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

 First activation of a lovely summit with well a marked path

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.

 

 

*Note that I visited again for a 2nd activation in Feb 2025.  This time I realised that this point is not the actual summit (Pico del Fuerte, 999m).  The place described here is 'El Fuerte' at 976m.  Fortunately this is just within 25 vertical metres of the actual summit so just within the activation zone.  Access to the summit at 999m looks dangerous and I would only advise experienced mountaneers ascend this.

 

 

 

I chose to operate just below the [El Fuerte 976m] 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