial. This station didn't have any degree of match to the partial I sent, but seemed undeterred. I had also asked on air for stations to send their calls once only. The DL and OM stations in particular seemed to be exemplary in their on-air behaviour today.

When packaway time came around, this time there was one join on the fishing pole sections that was completely frozen hard and could not be dislodged. I had saved myself (see earlier) especially for such a situation, and employed the SOTA Beams recommended procedure for being able to finish packing the pole away. It worked a treat!  The descent route was the ascent route in reverse, and again, there were new grouse footprints in evidence that were fresh since I ascended. I reached my car, parked opposite the Ponderosa Cafe, in the twilight around 4.55pm. That had been a good and enjoyable days' walking.

   

The HB1B continues to be a joy of a radio to use. The 52 contacts made in just 35 minutes aggregate operating time took the total made on the HB1B and its internal battery pack (not yet recharged) to 259 across six activations. The voltage indicator was still showing 10.8V at the end today, so even more left yet.  The drive home was not too much of a chore thanks to company on the GB3VT repeater courtesy of Mike G7NBE, Richard G3CWI and Roy M6CEQ.