This had been on my HEMA hitlist for quite a while now, but I’ve never had the opportunity to activate it. I was going to activate Gowbarrow Fell, but as Fleetwith is a Wainwright I thought Id go for this one as there’ll be more chance of getting some chasers!
Parking at Honistor Slate mine (£5 to park all day!) I took the steep gravel track up to Hoperslate quarry before moving right past a huge mound of slate chippings and upward towards Black Star.
Walking along the track towards Fleetwith is fairly flat until you gain a bit more elevation before reaching the Cairn marking the Summit.
I felt a few drops of rain and thought it was going to have to be a 4 and run activation.
I got out the FT60 and connected it to the Dipole. Using high power the radio kept switching off as did medium power. This has happened before and I suspect the battery is buggerd. Low power was working so I called Cq and logged Derek 2E0MIX and Reg 2E0LDF. I decided that 500mw won’t cut it so I set up the 857d and Used 10W. More problems! Rain started so I had to stuff the radio in the bag and try to stop it getting wet… whilst trying to keep my bag upright!
A few more calls and a run of stations logged
GM6LJE Robin North of the Border
M7MGO/P Richard in Whitehaven
M0AYB Phill in Cockermouth
G1OHH Sue in Lancaster
M0DXT Bill near Keswick
G4ZRP Ryan on the Wirral
G0QUC forgot the name (oopsie)
I left a message on a discord group and one of the people on their lives in Whitehaven and heard Richard talking to me. He jumped in his car and headed towards St Bees to get a bit of high ground. While I waited the rain started to get the inside of my bag wet and the radio with it! Roughly around 12:30pm local I worked 2E0KCI Nathan who was using his FT5d for the first time since he got it.
After that I pulled the plug and started my decent. To reward my self I had a Bacon bap and a Coffe at the Slate Mine.
A good summit to activate, there is a bit of space for a Vertical but not much so be aware of guying ropes!
Another summit off the hitlist! Sorry to those who were after SSB, but there was a forecast for rain and thunder around 13:30 local and I’m not being an earthing rod for anyone!
Hope to get back up to the lakes again next year, by this point I’m probably the slowest Wainwright activator!