5 February 2017, SOTA on YO/EC-476 "Bîtca"

Essential summit info

Target summit: YO/EC-476 "Batca" (also Bâtca or Bîtca) - http://www.sota.org.uk/Summit/YO/EC-476​
Our Route: Moderate gradient with some short steep bits, 3.7km long (7.5km round trip), 450 meters altitude difference from bottom to top, trail goes through wooded and exposed areas. The trail starts near a stream which has to be crossed as is (there was no bridge of any kind). Probably the stream is very small in summer months and winters, but can considerably gain in size after storms or when snow melts. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but once on the pasture there are many sheepfolds and therefore lots of dogs. Plus fences all around. We had to avoid all the sheepfolds and fences through the left, near the treeline. Check the map and download the GPS track here: http://www.wandermap.net/en/route/3506792-batca-sota-yoec-476/ .
Summit conditions: Open, but very close to the treeline (you can set up and activate from the woods if you prefer). It has a large bench and a fireplace which are very convenient for the activation (check the pics below).

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Activity report

Today the temperature was well above zero and all the snow was melting away. It was foggy and raining when we left home, but the weather improved as we neared the summit. At the bottom of the trail the weather was good, sunny, but the slush, mud and overflowing streams chipped away at our optimism. As we climbed up the snow disappeared almost completely. Found bear droppings in two places on the track (which is on a dirt road). Once out of the forest, a bunch of dogs approached us, barking. Two of them, quite large, "said" nothing and approached us more and more... until touching their large, wet noses to our hands, backpacks and clothes. I was pretty much at a loss. There were about 4 large dogs barking and 2 large dogs sniffing us at point blank range. :) We worried that the barking dogs might incite the other two. If they would bite, we had to act super-quick to limit the damage. After a while the two dogs lost interest and gained some distance. Then again they got very close, but seemed friendly. The others barked relentlessly. Walking in dog land we sidetracked a bit and realized we have to turn back to avoid some fences. As we turned back, the barking dogs followed us once again and wouldn't cease until we got well away from their territory. At the top we found a table, benches and a fireplace... and two young lads. They were shepherds, but from another pasture. We installed the equipment and started CQing, while Marian, a friend who came with us, made the fire. After we activated in 70cm, 2m, 20m and 17m bands, the rain started and we had to pack up. We pulled the potatoes from the fire and had a great snack before climbing down - again through dog land - and reaching the car. Check the pics below. The video will be available in a few days. Thanks for reading / watching / chasing! 73!