Autuminal High Stile

[M5TEA]

Having previously approached G/LD-012 High Stile from Hay Stacks I decided this time to ascend from Gatesgarth Farm via Scarth Gap. I once spent 2 hours there in horizontal rain doing radio support for a running event, and helped a lady with a sprained ankle back down the steps to the farm.

Parking at the farm is £4 in coins - a bargain in the Lake District! There were hounds released on a scent trail as I passed through, probably 30 of them with the ensuing mania!

From Scarth Gap you turn sharp right up Seat, then the windy path and scree to High Crag (that was worse than I remember) before High Stile is in sight and a 40 minute more gentle ascent.

Views arguably are better from Red Pike - my first time there - then it was down the red steps to Bleaberry Tarn before the long thankless descent back to Buttermere with a welcome flat walk back to the farm.

On the ascent to Scarth Gap, looking back at Gatesgarth Farm

Warnscale Beck

Mandatory Lake District Sheep Photo

Panorama from Seat

Winding path and scree to summit of High Crag

Scree at the top of the ascent of High Crag

High Stile summit now in view

River Liza flowing into Ennerdale Water with the coast behind

Whilst setting up for HF I could hear fast jets in the Borrowdale Valley to my north. On their first run they did a sharp 180 degree turn back down Ennerdale and I managed a couple of hasty snaps.

Fast Jets dropping into Ennerdale Valley

For VHF today I put the Spectrum Comms Slim-J about 6m up the Sotabeams Compact 10m mast and that worked really well, with a lot of signals 59.

For HF I had treated myself to a new Sotabeams 40/30/20 Inverted-V antenna. I had it mounted too high up the pole really, but wow flat SWR on 40m and 20m - just goes to show how stretched my BandHopper IV had become (again)!

Thanks to all those who made an effort to join me on this special activation, and the last use of my memorable but troublesome CW callsign!

I met a lovely family whilst doing my 2m activation (holding the mast with dangling 2m antenna) - they had at least four daughters (at least I counted four), one of whom put her hand up to ask a question. ‘Is there snow on Scafell Pike yet’ - I said she just needed to turn around and look. I met them going the opposite direction alongside Buttermere turns out they had done exactly the same walk in reverse. I was referred to as ‘the radio man’ and they couldn’t believe how compact the mast now was on my back.

New Sotabeams Antenna

View down to Bleaberry Tarn

Crummock Water

Walking back to Gatesgarth Farm, Fleetwith Pike looking very ‘sharp’

TIME	CALLSIGN	BAND	MODE	RST	RSR	OPERATOR	SIG	REF
11:40	G6AEK	2m	FM	59	55	David
11:41	GI4OSF	2m	FM	59	55	John
11:41	M8XGO	2m	FM	59	59	Richard
11:42	GM1VLA	2m	FM	59	59	Tony
11:43	MI3UIW/P	2m	FM	57	57	Jason
11:43	GI4OLN	2m	FM	57	57
11:45	G0HIK	2m	FM	59	59	Nick
11:46	M0KNP/P	2m	FM	57	59	Clive
11:47	2E0LDF	2m	FM	59	59
11:51	G5LEE	2m	FM	59	59	Lee
11:52	G8KBH	2m	FM	59	56	D
11:52	G6LKB	2m	FM	59	55	David
11:53	M0KPW	2m	FM	57	57	Chris
12:12	2E0AGB	40m	SSB	59	59	Allen
12:13	M0MDA	40m	SSB	59	59	Michael
12:14	ON7ZM	40m	SSB	59	55	JEAN
12:14	G0FEX	40m	SSB	59	59	Ken
12:14	ON3LA	40m	SSB	55	54	Philippe
12:14	G8VNW	40m	SSB	59	57	Nick
12:15	G0MHF	40m	SSB	59	58	JOHN
12:15	GW0PLP	40m	SSB	59	55	Don
12:16	G4WHA/M	40m	SSB	55	47	G
12:17	EA2CKX	40m	SSB	55	52	PEDRO
12:21	EA1DHB	20m	SSB	59	44	Ricardo
12:21	SA4BLM	20m	SSB	59	55	Lars
12:21	F4WBN	20m	SSB	59	58	Christian
12:22	EA7GV	20m	SSB	59	51	JOSE
12:25	SM5LNE	20m	SSB	59	59	Jan
12:26	OE5PZM	20m	SSB	59	54	Ing.
12:27	DL9NCI	20m	SSB	55	52
12:29	SV3IEG	20m	SSB	59	56	Dinos
12:32	3Z9VI	20m	SSB	59	54	Tomasz
12:34	EA3ARP	20m	SSB	55	54	Joan

[G8CPZ]

Lovely photos, lovely autumn colours.

[G4IPB]

Looks a brilliant way of getting Goatdom, slightly better than the wx on Skiddaw! Brilliant photos and well done!

PS. I’ll email again about Swinside but if you hear anything can you let me know. I wonder if it is possible to sort a mass activation with a donation to charity to get access..

[M5TEA]

I’ll try and make early enquiries. It looks like if grouse are the restriction then the most likely dates to be able to obtain a permit is between 12 August to 10 December which is ‘open season’ but i’m sure it will be much more restrictive than that.

[M5TEA]

OK but reading the latest advice from @MW0WML it would appear to be March. I’ll email them and get the ball rolling now.

Mark

[MW0WML]

@M5TEA

reading the latest advice from @MW0WML it would appear to be March.

That was indeed what I was told directly…… BUT…. that was now over 3 years ago. I did rather feel they seemed to be “making it up as they went along”. So I fully recommend a check in with them to see what the current situation is.