again it was make the best a window of opportunity in the wx now that my fitness levels are the best that they have been for about 3 years and i knew Mathew M0MZB was on Coniston Old Man plan A was to go for Dale Head but i was unsure of the road conditions up Honister Pass after the rain and then hard frost
so it was plan B instead .
the back road from home to the A66 was white and slippy but that was nothing the the road the road from Portinscale to Catbells it was sheets of ice with water over the road and then frozen
it only took 50 minutes to reach the summit of Catbells
looking over the first hump from the summit
it was only 9 oclock and the sun was hitting the fell tops
on the top the wind speed 30 miles an hour peaking at 40 with a wind chill of -10
i only made 3 contacts but in the cold it was plenty
M0MZB/P MATHEW
2E0MIX DEKEK
G4WHA/M GEOFF
and then on to Maiden Moor the path was very icy and great care was needed and made 5 contacts before moving on for High Spy 25 minutes a way
G1OHH SUE
2E0MIX DEREK
G4WHA/M GEOFF
GM3VMB PETER
G7CDA DOUGIE
5 minutes from the top of High Spy i could hear M0NOM mark in qso with a SOTA station and thought i would get once on the summit but alas it was not to be
Hindscarth
High Spy is a hema and Wainwright
first to call was SUE G1OHH with her usual big signal
next GEOFF G4WAH/M a lot weaker but considering his location in Carlisle it was good to exchange reports so thanks for perceiving with me
MM1BHO RICHARD
G7CDA DOUGIE
and s2s with M7MGO/M RICHARD on Sale Fell who i hope i persuded to join the WOTA group
the weather on the hills can change very quickly usually for the worse but in this case it was for the better the wind had drop and the temperature was now a pleasant -3
Maiden Moor to the left
Newlands valley
Hindscarth and Robinson
rowling end with Causey Pike Scar Crags and Sail Fell
almost back down and another great day on the hills despite the cold wind and once again the chasers make it even better
at this time in the year i normally don’t go out much but this winter i will be on the hills at every opportunity to keep the fitness up so thanks to all chasers
