GM/ES-038, Creagan a'Chaise - 722m, 4 points | 19th April 2024

 Pleasant walk to a windy summit with plenty of activation space

 There are walks documented to this summit from Cromdale but I chose the slightly shorter route from the road off the A939 near Ballantruan, approaching the summit from the East.  I parked on the verge near the access gate (opposite the converted barn)  and walked up a stony track.

 The track divides shortly after and then crosses a stream, then progresses uphill for a mile or so.

 

The route is then less easy to follow, walking over thick heather cover and small peaty pools towards the summit.  There are occasional markers but a GPS and map are useful to keep on track.  Worth remembering to check for ticks when you return!

 

The summit has a trig point and an interesting super-cairn, apparently built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee (1887).  The cairn provided welcome relief from the wind so I set up on the lee side.  My Sotapole could not be protected from the wind, but managed to stay up for the 45 minutes required for 12x 20m and 9x40m QSOs.  There is plenty of space on the summit and the trig point could be used to support a pole.

 I did try spotting and calling CQ on 15m, but noone replied.  There was good (Vodafone) 4G coverage but I self spotted using the SMS service.

Overall a nice walk and activation spot and of course fantastic views.

Next SOTA activation:  a trip to Corsica, TK/TK-048 Punta Muro

EA7/MA-105, Rábita de Torrox - 698m, 2 points

 A straightforward activation on a quiet hill

I parked just off the road near the start of an ascending track (just above the middle of the 2nd photo below).

 

The walk up was straightforward, but the track was not obvious or marked - I just kept walking upwards towards the summit.  Once at the top there was a trig point and plenty of space to set up.  There was no evidence of anyone else having walked here for many months so a private activation is almost guaranteed!

I managed my hightest QSO count to date, with 23 on 20m then 11 on 15m, including one transatlantic QSO with N4EX.

Next Activation: Scotland April 2024: GM/CS-086

EA7/MA-078, Pico del Fuerte - 999m, 4 points 29th Feb 2024

 First activation of a lovely summit with well a marked path

When researching this summit I was surprised that it had not been activated before.  On paper it looked straightforward and worth a decent 4 points.  I was not disappointed.

 
There is a well documented hiker's trail from Frigiliana, approaching from the South East, but I chose the shorter but steeper route marked on the Open Topo map, approaching the summit from the West.

The access road is a good concrete road which becomes a dust track for few hundred metres.  The walking trail started at a a sharp bend, and I found a parking layby just north of this point.

 
The start of the trail was marked by slightly concerning signage, but it is clearly a footpath and is well marked with mostly blue marks on rocks and trees (occasionally yellow markings)

 

The path then progressed eastwards, with a constant ascent over a good rocky path. There are occasional climbs up large rocks/boulders required but nothing dangerous or too challenging.

The summit provided a convenient trig point to attach my Sotpole but alternatively there was plenty of space on top to set up an antenna.

 

 

I chose to operate just below the trig point in a shaded area.  I saw several walkers arriving at the summit so probabkly worthwhile activting away from the trig point to allow others to enjoy the top.

 

 I managed 17 QSOs on 20m, 2 on 40m and the 6 on 15m (using the 40m antenna on its 3rd harmonic).  Once again I was delighted to include one transatlantic QSO on 15m (NT2A). 

 

Next Activation: MA-105 

EA7/MA-053, Pico del Puerto - 1230m, 6 points

 A pleasant well marked walk to a large summit area

I parked on the main road near the pedestrian bridge.  This bridge spanned the high point/pass between Malaga and Granada provinces, and looked like it once supported a train line.  I took the bridge over the main road and picked up the path to the right of a shed:

The steep path up the hill was well marked and then levelled out with post markers to show the way:

The walk to the summit is just over a kilometer, and once there offered a large potential activation area.  A convenient post provided support for my Sotapole.

I had 22 QSOs on 20m, then decided to try the 40m linked dipole option on 15m (which should in theory be close to resonance on this band).  I was surprised it worked so well, and had a further 6 QSOs on 15m, including my first transatlantic SOTA QSO with KF9D.

Next activation: MA-078

EA7/MA-006, La Torca - 1502m, 8 points

 A challenging walk to an extremely windy summit

From the A-341 I took the track opposite the quarry to find a parking spot just through a wire fence.

Following the path from the open topo map was difficult and I frequently ended up scrambling over rocks to keep walking upwards.  The ground became increasingly icy and once at the summit the wind was extremely strong and cold.  I was encouraged by the additionl 3-point winter bonus that a February activation would earn me, and certainly felt that I had earned it!

The summit has a trig point but I did not attempt to attach my sotapole due to the wind. 

 

Fortunately there is a large area suitable for activation just below the trig point which provided some shelter from the wind.  I attached my bandhopper antenna from a high point near the trig marker, spanning the activation area and pegged at the ground, so set up as a sloping dipole.

I made 19 SSB QSOs on 20m.

Next activation MA-053

EA7/MA-104, Veas - 702m, 2 points

 Strightforward activation with a short walk from parking place

I drove away from Arenas to find the road that got closest to the summit, as shown below:

At the summit there was an Antenna mast and some buildings that provided shelter from the wind, plus wire fencing that provided somewhere to attach my antenna with bungees.

I made 12 QSOs on 20m and 1 on 40m.

Next Activation: MA-006

EA7/MA-103, Benthomiz - 708m, 2 points

 In February 2024 I visited Southern Spain, staying at Torre Del Mar and activated 6 SOTA summits including one for the first time:

• MA-103 (account below)
• MA-104
• MA-006
• MA-053
• MA-078
• MA-105

EA7/MA-103, Benthomiz - 708m, 2 points

An easy activation with good road almost to the top

I drove to Arenas and then took the concrete road that ascends almost to the summit.  I left the car near the crossroad and took the 10 minute walk up to the summit.

Benthomiz is the site of a ruined Castle.  There is plenty of space to activate, with convenient trees and walls to attach the antenna.  I did not suffer any QRM from the masts.

I had 21 QSOs on 20m, then 4 on 40m.

Next summit: MA-104

GM/ES-027, Meall a'Bhuachaille - 810m, 4 points. 16/4/2024

 Straightforward ascent on well marked footpaths

We parked in the Glenmore Visitor Centre car park from which the footpath started.  The ascent to the summit of around 4 km was on a well made stone footpath, with a gradual gradient most of the way.

 The summit has a large Cairn and some shelter from the wind and I was able to set up my sotapole/bandhopper antenna with some reasonable height at the centre.

 

I managed just 5 QSOs on 20m and did not want to spend much more time exploring other bands as the icy wind was starting to compromise the antenna.  I did spot and call on 2m FM, but no takers (very little population in line of sight).
 

Overall a nice summit, easily accessible and with plenty of space to set up and activate.

Next activtion: GM/ES-038

GM/CS-070, Geal-charn Mor - 824m, 4 points: 15th April 2024

 Straightforward ascent but challenging weather at the top

I took the Lynwilg turning off the A9 and proceeded up the tarred road to park near the access gates (the pedestrian gate is not locked):

The track proceeded up hill and became fairly steep, but this turned out to be the steepest part of the ascent, with the remaining walk gently ascending all the way.  A good sandy track (potentially driveable, but not open to unauthorised vehicles) then took me most of the way (2.5 miles) with a left turning at a cairn for the final mile to the summit.

The path remained fairly well defined with rocks, but became increasingly boggy and snow covered as it ascended.  I could see the summit shrouded in cloud one minute and in sunshine the next, so decided to proceed and face whatever weather was thrown at me.

The top was very windy - the Trig point offered slight relief but more importantly an anchor for my sotapole.  I only partly raised the pole, not wanting to encourage the wind to topple it, and attached it with bungees.

I tried self spotting by text message, but the system did not seem to be working (I later realised my SMS has an illegal character that was causing the message to be rejected).  I only had a 2G mobile signal but walked round the summit to just about receive a 4G signal long enough to self spot on the website (Vodafone).  I managed 5 QSOs on 20m before driving snow forced me to abandon and pack up.

The descent was quick and once back on the sandy track the sun even came out!  A reminder that the weather here can be extremely localised and changeable!

Next activation: GM/ES-027-meall-abhuachaille

GM/CS-086 Creag Dhubh - 756m, 4 points, 14th April 2024

 A challenging climb with challenging weather

 We parked just off the A86 on the Aviemore side of the river bridge thinking that there was a foot bridge leading to the track and footpath (as the OS map suggested).  There is a convenient parking area next to the cemetary with access to the river.  In the end we worked our way back to the roadbridge, across the river and started walking up towards a white house with a pedestrian access as shown below, working round the equestrian areana and behind (above) the house to pick up the path.

 A good track proceeds up hill and through a large gate.  5 minutes after the gate there is a left turning in the woodland which is easy to miss (we did!):

 

 Once on the correct track we proceeded through moor woodland with amazingly knarled trees, covered with lichens (apparently a sign of clean, unpoluted air).

 

The terrain then became more open, with some very steep scrambles up slippery rocks.  The gradient was steep for an hour or so, but then levelled out and the summit could be seen ahead.

 The ground became increasingly snow-covered but the heather cover kept the paths walkable to avoid any slips.  Note that this moorland harbours ticks, and even in chilly April my XYL found a tick when we returned later.  Once at the summit the wind was fierce and unrelenting, and I just could not get my Sotapole stable enough to support my bandhopper inverted Vee.  I resorted to supporting the dipole centre on top of the summit cairn with a boulder and pegging the ends as far away as I could... the antenna was hardly a metre above the ground.

 I was planning 20m, 40m and 2m calls, but given the circumstances just put a spot and CQ call out on 20m and managed 5 QSOs to activate the summit.  Reception was weak and required headphones to copy, but amazingly included 2 S2S QSOs (Italy and Germany).

 The weather was worstening so I packed up and headed back (cautiously due to the gradient and slippery rocks half way down).

 Next activation: GM/CS-070