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

Moel Famau 2004

 

This summit was jointly activated on 10th January 2004 by myself and Riley G7GOD, accompanied by Jimmy & Liam.  Having descended from our first summit of Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051, we headed up the Offa's Dyke Path from the other side of the car park.  A few minutes along we met Keith G0OXV as expected, as he was descending from Moel Famau and moving on to Foel Fenlli, indeed a direct swap with ourselves.  We continued up the path to the summit of Moel Famau, featuring the Jubilee Tower, achieving the summit in around one hour.

G0OXV, G7GOD, M1EYP, Liam & Jimmy on the Offa's Dyke Path     The trig point on Moel Famau GW/NW-044    Click to return to summit index

 

The wind was fierce on the summit, and it seemed on all sides of Jubilee Tower, but a small pocket of shelter was discovered on it's Eastern side.  It was here we set up the FT-817, logbooks and seat-mats - and the flask, sausage rolls and scotch eggs - with the SOTA Beam a few metres away on the grass, courtesy of Riley's own 15m feeder cable he made for his beam.

GW7GOD/P & MW1EYP/P activating Moel Famau GW/NW-044, Liam looks on!    The portable activation station on Moel Famau

As with before, the summit-to-summit contacts piled in, as did a good many regular chasers.  This being our second summit of the day, we were able to relax somewhat and, having achieved the required four contacts, were able to 'play radio' and continue working the pile-up until it expired.  With the FT-817 set to 1 watt output, the nicad pack never looked like running out anyway, but it was certainly gratifying to work a large crop of stations including another four on SOTA summits.

Riley G7GOD by the Jubilee Tower on Moel Famau NW-044     Jimmy on Moel Famau, by the Jubilee Tower

Just as we were packed up and ready to descend, John MW1VCD arrived on the summit ready for his own activation.  Thus there were four activations of Moel Famau today, which nudged it back into the lead as the most activated SOTA summit just as it had been looking like Shining Tor G/SP-004 was racing away.  Using the 230mW handheld, I enjoyed a few natters during my descent, with Roger MW0IDX/P on Tal y Fan GW/NW-040, John MW1VCD/P now activating Moel Famau, and Keith GW0OXV/M who had now completed his Foel Fenlli GW/NW-051 activation and was waiting in the car park.

MW1VCD, G7GOD & M1EYP on NW-044

John MW1VCD arrived back in the car park shortly after us, and we decided to seek out a relaxing end-of-SOTA-day drink.  We headed into the "We Three Loggerheads" pub on the A494, and had a beverage and chat.  The conversation then continued until halfway up the M56, courtesy of 2m mobile amateur radio, initially simplex, and later via the GB3MP and GB3MN repeaters as necessity dictated.

A very enjoyable day; good radio, good walking and excellent company.

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 1 watt, except the first contact where 0.23 watts was used:

GW0OXV/P Foel Fenlli NW-051 Keith
M3KRP/P Stiperstones WB-003 Keith
MW0YLS/P Cyrn y Brain NW-043 Shirley
GW4BVE Pool Quay John
G1INK/P Axe Edge Steve
G7DIE Blackpool Stephen
G0JNJ Macclesfield Alan
MW1VCD/M ascent of Moel Famau John
G4ENG Cannock Dave
M3CKN Barrow-in-Furness Sam
MW0IDX/P Tal y Fan NW-040 Roger
GW3GUX Anglesey John
G7LFC/M Ormskirk Derek