Parked at the pay and display car park at the top of the public road to Walna Scar. It was £8 for the day. I used the Ringo app, but it seemed the machines take cash and cards.
Followed a generally easy to find path to the summit. I think this is probably the shortest route. See image below.
Took a few summit photos then set up a short distance down, so I didn’t get in the way.
FT-857, Slim G for 2m, Linked dipole for 40m and 20m.
2m FM (10W), 9 contacts
40m SSB (30W), 31 contacts (1 S2S)
20m SSB (30W-50W), 13 contacts
Then I noticed Kevin MW0KXN on GW/SW-023, so I switched the set back on and got him S2S on 40m.
Nice day, dodged the showers apart from a little bit as I packed up.
Amusingly. @G8ADD Brian said to me “the rain radar looks like it’s all around you, except the south”… I thought I was “for it”
Actually, Gerald, just after you went to 20m the met office site showed lightning strikes north of Skiddaw so I was worried for you for a while, but it faded out.
That first picture is great, it takes me right back, and I was amused to see that you used the same rocks to anchor the mast that I used! Great minds etc!
Oooh! Thank goodness for that. I’ve had a couple of summits lightning experiences, but only 1 with SOTA. Not fun! I didn’t hear any static crashes on the radio.
Thanks for the nice report and for the S2S from G/CE-002. I know it was a slightly marginal contact, so your patience was much appreciated. I remember hearing you and Brian talking about the weather and noted several rain clouds in various directions from my vantage point, but thankfully they didn’t come my way!
