The Cloud SP-015

The Cloud, G/SP-015 - 343m ASL - SJ 904 637 - OS Explorer 268 - 1 SOTA point

I was looking forward to the first 2m Tuesday night activity contest of 2011. With the sensible rule changes that favoured intra-UK contacts in the UK activity contest, and the new low power (10 watts maximum) section which protected QRP, SOTA and Foundation stations from having their normalised scores crushed by 100 watt stations, I had the opportunity to be competitive, rather than merely a participant. I did what every self-respecting individual does these days, and announced my enthusiasm in my Facebook status.

Less than 24 hours ahead of the contest, my wife advised that she was going out for a drink with friends on the Tuesday evening. I have to admit to having pulled a face like a smacked bottom. After gently spitting out whatever dummies I could find, I sheepishly returned to my shack to update my Facebook status. In times of adversity, feel sorry for yourself on Facebook, then loads of people you sort of know ("friends" - in inverted commas) can type how sorry they feel for you as well. It solves everything.

The following day, Marianne announced a complete reversal of her plans, and I was free to go out again. SOTAwatch Alert added. Facebook status updated. Somebody "liked" it. Have a shower. Eat tea. Prepare kit. I hadn't done a darkness activation recently, so I grabbed my CD of "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"... No, I mean I checked my headtorch and put a spare headtorch in my coat pocket. Flask of coffee prepared. No pre-heating. (Pre-heating is for wimps, or for inferior quality flasks).

Mast tied to topograph Another view of the improvised arrangement

I arrived at Cloudside at 7.15pm, with the evening temperature dropping to around 1 degree. I ascended the hill while repeatedly running my packed radio kit around in my mind. Had I remembered everything? Did I remember to transfer the guying kit and RG58 feeder from Jimmy's rucksack to mine? Upon arrival on summit at 7.25pm, I was able to confirm that everything was packed. Plus other things I didn't need. Like a 20m Magic Moggy antenna and a 30m dipole. I began to prepare the antenna by getting the lower part of the mast in an upright position before adding the SOTA Beam and extending to full height. Big problem. The ground was frozen hard and wouldn't take a peg. Usually, I find I can poke around and find a weaker spot under a tuft of grass, but nothing was happening. I glanced at my watch. 7.40pm. Time was on my side - if I could find a suitable contingency.

Filthy conditions SOTA Beam

I decided to site the pole near one corner of the topograph that I would be using for shelter anyway, and wrap two of the guys around it. I used gaps between the bricks to tuck the strings in, and found the length was perfect such that the loops at the end could be brought all the way round and then loop over the bottom part of the fishing pole. The third guy string was angle at 45 degrees away from the topograph, and was held in place by placing a large rock over it.

Time check: 1952z. I settled down in the sheltered side of the topograph, sitting on my foam mat on top of my bothy bag, which I always like to have to hand. The 817 was set up with fist mike, Palm Paddle (in the event not used), fresh SLAB and radio controlled clock, and we were ready to go. Time check: 1957z. I got my pencil and notepad ready and found a clear frequency. As my clock clicked round to 2000z, I began calling and immediately worked GW4ZAR in IO83KF. My activator point for G/SP-015 for the year was qualified by Jimmy M3EYP, who was my fourth contact. Thereafter followed one of my best contest outings with 76 QSOs in the two and a half hours. Everything was on SSB, there was never enough of a drop in activity to justify any calls on FM or CW.

Although the QSO count was pleasing, the multiplier count was arguably not so. Of course, the EI station worked wouldn't give me a new multiplier under the new rules, and I never heard the EI station that others were reporting in 52 square. I did hear the Channel Islands station in IN square, but he was too close to M0GVG operating from very nearby Biddulph Moor for me to have a chance. I almost completed with GM4BYF in IO85, but the word "almost" indicates the gotaway. So nothing from GM, and I never worked one from JO01 - a big miss.

As well as being bitterly cold on the summit, the ground was filthy - damp and muddy. My trousers, coat, trainers and rucksack were all in need of a serious clean by the end of the night. My hair badly needs cutting, and it was a sight from a horror B movie when I removed my fleecy hat. Undeterred, I still walked into the Harrington Arms at Gawsworth at 11pm. Thankfully, they hadn't introduced a dress code since my last visit, although one of the local farmers having a late drink in there was keen to tell me that I'd got the wrong night for the fancy dress.

A pint of Mr Scrooge ale, with a bag of Nando's Peri Peri Chicken crisps and a Spearings pork pie hardly touched the sides as I devoured my late evening supper. I was home for a quarter to midnight, and watched the test match on Sky Sports 1 for a while, before retiring to bad. A very pleasing first VHF contest evening of 2011. Many thanks to the significant number of known SOTA chasers that worked me. And probably the most QSOs I have ever made for a scoring one point activation!

GW4ZAR	2m	SSB
G4UXH	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
2E0BZU	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G3WFK	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
M0DNA	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G0SLR	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
G8HCB	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G4GSB	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
M0BXR	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
M0GVG	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
MI0SMK/P	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
EI3GE	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
M0TXR/P	2m	SSB
G4WDL	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
M0EMM	2m	SSB
G4VPD	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
G4JQN	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
M0WAY	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
G3ORY	2m	SSB
2E0YYY	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0LTT/P	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4LBH	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
M0DJW	2m	SSB
G0GRI	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
M0GHZ/P	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
G2BOF	2m	SSB
G0VVE	2m	SSB
M1CNY	2m	SSB
G1AJI	2m	SSB
G3XNO	2m	SSB
2E0MAS	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB

Tuesday 11th January 2011 was the first 70cm UK activity contest of the year. I set off from Macclesfield with a flask of coffee at 7pm, and made good time in getting to Cloudside for 7.20pm. Climbing the stairs for only the second time of the year, I realised that I needed to get back into the groove of doing so at least three times per week. Walking up to the summit on a dark, cold but dry night is always a pleasure, especially when the views open up to the right. The illuminated towns of Macclesfield, Stockport, Wilmslow, Congleton and Alderley Edge were easily identified, as was the backdrop of the city of Manchester, and further beyond, the bright red stick that was really the main mast atop Winter Hill G/SP-010.

This time the ground temperature was a little higher, and I had no problems in pegging into the ground. With the SB6 assembled, connected and four metres above the ground, I settled down in the shelter of the topograph and put together the rest of the station. I wrote the date in the logbook, made a few checks and chose the frequency of 432.225MHz SSB, then checked the time - 1945z. Perfect, time to sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

At 1957z I detected some splatter. I tuned down the band to find a regular contester in full swing, calling CQ. I chipped in to tell him he was early, but he replied "Oh, both my watch and my car clock must be wrong then". He carried on calling, but another station advised him he was two minutes early. Handy things for contests, these radio controlled clocks! The contest got off to a fine start with 30 stations worked in the first 27 minutes. As usual, then sets in an exponential decay in activity, with a slight rally near the end. Although the number of QSOs was pleasing, of concern was the number of multiplier squares worked. This stood at a meagre four for that first half hour. A few more did dribble into the log as the contest wore on, but the final tally of 9 was disappointing.

IO81 was missing from my log, and from many others as well it seemed. Bryn G4DEZ in JO03 was not on, and unusually, I worked nothing from JO01. Neither did I work anything from EI, GI or even GM. It could have been worse. Just one contact was made with each of IO74, IO84, IO93 and IO94, and two from IO91. So I only narrowly avoided a multiplier tally so pathetic that it would have destroyed my score. As it is, it looks like I might have got away with it, for I currently have the leading claimed score in the Low Power section of the contest.

During the first hour, Simon M0TGT/P arrived on summit. He was doing things the EYP way with a big flask of Thai Green Chicken soup. It was both rare, and enjoyable to have some company during the contest. Simon made a few contacts on his 70cm HT from the far corner of the summit area while I continued on SSB. No QRM was caused to each other. Later on, Simon made the occasional contact on 70cm SSB using my kit.

In the last half hour I found myself to be feeling too cold. I was naughty, and soldiered on to the end at 2230z - necessary in order to collect JO02, IO91 and IO84. I struggled to my feet with my back in some discomfort. Most parts of my body had seized up completely, sitting for nearly three hours in freezing temperatures. The only way to warm up and get things moving was to pull hood over my hat, put gloves on, and get walking as fast as I could.

All was well we reached the cars a short time later, and we agreed to meet up at the Harrington Arms, where we enjoyed a pint of Robbies Mr Scrooge, and a Spearings pork pie with mustard. The final tally was 63 QSOs, which ain't bad for a SOTA activation on 70cm. Have I recorded my first ever UKAC victory? Watch this space! (Update - no I hadn't - I had, in fact recorded my second UKAC victory, having won the 2m contest the previous week!).

G6GVI	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G0WTM	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M6EAE	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
GW0NWR/P	70cm	SSB
G4GSB	70cm	SSB
G3WFK	70cm	SSB
M0BXR	70cm	SSB
G4WDL	70cm	SSB
G4SCY	70cm	SSB
G4FZN/P	70cm	SSB
M6DLT	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
G0SLR	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
G1SWH	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G3VLG	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G0BWC/P	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
M1NTO/P	70cm	SSB
M0EMM	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G3WGU	70cm	SSB
M0LTT/P	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
G4DHF	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G4FRK	70cm	SSB
2E0HRD/P	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
G4NPH	70cm	SSB
G0XDI	70cm	SSB
M0PNN	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
G4BRA/P	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB

The motivation for an "early one" on Sunday 16th January 2011 was - 2011. The New Year, and a new start from zero for the number of DXCCs worked on each band for G3WGV's UK CW Table. Some progress had been made from home on 160m, while the first batches had been collected during SOTA activations on 40m and 30m. But after a barren weekend from home on the band, I needed a SOTA activation to kick the 80m total into life.

I set my alarm for 5am and awoke to the sounds of BBC Radio 5 Live on medium-wave. Things were a bit dopey and sluggish, but I was on the road by 6am and listening to old stalwarts Dave Ward (Curly Shirley) and Umberto on Real Radio Manchester (formerly Century Radio) 105.4MHz. I remember those two presenters well from listening to Piccadilly Radio as a teenager.

The ascent from Cloudside always seems to go faster in the dark. Maybe one's imagination and deeper, philosophical thoughts are more active in darkness, and so the time passes more quickly. In any case, I had gained the summit rapidly and was soon erecting the 80m dipole. This is slightly trickier in the dark, as you can't see the ends of the dipole legs when stood at the pole. It can take a few goes to get the legs up without them snagging on heather and needing to be freed.

80m is never a prolific hunting ground like 40m or 20m for me, so the overall going was slow. Over the course of an hour and 37 minutes, I made 18 contacts into 7 DXCCs - DL, EA, G, GM, HA, LA and OE. Gotaways included SM and 9A. 17 QSOs were on CW, with one on SSB, which was a summit-to-summit with Bill G4WSB/P on Wills Neck G/SC-002.

As daylight arrived halfway through proceedings, I was then able to monitor a band of heavy rain engulfing Macclesfield, and edging ever closer. I timed my escape to perfection, with the first drops landing as I loaded my rucksack back into the boot of my car on Cloudside. Many thanks to all callers.

OE7PHI	80m	CW
DH2URF	80m	CW
DL7BQ	80m	CW
DL7DO/P	80m	CW
HA1AG	80m	CW
DF8IF	80m	CW
G4SSH	80m	CW
DL1DVE	80m	CW
EA1DFP	80m	CW
G3VXJ	80m	CW
DJ5AV	80m	CW
DL1FU	80m	CW
LA8BCA	80m	CW
G4WSB/P on Will’s Neck SC-002	80m	SSB
G4OOE	80m	CW
MM0DHY	80m	CW
GM0AXY	80m	CW
G3RMD	80m	CW

Wednesday 19th January 2011, and high time I ended my "lazy streak". I hadn't walked up The Cloud on the way to work since July 2010. But neither had I rejoined the gym or done much swimming. I needed to try to resume some more regular exercise as the football, squash and weekend activating was proving insufficient.

My alarm was set for 0555z, but I was awake at 0545z. Goodness knows why. Although I thought I got things together fairly briskly, by the time I had driven to Cloudside, ascended and set up, it was 0715z, quarter of an hour after my Alert time. Visibility was very limited with the light from my headtorch illuminating little other than the blanket of thick fog in front of my face!

My activation on 40m CW was very unremarkable with just 7 QSOs into 6 DXCCs. That was followed by 0/0 on 2m FM and 1/1 on 70cm FM. The descent on a cold foggy morning, followed by stop for diesel and breakfast, and continuing journey to work in Stoke-on-Trent went easily enough. I managed to be changed into my shirt and tie, and in staff briefing right on 8.45am, and no slapped wrist.

S51ZG	40m	CW
OK1BB	40m	CW
UR5TKM	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
OE6WIG	40m	CW
GW7AAV	70cm	FM

Thursday 20th January 2011, and my alarm did not go off. Instead, I was awoken by my wife's alarm at 0630z, 35 minutes behind schedule. I figured there was still time for the walk, if not a substantial activation.

My car radio was broken and in need of replacement. While tinkering with it myself, I managed to loosen the aerial connection, but couldn't fully get the plug back in. Hence I had been limited to the BBC national stations from Holme Moss, Sutton Coldfield and Llangollen transmitter sites while driving round in the car. However, driving over to Cloudside, I was picking up Cheshire FM (Winsford), Oldham Community Radio, Unity FM (Moss Side), ALL FM (Longsight) and Radio Na Gaeltachta (Ireland - Gaelic service). I realised there must be a lift on and considered scrapping my 40m activation in favour of a VHF one. Unfortunately, my lateness did not permit time to swap aerials, feeders and guys over in my kit, so I had to ignore the lift.

I walked to the summit, enjoying the views over an inversion layer which completely covered Cheshire and filled the wide valleys in Staffordshire. Just The Cloud, Sutton Common and Mow Cop stood above the clouds as three small islands.

I set up as fast as I could, but it was already 0745z by the time I was QRV. F5UKL (QRP) was the first to work me, followed by three more after another period of calling. With four contacts in the bag, I packed away and descended. The Man in the Yellow Jacket ran past me and remarked that he'd not seen me up there for a while. I declined to mention that I'd not seen him without his yellow jacket for a while.

F5UKL	40m	CW
SM7BUA	40m	CW
HB9AGH	40m	CW
HA7UL	40m	CW

Friday 21st January 2011, and my alarm did go off. I was quicker out of the blocks this time, but not yet up to full speed, so it was 7.15am by the time I was QRV on the summit. An improvement on the previous day, but still 15 minutes off racing pace.

16 contacts were made on 40m CW, followed by a single 70cm FM contact with Steve GW7AAV. Right at the end of that QSO, my VX-7R ran out of charge, so there was no QRZ, or QSY to 2m. I am so rubbish and lazy at keeping charge topped up in my batteries! Only two days ago I ran out with my 7Ah SLAB!

Thanks to everyone that called this morning. It was cold and foggy again on The Cloud, but again I enjoyed the walk, the sunrise, and the morning air.

HA7UL	40m	CW
HA7UG	40m	CW
HB9BIN	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DL5AMF	40m	CW
IZ5NFD	40m	CW
F5UKL	40m	CW
F5PLC	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
SP7HDA	40m	CW
9A2NP	40m	CW
SP6JOE	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW
ON5QRP	40m	CW
HA0HW	40m	CW
I3VAD	40m	CW
GW7AAV	70cm	FM

Monday 24th January 2011. The weather was a little warmer (ie slightly less cold) and the morning a little lighter (ie slightly less dark). But despite these advantages, I still couldn't haul myself out of the house before 0630z. Maybe this getting out early business is easier in summer when there is daylight from an hour before you wake up.

The delay was compound when the radials of my MM20 needed untangling on the summit of The Cloud. As such, it was 0730z by the time I was QRV - and then I found I didn't have my mobile with me for a self-spot. So stations would just have to hear my call or find me - and two did - UR5TKM, and Mark G0VOF.

So not a glorious debut for the MM20 in 2011, but it is staying in the pack for further dawn activations later this week.

UR5TKM	20m	CW
G0VOF	20m	CW

The evening of Tuesday 25th January 2011 began well with a Burns night meal at home, of savoury mince (Marianne and Liam don't like haggis, although Jimmy and I love it), neeps and tatties. My mood was lifted on the drive out to The Cloud, listening to Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2, presenting jazz music including a superb piece by Oscar Peterson, accompanied by a Nelson Riddle big band arrangement.

My mood was deflated when I arrived at the small parking area at Cloudside, to find the drizzle intensifying, in contrast to the earlier forecast which had assured me that any rain would have moved well away to the South East by 5pm. The fog was thick, and my visibility for the ascent was limited to the 8 cubic metres (2m x 2m x 2m) directly in front of me. This was as far as my excellent Petzl headlamp would penetrate the clag and darkness.

On summit, erection of the 6m delta loop antenna was slow and careful. The only way I could get a view of how the delta was shaping up was to stand right at the base of the pole and aim my torch directly upwards. Even a metre away from the pole, and all the torch would illuminate was thick fog where the delta loop should be. Still, once all set up, I was pleased to find the aerial in full working order. I'd had a few problems with it last year, and Richard kindly took it in for testing and repairs. Somewhat sloppily, I had not got around to taking it out for a test outing before the first 6m contest opportunity, so I was pleased to discover everything in order.

The bothy bag was deployed from the start of the contest at 8pm as the rain continued to fall through the fog, which was very damp in itself. This wasn't the greatest contest night for me, with 45 QSOs into 10 multiplier squares. Several "getaways" included G8NWU, G3PIA, G4JQN, G4ELJ, M0GHZ and the CW from G3TA. All were workable, but most were found to be on a QRG close to Chris G8APB with his 100 watts from very nearby Biddulph Moor, and so were blanked by his splatter. Best DX was GI4SNA in IO64XM, 297km. The last half hour was very slow with only three stations worked. Others were available, but they couldn't hear my 5 watts as well as i could hear their 100 watts! I started to consider the feasibility of a portable beam for use in the 6m contests.

After a quick pack-up, the descent was slow going. The visibility had reduced to 1.5m, and all I could see was my feet! I even found myself being unsure as to exactly how far along the path I was at times, which is highly unusual on this hill that I know extremely well. Back in the car, I was treated to more jazz on BBC Radio 2. The Guy Barker programme was just beginning, and a brilliant track opened proceedings. It was "Dear Johnny B" by Tubby Hayes, and had me swinging all the way to the Harrington Arms, along with "Inhale Exhale" by Benjamin Herman which followed it. From 3:46 in, via http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00m75s4 should you wish to share the joy!

All that jazz had me in the mood for supper, so it was a Spearings beef pie and a packet of Firecracker Lobster crisps that accompanied my pint of Mr Scrooge Ale in the pub. Back home just before midnight, and I couldn't resist entering my contest log to see how I did, so it was a late night for me!

G8APB	6m	SSB
G4APJ	6m	SSB
M0VAA	6m	SSB
GW3XRM	6m	SSB
M6NYL	6m	SSB
M0OBW	6m	SSB
M1BKL	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
M0BXR	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
2E0UOG	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
2E0PHJ	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G0BWC/A	6m	SSB
G3WFK	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
M0LTT/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G3ZVW	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G6TGO	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G8JIT	6m	SSB
G3VLG/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
G4XUV	6m	SSB
M0XDJ/M	6m	SSB
M6DLT	6m	SSB
G3WPF	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
G7LWT/P	6m	SSB
GI4SNA	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
M0WBN	6m	SSB

The competition for the 2m UK activity contest series looks good this year, with several stations running each other close in the AL (10 watts) section in January. In order to try and get a bt of an edge, I have borrowed an SB5 to use instead of my normal SB3 for this coming Tuesday night. Many thanks to Richard G3CWI.

I figure it would be wise to practice the new set up in daylight, so that was the basis of my activation of SP-015 on Saturday 29th January 2011. The temperatue was about 1 degree when I ascended the hill, and down to -2 by the time of the descent, but there was hardly any breeze at all, so it was quite comfortable.

I had an activation of exactly one hour, with 21 QSOs - one on 2m CW, 10 on 2m SSB and 8 on 2m FM. There was one summit-to-summit with Geoff 2W0BTR/P on Tor y Foel GW/SW-013. Two stations on FM were overheard bemoaning the attitudes on 2m, with comments like "No wonder VHF is so quiet these days with people like that about", interspersed with strings of four-letter swearwords from one of them in particular. No wonder indeed! I made a note of the date, time, frequency and the callsigns involved.

The practice run for the SB5 went smoothly, and we will discover what difference it will make on Tuesday night. Thanks to all for the calls today.

G3WPF	2m	CW
2W0BTR/P on Tor y Foel SW-013	2m	SSB
G0RQL	2m	SSB
G8XEI	2m	SSB
G6ODU	2m	SSB
2E0FSR	2m	SSB
G4OWG	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
GW7AAV	2m	FM
G7OEM	2m	FM
M3XIE	2m	FM
M0ATV	2m	FM
GW7AAU/M	2m	FM
G1JHB/P	2m	FM
G0RXA	2m	FM
M6NWT	2m	FM
2E0NVJ	2m	FM
G1UKS	2m	FM

"The Cloud under new management" was a cheeky tagline to an alert that made me realise that Sean M0GIA was about to start a series of nightshifts. He had threatened that he might be having some after-work activations to coincide with my before-work activations, and on Monday 31st January 2011, this was it.

I arrived at the Cloudside parking spot to find Sean already there in his car, but looking pretty fatigued after his first overnight shift. Nonetheless, he still raced ahead of me on the ascent of The Cloud, as my own fatigue kicked after my big walk on Kinder Scout G/SP-001 the previous day.

We reached the summit by torchlight and began to set up. Set-up involved the mighty effort of pressing a button on a HT for Sean. Mine went pear-shaped when the groundplane radials of my 20m vertical broke away from the coax feeder. Fortunately, I was able to peel off some of the tape and cable coating and twist the radials back onto some braid. This was then secured to the fishing pole with plastic cable ties and held up for the activation, giving me a working antenna. It will need attention before the next outing though!

20m CW then proved to be loads of fun despite the delayed start. A really interesting selection of ten DXCCs - SV, E7, UN, LZ, 4K, HA, EU, YU, RA, UR - was worked in the run of 16 QSOs in 16 minutes. I was particularly pleased with Azerbaijan 4K, and then surprised when another one, with prefix 4J called me just three minutes later.

I am still working towards being QRV on 20m CW by 0700z in the morning. It hasn't happened for a while, what with sluggish get-ups, sluggish ascents and equipment "situations" - but it remains a serious aspiration for the summer. Now to get that aerial round to M0GIA's. I remain delighted at the lifetime service and repair guarantees he provides with all the free aerials he builds me.

SV2HTC	20m	CW
E77O	20m	CW
UN7IU	20m	CW
LZ2BR	20m	CW
4K4K	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
EW7EW	20m	CW
4J5A	20m	CW
YT1KS	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
RA6AS	20m	CW
UR5FEL	20m	CW
UW2ZF	20m	CW
LZ2CF	20m	CW
LZ1DQ	20m	CW
UR5FEO	20m	CW

I was on The Cloud on the evening of Tuesday 1st February 2011. The new manager of the summit was not. In fact he seems only to have activated it once since bestowing the honour upon himself. Never mind, the recently demoted assistant manager was there to continue the 2011 RSGB UK Activity Contest campaign as part of the regular Top 5 Macclesfield team. I was a little earlier in getting there this time, allowing a few extra minutes to put up the unfamiliar antenna. As a result, I was parking before the start of Jamie Cullem's Radio 2 programme, so no pre-activation jazz for me.

On summit I was set up and ready to go a good twenty minutes ahead of the 2000 start time, so a chance to sit back and relax over a cup of coffee from the flask. The first hour of the contest was relatively slow going with 28 QSOs, but this was compensated by a healthy number of multiplier squares in the log. The SB5 was certainly enabling me to get the DX stations like GM, GI, JO01 etc earlier in the contest.

After 2100z, I managed to get a better rhythm going with a run on 144.329MHz SSB, and this included incoming calls from IO86 and IO70, so pleasing. How Don G0RQL heard me while I was beaming to Scotland I'll never know, but a quick turn of the beam and we had strong clear signals in both directions.

As ever it was nice to be giving out SP-015 to known SOTA chasers, and being requested for it by others. The final tally was 5 DXCCs: G, GW, GI, GD, GM, 69 QSOs and 16 multipliers: IO64, IO70, IO74, IO75, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO86, IO91, IO92, IO93, IO94, JO01, JO02 and JO03. I did not hear IO84 or IO85, but did hear JO00, which was a 'miss'. It would be nice to tally twenty multipliers in one of these events, but 16 was a big improvement on the 11 in my winning January entry. Whether or not I will be as successful this time, I do not know. The band was jam packed with lots of splatter from strong local stations, so there is the chance of a broken contact, and I suspect there will prove to be a greater number of competitive entries in the AL (10 watt) section this month.

Despite putting freshly charged cells into my headtorch before leaving home, it had given me a couple of flash warnings and was dimming by pack-up time. Perhaps I am not supposed to be using rechargables with my Petzl headlight, or maybe my cells are getting tired! In any case, I simply donned the spare from my pocket (Jimmy's Petzl) in order to pack away and descend.

Guy Barker's late night jazz programme on BBC Radio 2 accompanied me from Cloudside to the Harrington Arms in Gawsworth, which was astonishingly full for 11.30pm on a Tuesday night! Already here were Greg 2E0RXX and Simon M0TGT who had been contesting up near Wildboarclough, and Simon's daughter Lucy who had been out with them. A Spearings beef pie with English mustard, a bag of hot chilli and lemon flavour Burts chips, a pint of Robinsons Dizzy Blonde and a natter with my fellow contesters rounded off another enjoyable evening.

I had told them I would be chasing the greyline with the 20m MM the next morning, but remembered when I got home that it was at Sean M0GIA's for a repair! So I entered my logs at home rather than going straight to bed. Many thanks to all the SOTA chasers that called in and worked me.

G4MVU	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
G0HRZ	2m	SSB
2E0LMD	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
G0EJQ/P	2m	SSB
G8HCB	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
GM4PPT	2m	SSB
M1CNY/P	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
G4OWG	2m	SSB
M3EYP	2m	SSB
2E0TDX	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
G3ORY	2m	SSB
G4GSB	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
M0RSD	2m	SSB
G4RRA	2m	SSB
G7HOA/P	2m	SSB
G4LBH	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
G0AFH	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G4NTY	2m	SSB
M0ONE	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M0LTT/P	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
GW8ASD	2m	SSB
GM4AFF	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
G4JZF	2m	SSB
G0CER	2m	SSB
G0RQL	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
G0MZZ	2m	SSB
G3PYE/P	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
G0GRI/P	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G4PBP	2m	SSB
G4KUX	2m	SSB
M0NUT/P	2m	SSB
G0ELJ	2m	SSB
2E0VXX/P	2m	SSB
GM6JNJ	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
M6CNG	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
G3BNE	2m	SSB
G3SPJ	2m	SSB
G4DZL	2m	SSB
2E0COV	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
M0MCV	2m	SSB

The weather forecast for the evening of Tuesday 8th February 2011 indicated clear skies for the first half of the 70cm activity contest, but strong winds and heavy rain thereafter. It was accurate! I was a little later setting out on this occasion, so by the time I had ascended to the summit and set up, there was only four minutes left before the contest. Thankfully, the system was all working properly, so I could use that time to enjoy a coffee from my flask.

The first half-hour was excellent with 36 stations in the log. Another ten were added before 9pm, but then things really slowed down with just another 13 between 9pm and 10.30pm taking me to 59 QSOs on the activation. With 9 multipliers squares worked, I was probably one short of where I needed to be, so I rued the fact that I had missed IO81 and anything from GM.

As the night became unpleasant and stormy after 9.30pm, I was forced into the inside of my bothy bag. This was effective in keeping the cold and the wet out, but ineffective in keeping me comfortable and seriously limiting my ability to direct my beam to full advantage. After descent, I actually didn't fancy a beer or a meat pie, so drove straight home. Thanks to any chasers that worked me - I don't think there were that many.

2W0CCK	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
M6NYL	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
M0TGT/P	70cm	SSB
G0VOF	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
2E0BZU	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M6GLT	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
2E0LKC	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
G8ONK	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
M3OUA	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
M6EAE	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0OWP	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
GI6ATZ	70cm	SSB
G4TGQ	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
G1AEQ	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
G0BWC/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
M3XQY	70cm	SSB
G4KUX	70cm	SSB
G7WFE	70cm	SSB
G3MWQ	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G0XDI	70cm	SSB
M0CRY/P	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB
M1CNY/P	70cm	SSB
M3HBI/P	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
2E0BMO	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
G8HAV	70cm	SSB
G4XUV	70cm	SSB
M0WBN	70cm	SSB

Where did my speed go? I used to be able to get up at 6am, and be QRV on The Cloud before 7am. This morning, Thursday 10th February 2011, I set the alarm for 5.30am, with the intention of investigating earlier propagation on 80m. But I still only made it to the summit and set up by 7am. Must do better.

It was actually a rather horrid morning, but I fancied the walk regardless. So I walked up from Cloudside, with my headtorch illuminating every drop of fine drizzle before my eyes. Work has been done on the steps. They have been cleaned and cleared of mud and debris at the sides, making them effectively 50% wider. Also wooden posts and rails have been installed on the right hand side of the path as you ascend. I first noticed this on Tuesday night, but they were only halfway up then. Now they are nearly to the top of that section, where two more posts have been installed either side of the path, as though a gate is going in there.

Despite the constant drizzle and puddle hopping on the ascent, I rather enjoyed it, and was soon at the top to begin setting up. The 80m dipole is tricky to set up in the dark, even with a good torch, so it takes a few goes and iterations and improvements on each dipole leg before it is up properly. The problem is, you just can't see more than about 15 feet, so you are judging by the feel of the pole whether a wire has got snagged or not!

The activation was quite interesting with nine stations worked on 3.512MHz CW. Seven DXCCs were OE, G, EA, DL, S5, LA and GM, so that was a pleasing return for 80m. By 0720z, things were getting quiet on frequency, and the rain was getting heavier. I had plenty of time left in my before-work activating window, but I decided to reallocate that time to my breakfast!

Pittshill Oatcakes in Chell provided that bacon, mushroom and cheese double oatcake that completed another of my bizarrely enjoyable commutes to work. Thanks to all the stations that worked me, and Mark G0VOF for the spot.

OE7PHI	80m	CW
G4XRV	80m	CW
G0VOF	80m	CW
EC2DM	80m	CW
DL3HRL	80m	CW
S51ZG	80m	CW
LA8BCA	80m	CW
G4OWG	80m	CW
GM0AXY	80m	CW

Despite a late night, I was up at 0530 on Friday 18th February 2011. With a family dinner invitation at Chateaux de M0TGT that coming evening, after what was expected to be a typically intense game of staff 5-a-side, I was aware that I was most likely burning the candle at both ends. Only time would tell I could keep going!

Anyway, here was the opportunity to make a prompt start on The Cloud G/SP-015 for my pre-work dawn activation, and I was pulling into the parking spot by 0635. Sean M0GIA hadn't turned up, despite his positive noises the previous evening. Ah well, to be fair, he would be at the end of his working "day" (night) in contrast to myself. The new wooden posts and railings are now all the way up the stairs on the right hand side, and commencing their journey down on the left. I am a little perplexed by their actual worth or purpose, but I guess it's all part of some masterplan or other.

It was a cold morning with a touch of damp in the air, as revealed by my headtorch. Dawn was just starting to break as I arrived on summit. Drat - I wanted more 'dark' time to investigate than that! Some stupidly early mornings will now be in order if I am to properly play greyline with the MM20.

I set up the 40m dipole and hunkered down, as usual, using the topograph to shelter from the wind, which was, unusually, south-easterly this morning. I made 25 QSOs on CW using the 7.031 and 7.032MHz QRGs. Ten DXCCs worked were HA, DL, S5, HB, SM, I, OK, EA, OE and F. I then switched to 7.112MHz SSB and listened into the activation of F/ON8OO/P on F/VL-025. I tried a few calls and a few "Summit to summit"s, but WFF was also in play and the pile-up was monstrous. I elected to leave it as an SWL log, and get myself to work on time instead! Many thanks to all who called in to work me.

HA4FY	40m	CW
HA7UG	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
S58MU	40m	CW
HB9DAX	40m	CW
DL7URH	40m	CW
SE6Y	40m	CW
IK1AAS	40m	CW
OK1JGP	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
EC2DM	40m	CW
OK2QA	40m	CW
I2CZQ	40m	CW
OE3KAB	40m	CW
HG4GHJ	40m	CW
F8GAK	40m	CW
F8FKK	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DK9PS	40m	CW
F6EWB	40m	CW
DL2JES	40m	CW
EA5FTE	40m	CW
I3VAD	40m	CW
DL7VKD	40m	CW

Disaster. Monday 28th February 2011, and Marianne said to me "You can't do your contest tomorrow night because I'm going out". She tried to look stern but I'm sure there was a glint in her eye. I took it on the chin and accepted my fate, although nonetheless probably had a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp. I really didn't want to lose my lead in the 2m UKAC AL section as early as March.

Time to invoke Plan B. My brother owed me a favour, so I enquired as to his babysitting availability. The excuses were so tenuous that I suspected he actually didn't want to. So, where does every man turn to in times of trouble? His mum. And mine didn't let me down. I felt so glad that I had taken her to the Weston Balti for a slap up birthday meal on Sunday, and that she had really enjoyed it!

I took great joy in sharing the excellent news with Marianne as I returned home from work on Tuesday 1st March 2011, and enjoyed observing her feigned pleasure that I could still do my contest. It was nonetheless a frenetic and coordinated last minute preparation to have all the pre-requisites in place. I bought coal and kindling from the shop, caffeine free cola and dark chocolate from another, and went to pick my mum up. I motored to the Cloudside parking spot flicking between BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Stoke and Frank Sidebottom's 5:9:88 album, recently on CD for the first time ever.

There is something about those new wooden posts and stair-rails that flank the concrete stairway up to the National Trust land that makes me climb faster. Don't ask me what it is, I cannot explain it. But I'm not complaining, especially when it was in my interests to have a spare couple of minutes to my set-up window.

And that's all it was. My radio controlled clock displayed 19:58 as I plugged the microphone, paddle, feeder and power cable (from 7Ah SLAB) into my FT-817, having just assembled the SB5 and raised it to 4m AGL. Things got off to a real flyer with me running on 144.315MHz SSB and reaching the end of one pade of my waterproof notepad (21 logs) by 2013z. By 2100z, I was up to serial number 048, which was probably my best ever first hour performance. Going into S&P mode, the multiplier locator squares began to build up, and eventually totalled a satisfactory 15, even though IO82 proved elusive until given to me by a SOTA chaser 2E0XTL at 2149z.

At 2129z I worked G4JED for my final contact and serial number 100 - my first venture ever into a three figure serial in a VHF contest. This was pleasing, and testament both to the extremely healthy activity levels in the UK activity contests, and the SB5 antenna, for which I thank Richard G3CWI for the loan. I didn't bother with a nightcap at the Harrington Arms; I had a mother to run home and she was expecting me at 11pm. In the event, I arrived home at 11.05pm and found that Marianne had already driven her home 15 minutes earlier.

A super night, cold and dry on the summit, and loads of radio - excellent! Thanks to all the SOTA chasers that appeared in my log as part of their own contest participation and/or SOTA chasing. Recognised chasers included 2E0MAS, G8HXE, M0LMP, GW4EVX, G0VOF, 2E0PHJ, M0TGT, 2E0TDX, 2E0XYL, G4XPE, G0LGS, M3WDS, 2E0XTL, GW7AAV, 2E0BMO, M0COP and G0TRB. Cheers all.

2E0BZU	2m	SSB
G4APJ	2m	SSB
G4KUX	2m	SSB
M0PAI/P	2m	SSB
G8ONK	2m	SSB
2E0MAS	2m	SSB
G8DTF	2m	SSB
G3CWI	2m	SSB
2E0LES	2m	SSB
G6HFF	2m	SSB
2E0LKC	2m	SSB
G7WFE	2m	SSB
G2ANC	2m	SSB
M0ICK	2m	SSB
G8HXE	2m	SSB
M6DLT	2m	SSB
M3RNX	2m	SSB
M0LMP	2m	SSB
G7OEM	2m	SSB
M5HFJ	2m	SSB
M0TJU	2m	SSB
G0BWC/P	2m	SSB
G4YXS	2m	SSB
M6XJP	2m	SSB
2E0UOG	2m	SSB
G7IGB	2m	SSB
G0LVH	2m	SSB
G4FZN/P	2m	SSB
G0WTD	2m	SSB
G4MVU	2m	SSB
GM6TVR	2m	SSB
GW4EVX	2m	SSB
G1SWH	2m	SSB
M1NTO/P	2m	SSB
GM4JR	2m	SSB
G1SMI	2m	SSB
G8ZRE	2m	SSB
G3ZII	2m	SSB
G0XDI	2m	SSB
G4IRC	2m	SSB
G0NFH	2m	SSB
G0BBL/P	2m	SSB
G3VLG/P	2m	SSB
G8VHI	2m	SSB
M0TAV	2m	SSB
G3MEH	2m	SSB
GD8EXI	2m	SSB
G0VOF	2m	SSB
G0HFX/P	2m	SSB
G2BQY/P	2m	SSB
G4HGI	2m	SSB
GI4SNA	2m	SSB
2E0NEY	2m	SSB
G0MJW/P	2m	SSB
2E0PHJ	2m	SSB
M3OUA	2m	SSB
G3IOE	2m	SSB
M3XQV	2m	SSB
G0JCQ	2m	SSB
2E0XOJ	2m	SSB
G0CDA	2m	SSB
G4JLG	2m	SSB
M6NYL	2m	SSB
M3ZPJ	2m	SSB
G8HAV	2m	SSB
M0TGT/P	2m	SSB
2E0ORC	2m	SSB
M0GVG/P	2m	SSB
G3SPJ	2m	SSB
G8CUL	2m	SSB
M0JAV	2m	SSB
G4CLA	2m	SSB
2E0TDX	2m	SSB
2E0RHM/P	2m	SSB
2E0XYL	2m	SSB
G8MCA	2m	SSB
G3TA	2m	SSB
G8CLY	2m	SSB
G4XPE	2m	SSB
G0LGS	2m	SSB
M3WDS	2m	SSB
G4PWD	2m	SSB
M3LNU	2m	SSB
2E0XTL	2m	SSB
G6LNU	2m	SSB
M3XTL	2m	SSB
GW7AAV	2m	SSB
G4ENZ	2m	SSB
2E0SBM	2m	SSB
G4BCA	2m	SSB
2E0BMO	2m	SSB
M1MHZ	2m	SSB
G4DEZ	2m	SSB
M0COP/P	2m	SSB
M0WYB	2m	SSB
M0BRA	2m	SSB
G0TRB	2m	SSB
M6CNG	2m	SSB
G0IUE	2m	SSB
G4JED	2m	SSB

Exactly seven hours and fifty minutes after descending those stairs, I was climbing them again. The last thing I expected to be doing on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 was waking up, fresh and alert, at 0615z. Especially not after going to bed at 0130z the night before, after entering all my contest logs! Still, waste not want not, and I decided to use the opportunity to take another wee stroll. The mornings are getting lighter very quickly, and the headtorch was not even considered as I arrived at Cloudside at 0650z. Still feeling limbered up from the night before, I cruised up the stairs and onto the hill, for a really enjoyable, if short brisk walk.

I opted for the same south-western facing side of the topograph as I had used the night before, and conducted the very fast set-up of the 40m dipole. 25 minutes operating brought 19 QSOs into 8 DXCCs - DL, E7, HA, I, LA, OK, S5 and Z3. Many thanks to all chasers.

Then I descended and drove to work, a little apprehensive that my late night and early morning exertions might not have been ideal preparation for a lesson observation by my line manager scheduled for the morning. But then, perhaps it was, as it went well. Maybe I should make a habit of doing an activation before an important day at work.

DH0DK	40m	CW
IK3DRO	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
HA7UL	40m	CW
IK3GER	40m	CW
LA8BCA	40m	CW
DL4CW	40m	CW
HA0IT	40m	CW
DL1FU	40m	CW
DL3BRA	40m	CW
DF7US	40m	CW
HA5TI	40m	CW
Z35F	40m	CW
DL7VKD	40m	CW
OK2TBC	40m	CW
DL6CMK	40m	CW
DL2JES	40m	CW
DL4OCE	40m	CW
E77O	40m	CW

Thursday 3rd March 2011, and I was up early again. It was a beautiful bright and sunny morning, if a little cold at -4 degrees Celcius. The walk up flew by although I could feel the fatigue from a game of squash late the previous evening. I had the summit to myself, with no early morning dog walkers or exercise regimists passing over the hill. A reasonable run on 40m CW amounted to 13 contacts into seven DXCCs - DL, F, HA, LA, OE, S5 and YL, which I think is a new one for me on 40m for this year.

I packed away and descended in good time, and was able to drop into Pittshill Oatcakes on the way to work, for a bacon, sausage, mushroom and cheese oatcake for breakfast. I reasoned that with all the walking and squash I had been doing this week, that it was a luxury I could afford.

HA7UL	40m	CW
HA3FZ	40m	CW
LA8BCA	40m	CW
OE7PHI	40m	CW
DJ5AV	40m	CW
S55DX	40m	CW
S58MU	40m	CW
F8DZY	40m	CW
DJ5JH	40m	CW
YL2CA	40m	CW
DJ4XD	40m	CW
S51ZG	40m	CW
DL6UNF	40m	CW

Only one Cloud visit in the week - Tuesday 8th March 2011, and the RSGB 70cm UK Activity Contest. Cutting things fine as ever, I was set up and sat in position by 1950z, with just ten minutes of slack time. Opening up on 432.220MHz SSB, I enjoyed a reasonable run of contacts before reverting to mainly S&P style operating.

The SB6 (6 element 70cm beam assembly from the SB270 product) was fed with Aircell 7 cable from my Yaesu FT-817 running 5 watts. In February, I came a very close second to my friend Simon M0TGT. On that occasion, I had 9 multipliers in the log, whereas Simon had 10. But with me having a much higher QSO rate than him, the margin of defeat was only 86 points (out of about 37,000) - hence I figured that ekeing out the elusive tenth multiplier would be crucial, and I tracked them carefully during the event.

With IO94, IO81 and IO74 in the log relatively early, I had a decent start. The usual ones of IO83, IO93, IO92, IO91 and JO01 came in without difficulty. IO82 eventually arrived, somewhat later than usual, so that matched the previous month's nine. But where was that all-important number ten going to come from? I heard fleeting weak QSB-affected signals from two stations in JO02, heard GM4JR/P working other stations but not running, and suspected David GI4SNA in IO64 would be about somewhere, but never found him. Ultimately, after a few failed attempts to work G0AJJ/P in JO02, I did manage to contact G3PYE/P in the same square.

The final reckoning was 64 contacts into ten multiplier squares, and as I write this, currently leading the AL section of the contest. Furthermore, it seems my biggest rival, Mr TGT, did not enter this one, giving me a free shot at the 1000 points for winning the section! Nightcap at the Harrington Arms, Gawsworth, was the Robinsons "Hannibal's Nectar" ale.

M0PAI/P	70cm	SSB
G2ANC	70cm	SSB
2E0DHT	70cm	SSB
G4APJ	70cm	SSB
2E0TXT/P	70cm	SSB
G0WTD	70cm	SSB
G6HFF	70cm	SSB
G8ZRE	70cm	SSB
G6ORS/M	70cm	SSB
M5HFJ	70cm	SSB
2E0LES	70cm	SSB
2E0LMD	70cm	SSB
G1ORC/P	70cm	SSB
2E0UOG	70cm	SSB
GW8ASD	70cm	SSB
2E0PHJ	70cm	SSB
M1ZRP	70cm	SSB
G6SPG	70cm	SSB
G7HOA/P	70cm	SSB
2E0ORC	70cm	SSB
G1SMI	70cm	SSB
M3EYP	70cm	SSB
M3XQV	70cm	SSB
2E0XOJ	70cm	SSB
G0CDA	70cm	SSB
M3RNX	70cm	SSB
M0ICK	70cm	SSB
GW4EVX	70cm	SSB
G4FZN/P	70cm	SSB
MW0TTK	70cm	SSB
G8OHM	70cm	SSB
G0ODQ	70cm	SSB
G0TRB	70cm	SSB
G3XAN	70cm	SSB
G8DTF	70cm	SSB
2E0REG	70cm	SSB
G4CPE	70cm	SSB
G3SPJ	70cm	SSB
G4HGI	70cm	SSB
G4EPA	70cm	SSB
M3HBI	70cm	SSB
G8VHI	70cm	SSB
M0GHZ	70cm	SSB
M0GVG/P	70cm	SSB
M0COP/P	70cm	SSB
G3MEH	70cm	SSB
GD8EXI	70cm	SSB
M6XJP	70cm	SSB
M3ZPJ	70cm	SSB
G4JLG	70cm	SSB
G4NTY	70cm	SSB
G4CLA	70cm	SSB
G0CER	70cm	SSB
2E0XYL	70cm	SSB
2E0TDX	70cm	SSB
G4DHF	70cm	SSB
G8HCB/P	70cm	SSB
M0XDJ	70cm	SSB
G4LBH	70cm	SSB
G4MVU	70cm	SSB
M0JAV	70cm	SSB
G1EHF	70cm	SSB
M1MHZ	70cm	SSB
G3PYE/P	70cm	SSB

On Cloud 9. Let me explain.

Jimmy M3EYP got his latest two Maths and Further Maths A-Level modular results through this week - and they were an A in Mechanics 3 and an A* in Core 3. As a reward, he requested an activation on the Saturday, coupled with a pub meal and a couple of pints. Seemed reasonable! Captained the work staff football team to a surprise away victory in Crewe, versus one of the strongest school staff teams on the circuit on Friday evening.

Back to Saturday 12th March 2011, and The Cloud was the target, as Jimmy was yet to collect his 2011 activator point from there. M3EYP/P made 22 QSOs on 2m FM, while M1EYP/P made two on 2m FM and nine on 20m CW. However, it was the Commonwealth Contest, and those nine were 4 Canadians, 2 from Cyprus and 1 from British Military Bases, Cyprus (ZC4), plus 9M6 East Malaysia and VK - Australia! Both of these were brand new DXCCs for me, and quite thrilling to work them on a SOTA activation, running 5 watts into a simple aerial made of four lengths of wire!

But even that was not the end of the joy. While descending, I listened to BBC Radio 5 Live on my VX-7 and found that not only had Macclesfield Town won away at Northampton, but Port Vale had lost at home. Could it get better? Yes. We entered the Harrington Arms in Gawsworth and asked if they were serving grub. "Yes, I'll get you some menus" came the reply. But we had already spotted "Haggis Pie" on the specials board. "They won't be necessary" I responded, "Two of them!". Jimmy and I celebrated the football results, exam results and DX results with pints of Hannibal's Nectar ale. Does it get any better than this?

G8HXE	2m	FM	J
G6LKB	2m	FM	J
2E0XYL	2m	FM	J
2E0RCS	2m	FM	J
G6ODU	2m	FM	J
G4YLB	2m	FM	J
M3YYK	2m	FM	J
M3XIE	2m	FM	J
G4ZRP	2m	FM	J
M3WLP	2m	FM	J
M0MOL	2m	FM	J
G0SJS	2m	FM	J
M6MGB	2m	FM	J
9M6/VO1AU	20m	CW	T
MW3UDA	2m	FM	J
2E0TAJ	2m	FM	J
G4HZG/M	2m	FM	J
G3ZQC	2m	FM	J
2E0CDG/M	2m	FM	J
VY2SS	20m	CW	T
M3HGH	2m	FM	J
G0HRT	2m	FM	J
VK2BJ	20m	CW	T
M6RWN	2m	FM	J
2E0DHT	2m	FM	J
VE1RGB	20m	CW	T
VE3OI	20m	CW	T
P3J	20m	CW	T
XL3A	20m	CW	T
M3EYP/M	2m	FM	T
MW3ZCB/P on Pegwn Mawr MW-006	2m	FM	T
C4Z	20m	CW	T
ZC4LI	20m	CW	T

All our lottery lines matched two numbers I am informed. So looks like the winning streak ended sometime on Saturday evening. I was certainly thinking that - and questioning my own sanity - as I got up at 4.30am on Sunday 13th March 2011, and drove to Cloudside in heavy rain. And it was freezing cold as well. Bonkers. The ridiculously early start did mean a return of one of my favourite things - a headtorch-lit ascent in darkness. Even by early March, the need for torches is no more for a more typical 7am activation.

It was pretty horrid on the summit, cold blustery wind, squally sleet and rain and the whole surface of the place utterly filthy with mud churning up everywhere. Nonetheless, I was there to enjoy myself, so up went the MM20 and down I went by a side of the topograph, although no one face of it actually afforded much shelter. There was not any Commonwealth Contest activity to be found before daybreak, so I got into a run of my own on 14.015MHz CW. A few known chasers worked me as well as the usual interest from Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria.

As the sun rose, I scanned around again, and fairly quickly found 5N7M, Nigeria. I tried, but couldn't get my signal through. I had plenty of time though and consoled myself with probably having another opportunity later. As it turned out, I didn't, and 5N was a getaway. But then I found ZA/I2GPT, working split down near the bottom of the band. This was a bigger treasure. For I have worked Nigeria before; it was on 24MHz CW from South Park in Macclesfield while Sean M0GIA and myself were testing the newly built MM12. Albania, however, had never been worked by me. The closest I ever got was a few Radio Tirana English Service QSL cards in my collection!

I fiddled through the 817 'F' menu to get the A/B split operation going, waited for the next invite to call, and keyed in my callsign. Worked him first time - result! My mood lifted, and no signs of any other Commnwealth stuff yet, I went to 14.022MHz to do some running for the SOTA chasers.

Despite being headed up by Phil who 'clustered' me, this run did not last long. It would have done if The Cloud had a WFF reference - but it does not, and it seems that particular programme has a lot of sorting out to do before it resumes issuing new area reference numbers. I didn't fully check the rules of the Commonwealth Contest in advance, but listening around to the activity, I deduced that (a) stations at both ends of the QSO must be in Commonwealth entities, and (b) contacts within the same Commonwealth entity are not valid. I did try to cheekily call the occasional GI or GM station when things got very quiet for them - and I needed them for the 2011 G3WGV UK CW Table - but was tactfully ignored. The exception was MD0CCE who kindly gave me a quick 599/599 exchange without serials.

Now more contest activity could be seen, although maybe not as much as the previous day, and of course many of the stations on had already been worked by me on the Saturday. I heard a VK station (VK6DXI) and worked him first call. This was followed by Gibraltar courtesy of ZB2EO, a very big signal. After another run for the chasers on 14.022MHz CW, I worked my second VK of the morning - and third of all-time with a surprisingly easy contact with VK2IM.

Then things got really exciting, but frustrating as well at the same time. I heard good signals from VP8ANO, ZL2BR, VK4EMM and ZL2AZ. I spent the last 45 minutes of the contest (0915 to 1000z) trying to call these stations, but couldn't get any of them to hear me. Oh well, I suppose I've had worse days!

It was a nasty old morning on Cloud summit, and I felt damp and cold and uncomfortable despite two fleeces, coat, hat, overtrousers and 100% indoor operation - bothy bag. Maybe being there for over four hours had something to do with it. On the way down, I met two guys walking the Gritstone Trail, having set out that morning from the Rushton Inn. We compared notes and compared accommodations used as I recounted my own Gritstone Trail walk of 2007. There was now a blue sky and sunshine, which was very nice, but five hours late in showing up!

Many thanks for all the calls today. Because I was hunting the DX again, the QSO rate was pitiful considering the amount of time up there. All the same, those 34 QSOs did include a ZA, a ZB and 2 VKs. Yes, I've definitely had worse days.

LZ1HBA	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
UY2IW	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW
UT5EOX	20m	CW
SV2DGJ	20m	CW
Z35G	20m	CW
UR5QA	20m	CW
UA4UAR	20m	CW
UA1OLM	20m	CW
LZ2RS	20m	CW
UT7IX	20m	CW
YO6MZ	20m	CW
US5VX	20m	CW
US5HE	20m	CW
UT2UB	20m	CW
ZA/I2GPT	20m	CW
G4OBK	20m	CW
RA1OW	20m	CW
UA9CGL	20m	CW
RW3CW	20m	CW
RX9WN	20m	CW
MD0CCE	20m	CW
VK6DXI	20m	CW
ZB2EO	20m	CW
HA5BPS/P	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
OE6GND	20m	CW
DJ5AV	20m	CW
S55DX	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
OE8SPW	20m	CW
S51RU	20m	CW
VK2IM	20m	CW

Wednesday 16th March 2011. I hadn't planned to do a before-work activation, but accidentally woke up at 5.30am. So I decided to go up The Cloud G/SP-015 and get a bit of fresh air before work. I used the MM20 again, and had a remarkably enjoyable activation. Operating from 0700 to 0753 UTC, I made 70 contacts on 20m CW. DXCCs were E7, EA, EA6, ES, EW, G, HA, I, LY, LZ, OE, OH, OK, OM, OZ, RA, S5, SP, UA2, UA9, UR, YO, Z3 - a pleasing 23 DXCCs including (I think) some new ones on 20m CW for 2011. I hope I keep waking up early - that was fun!

S51MF	20m	CW
HA2EQD	20m	CW
EA6UN	20m	CW
Z35F	20m	CW
RZ4FB	20m	CW
E74CN	20m	CW
UA1APR	20m	CW
RA1TU	20m	CW
RX6CB	20m	CW
UR0MZ	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW
OH8US	20m	CW
HA0HW	20m	CW
SP8AWL	20m	CW
RX6FJ	20m	CW
G3WPF	20m	CW
OE4AAC	20m	CW
SP2EPV	20m	CW
S51ZG	20m	CW
UA0ZC	20m	CW
OH6NPV	20m	CW
HA7UG	20m	CW
R3DN	20m	CW
EA1SB	20m	CW
UT2GW	20m	CW
RA9MR	20m	CW
S58MU	20m	CW
RN3DAO	20m	CW
IK3DRO	20m	CW
UT8IU	20m	CW
RU4HD	20m	CW
OM3CFF	20m	CW
UX7ID	20m	CW
UA1AAU	20m	CW
RW9UCA	20m	CW
ES4RR	20m	CW
UA4PNV	20m	CW
RU2FZ	20m	CW
LY5G	20m	CW
RN3QVN	20m	CW
EW7EW	20m	CW
HA6ZQ	20m	CW
OK1PR	20m	CW
LZ2CF	20m	CW
S53AT	20m	CW
OK1MKI	20m	CW
RK2FWN	20m	CW
HA5KQ	20m	CW
RX3DLH	20m	CW
RV1OO	20m	CW
UA4PNV	20m	CW
IZ8OCU	20m	CW
UR5TKM	20m	CW
UT4LX	20m	CW
I2ZBX	20m	CW
EA4RU	20m	CW
UA4PNT	20m	CW
OM3LL	20m	CW
RN2DA	20m	CW
HA2AL	20m	CW
OE6WIG	20m	CW
RD3DM	20m	CW
E77O	20m	CW
UR3UI	20m	CW
OZ4RT	20m	CW
UT3IV	20m	CW
UR5FEL	20m	CW
OM8SL	20m	CW
UA9CBR	20m	CW
YO3BAP	20m	CW

The evening of Tuesday 22nd March 2011 saw my next SOTA trip up The Cloud G/SP-015. This was for the RSGB 6m UK Activity Contest, and was important for me - because I was not actually winning that one! However, being in 2nd place by only 35 points meant that a solid if not spectacular performance on the night should see me pull away in the lead again. (My 2011 6m campaign stuttered in the February session when I was away in IO94 and unable to properly research a suitable site. The multipliers came to my rescue that night and kept me 'in the mix' even though I lost my lead).

I ascended the hill at dusk, switching on my headlamp about halfway up as a precaution against twisting my ankle on uneven ground. At the top I realised I hadn't packed a guying ring for the pole, but I did have the back-guy from the 80m dipole, so I set up the 6m delta loop with that instead to keep things upright. In fact, I found that this was a much easier and quicker way to set up this antenna, and that I could get the shape of the loop right first time without any trial and error. It was a little more tricky to change the direction of the antenna - but not majorly difficult, so I think this will be the way to go from now on.

Conditions seemed to be very good down into IO91 square, from where there was plenty of activity as well. Squares worked were IO64, IO71, IO80, IO81, IO82, IO83, IO84, IO91, IO92, IO93, JO01 and JO03. IO85, IO94 and JO02 were heard briefly around the band, but not found to work myself. As usual there were a few SOTA chasers worked - they were participating in the contest as well, but did want the SOTA reference.

It was a very nice March evening. A clear night sky saw Orion watching my every move as it leant over me, the temperature was mild and hardly a breath of wind. The downside to this was that the midges were bothering. One doesn't expect that particular inconvenience at 10.30pm on a March night on The Cloud!

The final reckoning of 57 QSOs into 12 multiplier squares saw me comfortably leading the AL section after entering the data - although only three AL entrants had submitted their logs by then! I managed to pack away and descend very quickly for once, and was in the Harrington Arms just after 11pm. A delicious pint of Ginger Tom Ale, a Spearings beef pie and mustard, and a pack of Hearty Beef Winter Warmer Burts crisps was the enjoyable conclusion to the evening.

G4APJ	6m	SSB
M6DLT	6m	SSB
G4UKP	6m	SSB
G3XNO	6m	SSB
2E0XOJ	6m	SSB
GW4EVX	6m	SSB
G4GIQ	6m	SSB
G2ANC	6m	SSB
G4TSW	6m	SSB
G1LDC	6m	SSB
G7HOA	6m	SSB
M3ZPJ	6m	SSB
M3EYP	6m	SSB
G3ZOD	6m	CW
G8APB	6m	SSB
G4DEZ	6m	SSB
G4ELJ	6m	SSB
G6TGO	6m	SSB
GW4ZAR/P	6m	SSB
M0WLF	6m	SSB
G0TRB	6m	SSB
G1PUV	6m	SSB
G0CER	6m	SSB
G4ENZ	6m	SSB
G3ZKN	6m	SSB
2E0YYY	6m	SSB
2E0TXT/P	6m	SSB
G0WTD	6m	SSB
G8CUL	6m	SSB
M0NUT/P	6m	SSB
G4HGI	6m	SSB
M0GVG/P	6m	SSB
G0VOF	6m	SSB
G3SMT	6m	SSB
GW6TEO	6m	SSB
GW8ASD	6m	SSB
G8ZRE	6m	SSB
G6HFF	6m	SSB
G0EHV/P	6m	SSB
M6OXO	6m	SSB
M3OUA	6m	SSB
M0COP/P	6m	SSB
G1SWH	6m	SSB
G4JED	6m	SSB
G3WZK	6m	SSB
G7IVF/P	6m	SSB
2E0BMO	6m	SSB
2E0REG	6m	SSB
M0XDJ/P	6m	SSB
G4ASR	6m	SSB
MW6UPH	6m	SSB
G3MEH	6m	SSB
G6UBM