Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Gruggandoo 2008

 

From Knockiveagh GI/MM-016, it was south to Rathfriland on the B10 and continuing towards Rostrevor on the B25. However, just after Hilltown, we turned right onto the Mullaghgariff Road which climbed high into this range of western outliers of the Mournes. Jimmy, with the OSI Road Atlas of Ireland, and the OSNI Mournes 1:25,000 sheet (a rare 1:25,000 map in GI!) on his lap, carefully counted the tracks striking off into the hills until identifying the one we required.

There was enough space to pull the car in at the side of the road near the start of the track, and then it was simply a case of walking up said track.  The afternoon was cracking along on Sunday 30th March 2008, and we climbed into field with the track.  We tried a left at the T-junction at J196258, but backtracked a few minutes later realising this to be non-starter. The other direction, while dropping initially, soon bent around to set up a logical final approach to the summit, and the fence to be crossed had a tiny gate in it that could be stepped over.

Tom on Gruggandoo        Jimmy, with the Mournes behind

It was quite nice on the summit, decent weather and a cracking view across to the main cluster of the Mourne Mountains. That is where we intended to be tomorrow.  Although it was after 5pm local, I knew that the intended last summit of the day - Carrigatuke GI/CA-003 - was only a short and trivial walk, so I decided there was time and opportunity to set up for 80m. Jimmy sent the spot while I prepared the dipole antenna.

A good run was enjoyed on 3.557MHz CW with 13 stations worked. Also heard calling, but not worked successfully, were ON4ON and F5NEP. Jimmy then had a decent run of ten contacts on 3.660MHz SSB, and I tied the ribbons with a single 80m SSB contact with Phil G4OBK.

Jimmy MI3EYP/P    80m antenna on Gruggandoo

We left the summit before 6pm local BST, and were back at the car within another twenty minutes. Physically, this was turning out to be a useful and appreciated "rest day", even though it contained four unique summits. Since returning home, I was surprised to discover that this summit had never been activated before, so I had the pleasant bonus of picking up my first "first activation" for many years!  Back in the car, we headed over to Carrigatuke GI/CA-003 on the opposite side of the city of Newry.  Many thanks to the following stations, all worked on 80m with 5 watts:

G4OBK Pickering Phil CW T
GI0RQK Ballyclare Colin CW T
G3OHC Selby Graham CW T
G4CPA Crosshills Geoff CW T
MX0BCQ/A Crosshills Geoff CW T
EI2CL Dublin Michael CW T
G4SSH Scarborough Roy CW T
GM4FAM North Kessock Cris CW T
ON4CAP Oostkamp André CW T
G3RDQ Stockbridge David CW T
GW0DSP Connahs Quay Mike CW T
G0NES Hollywood Don CW T
GM0AXY Edinburgh Ken CW T
G6MZX Thornton-in-Craven Geoff SSB J
GW0VMZ Merthyr Tydfil Alistair SSB J
GW7AAV Connahs Quay Steve SSB J
GI0RQK Ballyclare Colin SSB J
MM0USU Falkirk Andy SSB J
MW0IDX Kinmel Bay Roger SSB J
G4OBK Pickering Phil SSB T, J
GM4YMM Edinburgh Christine SSB J
G3OHC Selby Graham SSB J
G6LKB Ulverston Dave SSB J