More Snow News

Richard, G4ANN and I ventured up to Hut 18 today to check whether there was any risk of the cold weather causing water damage in the club house due to frozen pipes bursting. It was definitely 4x4 territory up there, with the paths only just withing the capabilities of my RAV4.




There was one car in the main lane that was being pushed by its passengers as it was stuck in the snow. Although there were tracks up near the huts there were no other cars up there and a few dog walkers cars parked near the edge of the main track.

Even without heating the hut was a reasonable temperature presumably due to the residual heat from the shack. The pipes were all in good shape, but we turned the water off at the main and drained down as much as we could.



The antennas got a pretty thorough covering with snow but seemed in good shape. However we noticed that the beams seemed to be swinging in the wind rather more than we would have expected and we will need to check the rotator out when we manage to get back up there again.

I think that ground conditions are going to have to improve considerably before we can resume out regular meetings, but until that happens we will continue to organize a variety of nets and other social gatherings outside Tilgate.

Stewart/G3YSX