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

Pen Llithrig y Wrach 2005

 

This summit was activated by myself, accompanied by Jimmy and Richard G3CWI on Monday 15th August 2005.    Click to return to summit index

 

Jimmy and myself got up at 5.30am on Monday 15th August, warmed the mulligatawny soup and set off on the M56 and A55 and A470 into the heart of North Wales.  We stopped at a greasy spoon in Llanwrst for breakfast, then continued along the A5 to the farm/campsite where one can park for £1.  We were 7 minutes late compared to the time we had agreed to meet Richard G3CWI here, but as he was 5 minutes late himself, he hadn't even changed into his boots!  In fact by the time Jimmy and myself had ours on, Richard hadn't, and was still munching his breakfast, so we set off without him, knowing he would catch us up soon enough with his lightning walking pace!

Jimmy on Pen Llithrig y Wrach, with Creigiau Gleision in the background        The SOTA Beam on Pen Llithrig y Wrach, overlooking Llyn Cowlyd

We had to walk a short way back down the A5, then we headed north on the gated water board track to Ffynnon Llugwy reservoir.  Just before the reservoir, the path branches to the right from the access road and begins to zigzag up the steep-sided ridge.  With a couple of semi-scrambly steps, we were atop the narrowish, but not too scary ridge, and at this point Richard had caught up.  It was a beautiful clear sunny day, and the views to both sides were stunning, especially looking back towards Snowdon, the Glyders, Tryfan and Y Garn.  It was then necessary to climb and descend along the broadening ridge until a final ascent onto the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach.

        Tom MC1SWL/P on Pen Llithrig y Wrach GW/NW-013            Richard GW3CWI/P activating on Pen Llithrig y Wrach GW/NW-013

On the summit, I made 11 2m FM contacts, all regular chasers, and one 70cm contact - guess who!  Richard made a similar number on 40m CW after being spotted by Nigel 2E0NHM, and was just finishing off as Jimmy and myself were packed up and ready to go.  As earlier, we decided to set off ahead of Richard to save time overall, and we headed north on our long circuit around to Creigiau Gleision GW/NW-028.

Callsign today was MC1SWL/P, International Short Wave League club callsign.  Many thanks to the following stations, each worked on 2m FM with 2.5 watts, except G4BLH's 2nd contact, on 70cm:

MW0IDX/M St Asaph Roger
2E0NHM Warton Nigel
G4BLH Brierfield Mike
G4BLH Brierfield Mike
G0HDX Accrington Roy
M3HJD Clitheroe Mick
G4JZF Walsall Graham
GW7AAV Connah's Quay Steve
GW4BVE Pool Quay John
G0NES Wythall Don
M0COP Hall Green Pete
G0AKF Knutsford Ken