It’s the 2nd Backpackers this morning 0900-1300z. Also the PW contest so should be plenty of 2m SSB activity. Wonder if there’s any other SOTA-activating backpackers contesters out today?
75 QSOs made, mostly 2m SSB but a fair number of 2m FM, and one 2m CW. Incredibly hot and sunny. I wore a long sleeved top, sunhat, sunglasses and every bit of exposed skin had factor 50 applied (and reapplied halfway through the activation). Even so, I still went home a much darker shade and with a couple of burnt patches 
Several S2S worked - some of whom were actively participating in the Backpackers Contest, and some not. From memory, Whitfell G/LD-032 (3 independent expeditions!) & St Sunday Crag G/LD-010. DXCCs - G, GW, GM, GI, EI. QRAs: IO62, 64, 70, 75, 81, 82, 83, 84, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, JO01.
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Hi Tom,
I was up on Beacon Batch G/SC-003 again but didn’t hear you this time. I had a great time though……
It turned out to be a bit of a surprise…… it went really quiet in 3rd hour and then MI & P sprang into action. It made a big difference to my final score:
I ran the FT-857D at 5w (to make sure the external battery lasted the distance) into my homebrew 6e beam 4m AGL at 325m ASL. I managed 51 QSOs, 5 countries, 17 grids with furthest being a PA in JO21xi (602kms). Phew…. with a potential +190k score it will be my best overall score to date!
73 till the next contest.
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I had intended to wander up SP-017 Billinge Hill for a bit of a play, but the weather plus an exam this morning meant I made the sensible decision to stay home and play backyard portable.
817, 3 ele beam and battery operated from a sun beaten decking area. I felt for the ones actually out there. Having said that, judging from some of the pictures I’ve seen on facebook, I was more backpacker than some of the contestants in their air-conditioned cars.