We (with M0JLA driving) set off for a stay in the northern Lake District after a gap of about 13 years according to our records. On looking at the maps the local hills seem to have got higher and our legs are definitely shorter so it will only be the low hills we are aiming for. This makes getting contacts (or even just one!) more of a challenge from the likes of Low Fell (aptly named ), High Rigg (height looks more like Low Rigg), Blake Fell etc. Swinside was knocked off the list as they don’t seem to reply (is it only March now or not at all??). The further challenges are that the weather forecast is reatty dire (fog and 30+ mph gusts in Keswick let alone the tops!!), we are very unfit and unused to wet weather AND …I have lost most of my voice (and can’t find it anywhere). so please listen out very hard for a desperate whisper/croak over the VHF/UHF airwaves. I hope that M0JLA will be a lot more audible IF the HF bands allow. I see there is some Scottish activated also in G/SB and would love some s2s but not easy for low hills. Will spot as soon as we can but any activations may be a last minute decision. I have lots of low hills in the Lake District I need to chase (I only chase from other summits so all my completes are from s2s) so it would be a welcome surprise if other activators also came out for an airing. At present Saturday and Sunday look slightly better but things may change. Thanks for your help - and keep those ears flapping on 145.500 (and 433.475)
Hi Viki, I just got home from activating G/LD-048 and I did G/LD-056 yesterday. On both occasions I was sweating (when the sun was out) on the climb up in just a T-shirt but cold sitting around playing radio on the shelterless summit in strong wind (and overcast sky today / summit low cloud yesterday) despite wearing hat, mid-layer and summer jacket. So my advice, pack some warm clothes.
Tx Andy, have piled in some warmer gear, We visited G/LD-056 many years ago in rather challenging conditions. It is still the only summit where I have broken 2 pipe joints as the dipole was flattened yet, yet, yet again! I still only carry one spare around with me but might pop in another one if we should be thinking of visiting it on our way home! 73
Whitbarrow Scar is one of my locals (you can see it 4.4 miles away from our bedroom window). The wind has blown down my 5m pole (for 2m J-pole and HF EFHW) many times as the ground there is too rocky to push guying pegs in deep enough. Fortunately, there are a few ant hills near the big cairn so for this week’s activation I took my Chameleon MPAS Lite HF vertical and its 35cm-long ground spike goes right down into the ant hill. The 5.2m-long vertical might sway around in strong winds but never falls over.
from M6BWA
Went up G/LD-056 on our way oop north on Wednesday as the rain seemed to be clearing. We were lucky as we actually remained dry which was particularly important for that rocky path which I didn’tlike on the way up and would have found even less fun with wet rock on the way down. It’s 12 years since we last visited and we seemed to get a bit lost after the top stile and spent ages just above the wall before turning up - not sure if that was a good idea. anyway got there BST 1640 so found what little shelter there was not far from the cairn and then looked for places to get pegs in! I was lucky as tne dipole stayed up and in 10 mins I had 5 2m and 5 70cm contacts from 5 chasers mostly down the coast - marvellous. Rod (M0JLA) was struggling on HF and only got 2 contacts I believe.
Next day with a windy showery forecast we went up nearby High Rigg G/LD-044 but I had to shelter from the wind and the dipole had to be held up most of the time. After 30 mins, with intermittent rain and wind, I gave up with 3 in the log and Rod had only managed 3 on HF but we were happy to get any contacts - and some views. We called in at Castlerigg stone circle in the dry and with a marvellous backdrop of hills with intermittent bands of rain - the highlight of the day.
Today the gusts were the same and with a forecast of the rain coming in earlier we set off towards Cockermouth and lowly G/LD-054 Watch Hill with a walk mostly on forest tracks so very sheltered. Rod tucked himself on the low wall beside the trees with the mast in the field and I went onto the field and we both qualified and jsut reached the car before the showers started. Great success
Have now decided NOT to go upr Blake Fell tomorrow as wind and showers still around. with the forecasts improving from Sunday onwards. Thank you for listening out. (PS Apologies for typos - strange keyboard and some eyesight problems)
Viki M6BWA
Sorry I missed you today - timing and weather wasn’t on our side! Noted about your hope for S2S - I reckon our best chance will be Sunday when I’m not far from Carlisle on my return home. Selfishly wouldn’t say no to a Complete if you fancied Low Fell or Mellbreak, but you do what suits you best
from M6BWA
Sorry Jordan it looks as if it will be Knott G/LD-023 with timing not yet assessed - partly because we don’t know how far up the road past Swineside we can drive in a rather elderly car - plus it will be a tougher walk than we have done for some time. The weather was almost dry today but the wind was rather vicious even down at the lakeside. should be better tomorrow and then we are promised drizzle again on Monday - perhaps you timed it right on your side. Best wishes for Sighty Crag - definitely on my ‘never again’ list after Rod had to haul my leg out of a hole that I alone could not perform the extraction! (when my muscles tensed they filled the hole so the leg didn’t move - great fun!!) Well done on all your summits.
73 Viki
