Will be stopping in North Pennines this weekend and hope to activate a couple of summits. Below is a list of the nearest ones to where I am staying. Any suggestions as to easiest, best ones to do would be welcome. Dufton Pike was in the list but I removed because I have done it already.
5th/6th May is one of the 12 access weekends for 2007, so might be a good opportunity to get Mickle Fell G/NP-002 while you can. There is a good route (suitable for biking if you want) on my website.
Burnhope Seat G/NP-003 is a quick and simple 6 points from the parking spot by the cattle grid. Kisdon G/NP-026 requires HF unless there are plenty of other summits nearby being activated. Nine Standards Rigg G/NP-018 is quite a walk but pleasant enough and can be done with the family in an afternoon. As Mick says, Lovely Seat G/NP-030 and Great Shunner Fell G/NP-006 can be done as a pair from Buttertubs Pass.
We may be in the NPs on the Sunday ourselves - looking at Great Coum G/NP-011 and Whernside G/NP-004 as a pair.
Look forward to an S2S with you and Jimmy on Sunday then.
Plan is probably one of the six pointers on Saturday and see how we survive and then decide what to do Sunday. I will probably ring Mike GW0DSP to alert us on Saturday night for the Sunday activation(s).
It would be nice if we had a SOTA way-points for GPS archive. Most of the walking sites only seem to have circular walks which don’t touch the summit and then you left wondering which way is best for a straight up and down.
“I will probably ring Mike GW0DSP to alert us on Saturday night for the Sunday activation(s)”.
You mean you’re not set up for SPOTlite? I really recommend you get this set up on your 'phone if not.
“It would be nice if we had a SOTA way-points for GPS archive. Most of the walking sites only seem to have circular walks which don’t touch the summit and then you left wondering which way is best for a straight up and down”.
I agree about the routes on the walking sites. Nice routes, but don’t really “fit” with a peak-bagging approach. I find that some of the best route information can be found here on Sotawatch, via the “Summits” link. The SOTA routes of several active participants can be found there, and not many summits in G or GW remain without any supplementary comments.
In reply to GW7AAV:
If you do Nine Standards Steve - please give plenty of warning and I’ll drive to a high spot to work you. One of my three remaining NP’s
You mean you’re not set up for SPOTlite? I really recommend you get
this set up on your 'phone if not.
Unfortunately my mobile phone is getting on a bit (3310). I hardly use it so it does not seem worth changing it.
I find that some of the best route information can be found here on Sotawatch, via the Summits
Agreed but we could do with somewhere to upload/download route way points with a short description.
Roger, I will try to give as much notice as I can via the alerts. We will have decided our plans for Saturday before we leave on Friday then but will leave the decision on Sundays activation until Saturday night when we know how we feel and what the weather is likely to be.
I will probably ring Mike GW0DSP to alert us on Saturday night for the Sunday activation(s)
No problem Steve, you can also give me a ring on Saturday while setting up and I’ll get a qrv in 15 mins spot on you so you will be met with plenty of customers.
You will now see what 500Mw does from here on 2fm, lol, be an interesting test from 500Mw to 100w.
As regards using mobile phones Steve, do not rely on the assumption that you will always get mobile phone reception in the North Pennines area, its not even guaranteed on a summit.
Have you got ETA for Saturday Steve? I’m off to play in the IARU Region 1 UHF/SHF contest Saturday evening and Sunday near Gatehouse of Fleet so I’m going to climb Merrick Saturday afternoon before heading on South. Merrick is LOS to Snowdown and N. Wales and should also be a good path to the Pennines on VHF. I intend to take a small beam for 2m with aswell as the HF gear and hopefully we can hook up for a S2S.
Hillwalking and QRP in the morning/afternoon followed by serious QRO SHF (big bottles, dishes, kV and generators) the rest of the weekend. Fantastic!
Saturday’s target ETA is around 12:00utc but there is a four mile walk in so very unsure of time due to a number of factors; Will have my three youngest children with me the eldest of which has problems walking (although he seems to leave us standing on the downward bits), Unsure how my ankle will hold up after breaking it it is still a little painful, might be doing some geocashing on route
Steve it is 2.18 miles each way on the route I gave you - or as Mick says less if you go straight to the trig from the disused quarry (NY821058)over the hags.
I think I misunderstood my navigator. Helen has been doing all the research on the routes and playing with Multimap and the GPS, she tells my she meant about 4 miles total. Hopefully we will be early for a change then! ;o)