Hi All,
Activation Report G/SP-001 Kinder Scout 17th May 2009:
We decided on doing Kinder Scout firstly as its an SP summit that needs to be crossed off the list and its the Highest on the list also. But also we thought it would be good to do SP-001 as a “Living over the brush couple” and then do SP-002 as a “proper married couple”.
So off we went from Home in time to get to Little Hayfield in plenty of time to stroll up to AZ. Richards notes said to park close to the Grouse Inn, which has a off road parking just before the disused red phone box for about 4 cars. 200 yds up is the stile to start a slow steady grassy path up to a Gate at the base of Burnt Hill. The path then goes a bit boggy and some loose gravel before reaching summit of Burnt Hill. If you look to the left and spot a Trig it belongs to Harry Hut a smaller summit.From then there has been provided a really good solid paved path right across the open moors to the summit of Mill Hill. On the way there are a number of relics of crashed aircraft,then we finally reached the second summit at Mill Hill. Nice Cairn here with a couple of stones to sit and rest before attempting the final steeper section to Kinder Plateau.Trig is another ten mins walk across it just after waterfall.
Had a bite to eat and a brew then started off about 15 mins early on 2m SSB,with Jimmy M3EYP coming straight back to me from home.Then Tom M1EYP/P with a S2S from Shining Tor,who told me there was a 2m contest on today aswell. Luckily I had the grid square and WAB ref to use as I thought I would have a Pile up now which would include contesters and SOTA chasers! Not too bad though only some stations wanted the info and log number so not too busy. Weather had turned Nasty by now with terrential rain bouncing off the overhang rocks we had found close to Trig. I was using the usual FT897 but no Beam,just the Jimpo from Peter @ Garex, which was doing a superb job getting contacts into Furness,Wigan and Graham in Selby. 16 contacts on 2m ssb later it went quiet and weather had improved slightly so decided on 4m FM,no call backs so switched to 6m ssb and got 1st call into Alsager with G4ERQ thanks Tony nice 5-5 both ways. Really pleased to get Mike GW0DSP in Connahs Quay,with a distinguished guest in the form of G1INK. 5 contacts later and Time to get off down tried to do 4M again on Wouxun with Rubber Duck,got a call back just before edge of AZ but he could not hear me,so no joy again.
To summarise, Nice walk in to summit from Little Hayfield,for us less used to steep summits. Good day on 2m and 6m and a really good summit to activate from.
Just one final addition, I did get a 4m Contact with Tony M0ATV in Stockport,but it was between Mill Hill and Burnt Hill so cannot put it on Database for a SOTA contact but at least it was a contact on 4m for the day. Thanks to Tony for coming back to my calls on the wouxun with the rubber duck.
Thanks again for all who contacted me up there,thanks to Tom for unique S2S and thanks to the XYL(soon to be Mrs C) for the lovely lunch again.
Elaine and Myself will be tying the knot on Friday 22nd May and we are off to Italian Lakes for a week.No Radio,but she has allowed me to take my SOTA T-Shirt with me to wear ,hoping to bump into an Italian SOTA Person if possible.
Logged all calls on database as usual and photos on Flicker.
73
Tony