This summit was activated on Saturday 17th July 2004, by myself, accompanied by Jimmy and Liam.     

From Garn Boduan GW/NW-066, we now headed out on the longer drive to Porthmadog for our third and final summit of the day - Moel-y-Gest GW/NW-067.   We stopped in the village of Y Ffor for a bite to eat, and from here worked a chaser point from Rick GW0VMW/P on Garn Boduan GW/NW-066 and a zero from Shirley MW0YLS/P on Carn Fadryn GW/NW-058.  Having already activated, chased and SWLd Carn Fadryn today, there was nothing else I could score from it!  As we reached the parking spot by the start of the path at SH 561 389 on the A487, by the industrial estate just outside Porthmadog, I worked Keith GW0OXV/P on Rhinog Fawr GW/NW-023 and SWLd Nick GW4FAL/P on Y Lliwedd GW/NW-008.  Our walk commenced at 3.30pm local time, and turned out to be not as straightforward as originally envisaged.

The path starts by climbing through the wood as indicated on the map.  However, then there is no track climbing around the edge of the rising plateau as indicated.  Just one clear path to the ridge and then climbing over the highest point, not shown on the map.  From this point, we could see that we were still a fair way off the summit, and we would have to descend to a coll and then climb back up again.  Still, it was a nice bit of ridge with super views on all sides, so who were we to complain?  Poor Liam was dead on his feet after his late night and full day's hiking, but he pressed on valiantly but slowly.  I walked at his pace rather than my own.  Jimmy walked at his preferred pace, as he did all weekend, and hence why I didn't see much of him!

We reached the summit just after 5.15pm local, and contacted Dick MW0EIQ/P on Y Garn GW/NW-004, followed by the gang down at the Tynrhos SOTA camp, who informed me that the barbie was being fired up at that very moment.  With a less-than-easy descent and fair drive to come, I received the news with mixed feelings!  Back on the road, I QSOd with Nick GW4FAL/M, also en route to the barbecue, but ahead of me, and able to confirm that there was plenty of food left when he arrived!

A very pleasant evening ensued with all the SOTA regulars, plus some new faces, sharing stories, technical tips and enjoying the beer, wine and excellent food.  Compliments to the chefs!  Jimmy's favourite from last year - the curried rice - made another appearance, so he was a happy lad (thanks Brian!), while everyone was impressed at both the visual impact and the taste of Jenny's excellent SOTA cake.  Pete M0COP made a surprise appearance, so we had the honour of a representative from the Birmingham Mafia.   Various antenna options were discussed and demonstrated, including the new product from SOTAbeams - the WASP special - that I was using on all my activations this weekend.

Midway through the evening, a group of four - Keith, Shirley, Alan and Ian GW7ADF/P who was over for the night - headed off to activate the local summit Carneddol GW/NW-068, taking it from unactivated to 8 activations in the space of 24 hours.   Optical as well as radio contact was made from the summit, with the activators waving to the BBQees and vice versa.  A blast of QSOs ensued with the four activators trying to get it qualified, and the chasers back at SOTA camp grabbing the points.   Shirley lost all control and was reduced to hysterical laughter, which soon spread like an infectious disease around everyone at base camp!

Jimmy and Liam started the exodus of people to their tents as the evening drew on, and before long there was a hardcore of us drinking under a spectacular star filled sky that also featured a clear pass from the International Space Station.  When the group was down to myself, Steve, a glass of vodka and a can of cider, it was time to go to bed - and I certainly slept very well!

Thanks to all the following stations worked on this activation, all worked on 2m FM with 230 mW, except Rick where 500 mW was used: