Mickle Fell G/NP-002
A few people noticed I activated Mickle Fell at the weekend and asked for details 
The forecast was looking a bit dull and damp at home but wall to wall sunshine further north for the whole weekend. Mickle Fell had been on my to do list for a couple of years but I hadnât got round to doing it so I checked the access information on the MoD website and found Iâd just missed the last public access weekend. I rang the automated information line to check if there were any short notice public access days soon (once I figured out the number because 1 digit was missing from the one they advertised) but it just said there was firing on Monday but not again for the rest of the week.
I completed the access form and attached to an email on the Tuesday asking whether access was possible this weekend as the recorded message only said there was âno firingâ. To my surprise, I received a permit at Wednesday lunchtime so hastily arranged some leave an accomodation for the trip.
I took the southern route, parking by the cattle grid. There was no phone signal on EE but standing on the mound near the parking there was signal on Vodafone to phone the control room to let them know I was starting the hike. The gentleman took my details, car details and estimated time of completion and wished me a nice walk.
The hike starts with a sharp climb, then undulates to the foot of the escarpment dropping down to some stream crossings with narrow wooden bridges, one of which had a âuse at your own riskâ sign on it!
Smaller streams had to be forded with care due to the slippery rocks. The walk was very boggy, almost swampy in places apart from the top half of the final climb. Wellies may have been a better choice but my boots and gaiters held up well and I only had slightly damp feet at the end.
On the ascent I encountered what seemed like an impassable lake/river/swamp near âhanging sealâ which I spent quite some time and energy trying to find a route to cross, however on the descent there was a (slightly) more obvious quad bike track which followed the fence line and was much easier to walk and I would recommend this to any future activators.
Upon reaching the summit plateau, the fence was being replaced and the stile had been removed apart from one of the posts. The new fence had not yet been tensioned so was easy to climb over but on the descent the remaining post had been taken out by the workers. Hopefully it will be replaced so future climbers donât have to trek all that way to be faced with a fence with no crossing point.
There was still some snow lying on the ground at the summit, but the early mist had cleared and under the clear skies and sheltered from the breeze behind the cairn it felt like summer.
Radio wise, several summit to summit contacts were made on 2 m, plus contacts with a few fixed stations. Although I tried 23 cm, only 1 contact was made however pre-planning estimates suggested the regular chasers would be out of range from this summit.
Time was pressing on so there wasnât any time for HF before I retraced my route and made it back to the car with 30 minutes to spare before Warcop would need to send out a search party.
Dufton Pike G/NP-027
On the way back from Mickle Fell I activated Dufton Pike on 40 m (despite the contest) with a S2S on 2m with Kevin on GW/NW-040, descending as the sun set.
Burnhope Seat G/NP-003
Sunday morning started with an easy walk up Burnhope Seat. The short walk was surprisingly dry until reaching the summit plateau which was very wet and peaty. I managed to find a dip that wasnât full or snow or water to get a bit of shelter from the wind.
Cold Fell G/NP-020
Finally on Sunday afternoon I activated Cold Fell. Eventually managing to park at the nature reserve car park when another walker left (the visitors in front of me pulled into the car park, took up 3 spaces and refused to move to let me get in 
).
The walk followed a well defined, but boggy track and was more of a slog than I was expecting. Using the AliExpress whip with 3 radials (plus coaxâŚ) and a custom loading coil for 60 m worked really well.
The descent was slippery in many places, but thankfully no mishaps. I washed the filth off my boots in the stream by the houses, took off some layers including my coat and then it rained for the last km or so back to the car 
It has to be 22°C before my shorts are dug out, so they never are!
