From Mynydd Nodol GW/NW-048, we made for the A543, looking for the disused quarry that marks the start point for Mwdwl-eithin GW/NW-047. The conversation in the car journey became anxious, as Jimmy struggled to rationalise the summit heights and SOTA reference numbers:

GW/NW-046 Rhialgwm 540m
GW/NW-047 Mwdwl-eithin 532m
GW/NW-048 Mynydd Nodol 539m

We knew that there was at least one other Mwdwl-eithin in North Wales, but that was even lower at 470m ASL. What if there was a third, and my two previous activations were null and void? We decided to go for it anyway, confident that the summit activated also by Roger MW0IDX and Shirley MW0YLS must be the right one.  (And happily confirmed since we got home that it is!).

We pulled in at the disused quarry at SH899548, sat down on the pleasant grassy banks and finished the soup ahead of the ascent. The weather remained mild and dry, despite news of the storms and downpours that were reportedly hitting the Lleyn, Anglesey, Cheshire and Lancashire. It seemed we were lucky.

       

The walk over the bleak moorland, on the afternoon of Sunday 4th May 2008, towards the raised summit of Mwdwl-eithin was a joy. It was surprisingly firm and level under foot, making for good going and rapid progress - even by Liam! We turned right at the fence and followed it to the foot of the main summit lump. Here, we followed a well-trodden albeit muddy track through the heather to the summit, featured with two large cairns, trig point and large walled shelter.

   

We had made good time, so I decided to go for an 80m HF activation. The trig point still had a deep hole in it with the cap missing, so erecting the pole was easy. We didn't make many contacts, but more than enough, me on 3.557 CW and Jimmy on 3.660 SSB as usual. We relaxed in the shelter, munching on Hob Nob flapjack bars, noticing that the skies were darkening. Looking around, while we remained dry, we were completely encircled by heavy rain and black skies. I instructed Jimmy to lead his brother on a start to the descent, while I packed everything away. Jimmy informed me of the navigation strategy for the descent, and set off into the gloom.

   

I set off ten minutes later after packing all the gear away, and followed in the boys' footsteps, following Jimmy's instructions. Occasionally I caught site of them in the distance. I did catch them up about a third of the way into the descent, but then, as usual on here, we "missed" the direction to the track down to the quarry and ended up 100m north of it on higher ground. That was soon corrected, and we were soon back at the car.

It was now time to start 'phoning around the hostels again, and our first choice - Bryn Gwynant - was full. To my surprise, our second choice - Pen-y-Pass could accommodate us, so it was to there we headed. And what an excellent hostel. Great staff, large and spacious on the ground floor, comfy beds in rooms, good en suite shower, delicious meals and a bar! Great! We didn't eat out; we stayed in and enjoyed the very good home cooked fayre.  Bedding in Youth Hostels seemed to have evolved in the last year.  There was no sign of sleeping bag sheets anywhere. Now, you got a packet with two pillowcases, fitted sheet and duvet cover. It was much more comfortable.

Many thanks to the following stations worked in the activation: