As the map app directed me through the country lanes towards Church Stretton, I was thinking that I would ignore it at that point and head north up the A49. That way I could access the Long Mynd via Ratlinghope and avoid the Burway. However, as I got to Church Stretton, there was still no sign of the forecast snow, and I figured that driving up the Burway would be significantly less scary than driving down it!

In the event, the drive was uneventful and I was soon at my parking spot on the Portway on this beautiful and atmospheric area of upland. After another slurp of my lentil with fragrant Indian spices soup, I was on my way on the very short and easy stroll to Pole Bank.

This was my third activation of Saturday 13th February 2016, and I scanned the summit area for any sign of wardens and rangers, that have known to intervene with activations up here. No such worries. Other walkers were about, but that was all, and these walkers were again interested and good-humoured.

I hunkered down using the topograph as shelter before getting going on the radio. As I was about to spot myself, I noticed that Simon GW4TJC/P was QRV on 2m FM from Moel y Gamelin GW/NW-042. I was able to quickly QSY there with the 10/6 aerial known to work on 2, and grab the S2S. Simon advised that Jamie 2W0EYT/P was also QRV on 2m FM, but from the opposite side of the Ponderosa - on Cyrn-y-Brain GW/NW-043. So a second S2S was collected before I got underway on 28MHz.

Simon advised that he was going to put some wire up to make the S2S on 10m, but after prolonged calling without any takers I decided to pack-up and move onto the next summit. I tried to find Simon again on 2m to check if he could hear me on 10m, but couldn't find him there either.

Four QSOs on 10m SSB and two on 10m CW were punctuated by another diversion to 2m FM, this time for a S2S with Denis MW0USV/P on Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051.

G/WB-005 - 9 QSOs - 4 on 10m SSB, 2 on 10m CW, 3 on 2m FM - 3 x S2S.  Next up it was across to Stiperstones G/WB-003.