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

The Cloud 2007 (3)

 

Christmas Day activation photos at the end of this page...        Click to return to summit index

 

My CW speed was up to 18wpm by the end of the recent CQWW contest, but already it has slipped back to 16wpm. Since terminating my membership of the gym and not yet joining a new one, my fitness has also slipped, such that I am getting beaten at squash every week, and having colleagues not known for their blistering pace ghosting past me at five-a-side on a Friday.

Two birds, one stone, back to a walk up The Cloud every day. Possibly...

I set off from home at 0620 on Wednesday 5th December 2007, and spoke to Steve M0SGB and Frank G6TNO on the GB3MN repeater on the drive. I collected the gear (almost forgot the pole) from the boot of my car, and set off on the ascent just after 0650. It was still completely dark, and so I took a hand torch to illuminate the stairs. In fact, the torchlight was still needed when out of the trees and up on the ridge.

The torchlight was still needed on the summit, for unpacking the rucksack and laying out the legs of the dipole. This was actually quite hard work in the dark, and I was much slower than usual in setting up.

Eventually, I was QRV around 0725, but failing to solicit any response. I was further hampered by there being an existing QSO on 7.032, thus meaning I would have to find a different QRG to that for which I had alerted. I spotted myself on 7.031, and put out a few calls with no response. Then a loud voice station appeared, splattering all over 7.030 to 7.034, so I rested for a while. When it disappeared, I noticed that 7.032 was now clear, so I called on there, and was called back by a very loud DL6DQI.

Further calls brought only silence until a G station called me five minutes later. This station wanted a conversation rather than a rubber stamp QSO, but seeing as I was wanting to practice my CW, that was not a problem. We had a longish contact lasting 8 minutes. I was by now behind schedule for getting to work on time, so two more contacts with PA0HRM and DL4FDM were very speedy, and then I had to pack up and descend. I think there was another station calling me after Fritz, but I really had to go - apologies.

I frantically collapsed the pole and wound in the dipole, then legged it down the hill. At least it was now light! I was in the car for 0805, and arrived at work at 0831. So a late mark for being 1 minute late to staff morning briefing, but sufficient time to change into my suit and meet the pupils at 0840.  Many thanks to the following stations, all worked on 7.032MHz CW with 5 watts:

DL6DQI Dresden Tom
G4FPA Sale John
PA0HRM Delden Hans
DL4FDM Bensheim Fritz

 

I thought I would check the weather when I woke up at 6am on the morning of Thursday 6th December 2007, and if it was OK, go and do The Cloud. It was OK. But when I got out of bed and went downstairs, I suddenly found it was 7am. Looks like I snoozed off again.

Instead I decided to drop in after work for a 40m CW activation. It was already pretty dark and gloomy under heavy cloud as I ascended at 3.50pm. I set up the pole and 40m dipole on the summit, and sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly wind by sitting against the stone base of the topograph and facing out towards Rushton Spencer.

It was quite nice that it was so gloomy, because all the lights were on in Macc and Congleton, and the traffic on the A523 Leek Road was similarly illuminated.

Anyway, it was a very interesting activation, with none of the usual G, GW, GM, F, HB or DLs worked, but contacts from I, SP, ON and HA. By the third contact at 1624, I was reliant on the light from my torch to fill in the logbook, and as I went QRT, the rain began to fall. Packing up in the dark was interesting; I had to carefully follow the dipole legs with the torch. I couldn't collapse the bottom section of the pole with my wet hands, so I made do with packing it into two section lengths.

It was now pitch black and raining hard, so I was surprised to see a man, woman and little two year old toddler arrive on summit with a bag of cakes. The chap was able to undo the bottom section of my pole. He also offered me a cake!

The descent was very wet and muddy, and I was pleased to be inside my car with the heater on. The rain got even worse and was torrential for the duration of my twenty minute drive to home in Macclesfield. I was kept company by the excellent local station "Canalside Community Radio" on 87.8MHz.  Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 40m CW with 5 watts:

IK2RGV Canneto Stefano
SP3JFK Nowa Sol Marek
SP6IFN Warsaw Rysio
ON4ON Dadizele Danny
HA5UY Üröm Gyuri


I was at the Cloudside parking spot, on the summit, and set up for 40m CW all by the usual and expected times for an after-work activation on Wednesday 12th December 2007.  Except that I hadn't even been to work. I won't bore you with the details - because these particular details are rather boring.

It was very cold and very windy on the summit, but huddled in on the East-facing side of the topograph, it was simply very cold. It felt as though my fingers wouldn't be able to withstand the extreme cold for much time. However, operating the paddle seemed to warm my fingers up well, and I was quite comfortable.

Five stations - F, DJ and 3 x HB - were worked in a seven minute period, following which there were no further calls. I managed to pack away in daylight, but even at 4.25pm, it was getting really dark during the descent. I managed to get to the car without the assistance of torchlight, but only by a few minutes.  Many thanks to the following, all worked on 40m CW on 5 watts:

F8BBL Tresses Laurent
HB9CGA Embrach Ulrich
HB9AGH Zurich Ambrosi
HB9BCZ Zurich Robert
DJ5AV Heiligenberg Mike


It remained clear and dry on Thursday 13th December 2008, so I left the chalkface at 3.15pm and made straight for Cloudside. The wind was blowing at an angle across the topograph, so no one side of it offered complete shelter, unlike the previous two activations. I decided that side looking ahead towards the end of the ridge, in a NW direction was just about the better one, and set up with that as my operating position.

I only made three contacts before silence reigned - HB, I and G. I was quite surprised, because several stations seemed to be calling in the "pile-up" from which G3CWI was extracted, but Richard turned out to be my last contact. The band hadn't died completely; activity remained in the 7.000 to 7.029 range, but my further CQ calls, either on 7.031 or lower down the band were unanswered. I am coming to the conclusion that 4.30pm on a December afternoon is not the best time for 40m QRP! Maybe I should wheel the 2m CW back out.

It was very cold while packing up in the final dregs of daylight, and the descent was torchlit as day rapidly became night.  Many thanks to:

HB9AGH Zurich Ambrosi
IK1WJQ Savona Emilio
G3CWI Macclesfield Richard


I had stayed in a B&B in Burslem on the Friday night, after the work football team's Christmas Bash. On the way home on the morning of Saturday 15th December 2007, I decided that a bit of fresh air and exercise was a necessary antidote to the previous evenings real ales, karaoke, sambuca shots and balti.

As I began the ascent, I noticed piles of small rectangular pieces of ice on the ground, particularly under trees. I pontificated as to the process of their being there as I climbed the steep stairway.

This was a low effort activation, with just 2m FM from the handheld. I didn't even take the SLAB for back-up power, nor the RSS for an antenna improvement. Just me, and two items - the VX-110 and my coat - simple!

Nonetheless, 20 minutes operating brought 8 contacts spread around the North West and North Wales, and including a S2S with 2E0RSM/P on Sharp Haw G/NP-029. Then home, pick up the kids, then around town picking up other peoples' kids and onto the derby - Macc v Stockport - and a deterioration to the level of enjoyment of the day.  Thanks to the following, all worked using 2.5 watts:

2E0RSM/P Sharp Haw NP-029 Martyn
G3CWI Macclesfield Richard
2E0BKW Leek Gareth
G4BLH Brierfield Mike
GW4EVX Mold Ron
GW7AAV Connahs Quay Steve
G8HXE Flixton Keith
G4RSW Stafford Tony

 

I went for a 40m CW activation after work on Tuesday 18th December 2007, but it was the wrong choice. I had three very enjoyable QSOs with HB9EAA, DL7RAG and G3CWI, but the latter informed me of the 2m tropo lift condx with contacts being made right across Europe. And I had left the SB3 down in the car! Still, it was cold and dark by then, and my tea would be nearly ready, so home I went.
 

HB9EAA Hofstetton Nik
G3CWI Macclesfield Richard
DL7RAG Tirschenreuth Heinz

 

The idea on the morning of Wednesday 19th December 2007 was to take advantage of the tropospheric lift conditions. As I pulled onto the Cloudside parking spot, I noticed that Radio 2 - from Holland - was audible on 88.0MHz, as it had been the previous evening. So I was hopeful of some DX.

The ascent at 0650z was torchlit, as was the setting up of the SOTA Beam ten minutes later. I called CQ for a few minutes on 144.060MHz CW, but without response. I then called for a further few minutes on 144.300MHz SSB, also without response. A call on 145.500MHz FM immediately brought Steve M0SGB/M, worked with a little difficulty on the H-polarisation.

Going back to SSB, I called back to a couple of the stations calling CQ - G4RRA in Devon and F2YT. So there was some continental DX to be had after all. That was it though; I didn't hear any of the Scandinavian stations that were reportedly "booming in" elsewhere.

I returned to FM to work Steve GW7AAV, who told me that Phil G4OBK was listening for me on 144.060MHz CW. I went back there and called for a few more minutes, but without reply. I now see that Phil had heard me briefly, so a real shame that I didn't hear him and make a contact. By now, I was right on the deadline to pack up and get to work on time, I went QRT, packed up and descended swiftly.   It was very very cold!

M0SGB/M Bury Steve 2m FM
G4RRA Devon Paul 2m SSB
F2YT JO10GK Paul-Joel 2m SSB
GW7AAV Connahs Quay Steve 2m FM

 

I got a flyer from work on Thursday 20th December 2007, and was parking on Cloudside by 1545 UTC. I was fully set up with the 817 and horizontal SB3 (on fishing pole today) by 1610, but managed to be sitting where I (a) couldn't reach the pole to rotate it, and (b) kept nudging a guy line with my head, nearly toppling the entire antenna system. After a few minutes sorting these problems out, Frank G3RMD and Stewart G0LGS were both worked on 2m SSB, after waiting patiently for me to reposition myself.

After working M3RHJ, a switch to 2m CW and G3RMD, GW0DSP and G3CWI were all worked. DSP and CWI were then reworked back on 2m SSB, by which time the spots had filtered through and a pile-up awaited. Another try on CW after working down the pile-up produced nothing, so I went QRT.

32 minutes operating, 14 contacts, 3 on 2m CW, 11 on 2m SSB, light at the start, dark at the finish, -2 degrees Celcius and fingers numb with cold by 1648 UTC. I got up to begin the packing away, and noticed that the fishing pole and SB3 were well and truly iced over. I wondered how much a task it would be to take them down, but in the event only one section of the pole proved stubborn and the station was dismantled fairly swiftly.

The descent was hard work until I switched a second torch on which helped considerably. I warmed up in the car for a few minutes before commencing the drive home, where I was greeted with a full roast beef dinner. Result.

G3RMD Cheltenham Frank 2m SSB
G0LGS Cheltenham Stuart 2m SSB
M3RHJ South Derbyshire Mark 2m SSB
G3RMD Cheltenham Frank 2m CW
GW0DSP Connahs Quay Mike 2m CW
G3CWI Macclesfield Richard 2m CW
GW0DSP Connahs Quay Mike 2m SSB
G3CWI Macclesfield Richard 2m SSB
GW7AAV Connahs Quay Steve 2m SSB
GW1LDY Broughton Arthur 2m SSB
M3PXW Ellesmere Port Barry 2m SSB
2E0BYA Bayton Dave 2m SSB
M0COP Little Stretton Pete 2m SSB
M3PQQ Wolverhampton Robert 2m SSB

 

And so to Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December 2007.  A couple of intended participants were running late and had to cancel, but Greg 2E0RXX and newly licensed son Liam M3ZRY arrived at the Cloudside parking spot just a few seconds after I did with Jimmy M3EYP and Liam.

Tom using SOTA Beams MFD as a RSS    A rather populated trig point!    Jimmy M3EYP

Greg and Liam got things warmed up, using the FT-290 and working several stations. Jimmy, Liam and I pottered around taking photographs, and then facilitating a live link-up with Canalside Community Radio 87.8 MHz. The on-air presenter Nick Wright interviewed me on air as I described what it was like up on Bosley Cloud summit this cold and foggy Christmas morning, and then quizzed me as to the amateur radio activities. One of Greg's QSOs - with Mike M3XMC - went out live on air as part of the feature!

Liam M3ZRY and Greg 2E0RXX    SOTA Beams MFD set for 2m CW/SSB

We heard Dave 2E0BYA/P with a very strong signal from Brown Clee Hill G/WB-002 and each took our turn to make the summit to summit. Liam M3ZRY got his four contacts for his debut SOTA activation, and after descending and working me (still on summit) from his dad's car, totalled 3 chaser points also.

Liam M3ZRY/P debut SOTA activation    SOTA Beams MFD set for 2m FM    Tom M1EYP/P

I had a go on 2m CW and got GW0DSP, and a go on 2m SSB - and got nobody! After Greg and Liam (1), and Jimmy and Liam (2) departed the summit, I set up to work everyone on 2m FM. I realised that many regular chasers were still hunting for SP-015, struggling to keep up with the frequent changes of operators, bands, modes and operating styles! This brought a run of 18 stations in short order. Jimmy by this stage was sat in my car on Cloudside, and monitoring on his handheld radio. In fact, he was one of the 18 contacts, as were Liam and Greg as they drove back to Macclesfield.

Liam M3ZRY, Greg 2E0RXX, Jimmy M3EYP    Tom M1EYP

Thanks to everyone for the contacts and the exchanges of festive greetings. A great way to spend Christmas Day morning/midday.  And then off back to Macc for the Traditional Christmas Curry!   Many thanks to the following, all worked on 2m FM with 5 watts, except the third contact which was 2m CW.
 

2E0BYA/P Brown Clee Hill WB-002 Dave T, J
2E0BAX Macclesfield Sean T, J
GW0DSP Connahs Quay Mike T
M3EYP/M Cloudside Jimmy T
G4BLH Brierfield Mike T
GW7AAV Connahs Quay Steve T
G6DDQ/M Rooley Moor Myke T
M3PXW Ellesmere Port Barry T
2E0PXW Ellesmere Port Barry T
GW1LFX Connahs Quay Mike T
M3ZRY/M Cloudside Liam T
2E0RXX/M Cloudside Greg T
M0EIQ/M Oldham Dick T
G0NAJ Dukinfield John T
M0VTS Stafford Pete T
M0RDR/M near Middlewich Rob T
G0RXA Cheadle Nigel T
M3WKC Shrewsbury Alasdair T