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

Slemish AH-007

 

Slemish, GI/AH-007 - 437m ASL - D 221 054 - OSNI Discoverer 9 - 2 SOTA points         Map & summit information from SOTAwatch    Click to return to summit index

Wednesday 1st December 2021

 

This morning was a toss up between Slemish GI/AH-007 and Slieveanorra GI/AH-003.  The weather forecast for the former was not great.  For the latter it was utterly horrendous.  So Slemish it was.

 

Steep ascent pre-dawn        Early morning arrival at Slemish summit       

 

I set off from Ballygally at 6am, pulling into the car park around 6.45am. The climb was via headtorch light as it was pre-dawn. I opted for the more direct steeper ascent which involves a few bits of mild scrambling.  As I reached the summit, it was clear that the wind was too fierce for the Alexloop to remain upstanding on the tripod. I found a sheltered spot on the NW slopes just off the summit, but decided to try 2m FM on the handheld first.

 

Working conditions inside bothy bag        Alexloop

 

No problem - four quick QSOs, and the activation was qualified. I went back to collect my rucksack from the sheltered spot, but then decided to set up and do a little HF.  The rain started, so I needed to operate inside the bothy bag.  Six QSOs added on 40m CW, then no takers on 40m SSB. I descended down the less steep path but I think I lost it as some bits were still tricky. The rain intensified and I got a proper soaking!

 

Tom MI1EYP/P  Rainbow in Ballygally Bay  Captain Jimmy

 

A spectacular rainbow greeted me upon my return to Ballygally Bay!  We later had the pleasure of having my 87 year old father-in-law, Captain Jimmy at the holiday cottage for an early Christmas dinner feast cooked up by Marianne.

 

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

07:48

2I0NIO

144MHz

FM

07:49

MI0RRE

144MHz

FM

07:57

MI0JPD/M

144MHz

FM

07:58

MI0SRR/M

144MHz

FM

08:17

SA4BLM

7MHz

CW

08:22

G4WSB

7MHz

CW

08:23

OK2PDT

7MHz

CW

08:25

SV2RUJ

7MHz

CW

08:25

OM1AX

7MHz

CW

08:26

F6EKR

7MHz

CW

Slemish 2003 Slemish 2005 Slemish 2008 Slemish 2011 Slemish 2013