SOTA LD Weekend, 7th/8th October 2023

[G8CPZ]

As this was the LD Weekend event, I decided to focus on 2m FM and 60m SSB hoping to work visiting activators. Gummers How G/LD-050 was in the clouds despite a strong wind at the summit. Eschewing my usual Diamond RH770 2m ½-wave telescopic I put up a J-pole on a 6m mast so the dog and I could crouch on the leeside of some low rocks. Got 7 contacts including Dan MW7DTE/P on Glasgwm GW/NW-015 and Mark M0NOM/P on nearby Lambrigg Fell G/LD-046.

All my gear was dripping wet by now [I was shaking the FT1D HT between contacts to rid the water running down the coax feeder]. My HF kit not being waterproof, it was time to erect the tarp using the low ridge as a ‘back wall’. Putting up my 60/40/30/20 linked dipole singlehanded in a strong wind proved the usual ‘challenge’.

I called for quite a while on 60m before anyone answered. Finally, and fortunately Nick G4OOE/P and Dave G3TQQ/P doing a joint activation on **Normanby Top G/TW-005 gave me two S2S’s reconfirming that 5W’s of SSB is perfectly adequate if you have a decent antenna.

**EDIT UPDATE: G/TW-004 Bishop Wilton Wold

Meanwhile the cows were circling and getting closer. One wandered under the lower part of the inverted V and its horns were close to the wire. I had visions of it getting entangled [but not quantum mechanically] and dragging the antenna, mast, guy ropes, my rig, etc across the hilltop. The steaks were high now.

Realizing I probably needed to get the antenna down, I seized the moo-ment and quickly worked Steve MW0SAW in Pontypridd on 60m CW and went QRT.

When I stood up, I was udderly surprised to see another cow approaching the tarp with intend. It seemed interested in my dog. I couldn’t take the risk that Bella would rush at the cow or vice versa. So, having a real beef with this one, I shooed the cow away and packed up ASAP notwithstanding that everything was wet.

Sod’s Law prevailed: when I was finally packed up the cows were nowhere in sight. To add insult to injury, by then the clouds had lifted and on the walk down the sun came out. Well, no point crying over spilt milk.

Sorry if I butchered any of these jokes.

[EI8HIB]

I was delighted with the QSO Mark, great to talk to you. I can confirm a solid 5/9.
Wx on Croaghanmoira was sunny and a very strong but warm wind was blowing, testing the new mast.
Your right about the lift on 2m, I had 5 or 6 QSO’s into Cornwall and up to Co Antrim.
73 and hope to chat again.

[M0JKS]

Sadly I was not able to make it to the LD this weekend, but did try to get as close as I could by activating Winter Hill (G/SP-010). Considering Winter Hill is only around 50 miles south of Windermere, the weather was acceptable - unlike the reports from the LD.

I cannot say the same for the ground, which was sodden. After wandering about for about 1/2 hour trying to find a dry spot to setup.

Like Black Hill (G/SP-002) this one is a bad one for 2m due to the amount of high power RFabout up there. Even using the sotabeams helical filter inline, I was only able to make one 2m S2S - to Keith @G1VFA on Coniston Old Man.

Most of the contacts were on HF and I did manage a S2B (Summit 2 Bunker) with Peter @MW0PJE on 23cm.

73 Dave

[G7KSE]

All I can say is that Sunday was wind free (ish) and 20C when I got back to the car from Binsey. Not much rain on the west coast compared to elsewhere.

Nice to get the big big out and get few few in the log @M1BUU. Can’t use it for too long as it is a bit shrill

[M0YDH]

I was there too. I activated 3 Wainwrights - Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell on Friday on 2m fm in the driving rain. On Saturday we chose to go to Raven Crag above Thirlmere in response to the forecasted high winds. I’d hope to speak to many of you but I managed a single QSO with Geoff G4WHA on Faulds Brow. 1 contact qualifies a Wainwright luckily. He related their experience of 60 mph winds on Binsey earlier in the day.
On Sunday I activated Kidsty Pike, Rampsgill Head and High Raise - all above Mardale.

I got into WOTA by having a radio activation break on the way to and from G/LD summit.

73
David M0YDH

[G8CPZ]

@M0YDH

I got into WOTA by having a radio activation break on the way to and from G/LD summit

Yes, there are many lovely Wainwright hills in the Lake District, which are not Marilyns, that I would never had visited had I focused only on SOTA G/LD summits, e.g Scafell is more interesting than Scafell Pike (G/LD-001). That’s the benefit of hill walks and summits chosen by a human being (in this case Alfred Wainwright) rather than just on topology.

We’re lucky to have an enthusiastic bunch of local and regional chasers supporting the WOTA scheme making it rare not to be able to qualify a WOTA summit using 2m FM. Almost all G/LD summits are also Wainwrights so one can pick up points simultaneously to both schemes.

[G4OOE]

Hi Andy

Thank you very much for the s2s qso. Dave G3TQQ and I were on G/TW-004 Bishop Wilton Wold.
73
Nick

[M1BUU]

Hi Alex,

Great to see that you’ve had the big rig out! I really ought to fire up a RockMite again one of these days. I think I might have one or two that I could put my hands on. I’m still hoping for a home brew transatlantic QSO, so I ought to give it a go. Can you believe that I’ve never managed a home brew transatlantic CW QSO?! I have done it on SSB.

Thanks for the CW QSO whilst I was on Holme Fell.

Vy 73,

Colin

[G8CPZ]

@G4OOE

Dave G3TQQ and I were on G/TW-004 Bishop Wilton Wold

Thanks for the correction. Checking my paper log again I see I wrote 004 but must have mistyped it entering it into the logging app. I’ll correct the SOTA log entry.

[M0NOM]

Yeah, thanks Dave and Nick, I can often remember one name or the other, but not necessarily both in the right order! You’ve often been at the other end of the microphone, and always a very welcome qso.

Cheers, Mark

[G7KSE]

I reckon if you opened a drawer one or two might be in there

I don’t think I’ve managed a SOTA transatlantic QSO ever. I think I must be doing something wrong.

The rockmite was fun until the I started to hear 3 or 4 stations, one was drowning out the station at the other end of me.

[M0NOM]

@G7KSE

reckon if you opened a drawer one or two might be in there