CONIC HILL GM/SS-239

Conic Hill

Sunday 01/05/2011                                              It may be a bank holiday weekend here for some,but unfortunately not for me.Having just done another six day week,i couldn’t be bothered with the usual routine getting up early so decided to sleep on this morning for a while.As it happens this is International Sota Weekend & with that in mind thought i should make the effort to participate at some level.After a series on 3,000 feet + Munro’s i plumped for the scenic hump of Conic hill,which is situated on the SE part of Loch Lomond above Balmahaat a height of  361 metres.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

CODY ON CONIC

    This walk starts off from the top of the very large car park at Balmaha which was bursting at its seems when i arrived,the warm temperatures and unbroken sunshine had encouraged half of Glasgow down to yon bonnie banks today.I think i got the last parking spot and was surprised to see so many foreign tourists swarming around especially as it was only 1st May.

                               I skipped the mad crowds going up the tourist path and made my own way heading directly North from the car park up through pine forests and although not a recognised route,i found a way which led up in the direction of the summit,my companion for the day was my long-haired dog Cody who was exhausted in the heat.The route i took eventually met up with the main track which had a steady flow of walkers who mingled with folk doing the West Highland Way coming in the opposite direction.Soon the top of Conic was reached and there must have been around THIRTY people on the top.  The wind was extremely strong blowing in from the North,so had to find a spot for the radio which was both sheltered and as quiet as possible.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Tried 145mhz with a broken rubber duck to begin with and heard Roddy IOB/P on Cruach Ardrain GM/ss-004,he was operating there today with Bobby GAX/P on a joint activation,after working both stations Neil NCM/P came in from GM/SS-164.With the wind causing a few problems i found a reasonable sheltered area off the summit and wrestled with the beam and pole,next was Barry XFM/P on Ben Lawers GM/CS-001 and the last summit to summit contact was Jack on GM/SS-165.Other stations that called through were in Helensburgh and Edinburgh.Not too many folk around on VHF today other than the Sota regulars .The calls dried up after 30/40 minutes so followed the path down the Highland Way route back to the car and a pleasant half hour journey home in glorious sunshine.

Till the next time!  73.

Graeme..    2M0GIL 

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