I’d like to propose the weekend of April 5th 2025 for the next Lake District SOTA weekend.
This year I’ve struggled to find a date later than this that I can attend and that also doesn’t clash with any other major event in the Lake District. Major events cause accomodation price hikes and potentially a shortage of accomodation.
Thanks to @MW0KXN for the reminder to try and get a date in the diary. He has also pointed out that April is a comparatively dry month in the Lake District.
Note this year that we now have improving Lora APRS iGate coverage. If you needed an excuse to buy a tracker from the SOTA shop and get it setup, this is it! More information can be obtained by joining the CumbriaLoRa groups.io group.
(Unsuprisingly) There is plenty of availability at the moment, but do you have any thoughts on where we would meet in the evening? I’d want to book somewhere reasonably close, certainly within stumbling distance!
The Elleray again, or has the Brookside Inn fallen back in favour?
I’m in! Arriving lunchtime-ish Thursday. 2 nights booked in the Wasdale campsite. In the process of booking Gillside (nr Patterdale) for the Saturday night. Tried to get the Bowness-on-Windermere one for then, but they seemed to want me to book at least 3 nights. Obviously planning to be at the Saturday evening meal . Activation plans will depend on enthusiasm and weather.
Well it is getting closer so I’ve added a couple of alerts. On the Friday Claife Heights (G/LD-053) (I’m staying at the camping club site in Windermere) and the plan for Saturday (Most to least optimistic…) Fairfield (G/LD-007) and Seat Sandal (G/LD-022)… or if the legs are not quite as good just Fairfield, and if things really are not great just Loughrigg Fell (G/LD-047). Fingers crossed for good weather. 73. Paul
I always think you are so close to the additional points with Seat Sandal it is worth that extra 20-ish minutes of pain, although last time down off Seat Sandal I lost the path in the mist and did a bit of zig-zagging…
So, bit of a bomb shell, but my brother announced that he was having a 60th birthday party on the Saturday night of the same weekend (down South), and it’s not one of those things I really have an option with.
I will be out on the hills on the Friday, and will be available for all queries. Obviously I’m disappointed as I really like meeting everyone in the flesh on the Saturday evening.
The advantage of meeting at the Elleray on Saturday evening is that they are very flexible with regard to food and I don’t anticipate any problems.
I’ve booked Friday and Saturday night in Windermere, but I’m thinking about heading up Thursday evening and doing most of the journey at night. The Ibis just north of Preston is only £45 for the night, meaning I could do an activation on the Friday during the daytime.
What’s the medium term forecast, your opinion. The sites I use are suggesting cloudy and dry with some sunny spells, maybe showers on the Sunday; highs of 12 degress. Does that sound right to you chaps?
Always dangerous to make a prediction, but looking at the long range models it looks settled and at the moment gentle southerly winds so looking good, but lots can change in a week. Fingers crossed it stays good.
Now a bit firmer plan,
Based in Patterdale, joint activations planned on Fri, Sat, Sun with M0TKF. Looking for illusive Summit completes.
Particularly
G/LD-
021
025
026
029
032
033
036
040
043
045
048
David
G0EVV
If you plan being on any of these, please ping an E mail to: G0EVV@hotmail.co.uk
Checking my logs I’m reminded that Hallin Fell is a 2m dead spot (except to the north) and I failed to get any 2m FM contacts there on 4 out of 6 activations and the others just two 2m contacts, GM or John G0TDM in Penrith. If anyone plans to do G/LD-043 take your HF kit.
Hello Mark
I’m up at my Dad’s in Kendal. I’m going to Gargrave on Friday 4 April to get our E-tandem serviced at JD Tandems so will have time to activate G/NP-029.
I’m going to take advantage of all you lovely activators on your high summits on the Saturday and activate some Wainwrights on the Air with Dad on 2m FM. There’s bound to be some WOTA summit that are screened from normal chasers. My Dad John will be 90 in June and leads his last group walk on his birthday. He generally doesn’t walk above 2000 feet.
I found it was fun to activate Wainwrights when we came across them as well as Marilyn SOTA summit when I was completing all G/LD activations. I’ve kept going as it makes great days out with my Dad and have activated over 160 of them.
. Activation plans will depend on enthusiasm and weather.