With Alex and the girls off to Lancaster on Saturday morning I got to play radio on Friday and Saturday. I’d recently bought an Alpkit Hunka Bivvy bag both to provide insulation when on evening activations and possibly with an eye to a wild camping night on the fells.
With the weather set to hold throughout the night into Saturday I set off from the Kirkstone Pass Inn (after a cheeky pint of course) up Raven Crag and chased the sunset on my way up to Stony Cove Pike, following the usual route along the wall.
Top of Raven Crag
I was slightly later setting off than anticipated, having made a diversion so that Alex and the girls got to see cousin Madison at her Prom at the Low Wood Hotel. I made the top of Raven Crag at 9pm. On my back the Lowe Alpine rucksack was full to the brim: tent, sleeping mat, bothy bag and sleeping bag, KX3, Decathalon 6m travel mast, 2 litres of water, Sotabeam Quadband Antenna, FT1XD and Diamond RH-7700 telescopic whip, a bit of food and a load of other sundries! The decision to leave the FT-857 at home wasn’t a hard one given the weight!
Start of the Sunset Walk
The walk up was great as the sun was setting very slowly due to my ascent.
Following the Wall
Can’t out run the sun any more!
Stony Cove Pike Summit
It was quite windy at the summit - probably a constant 15mph, and I decided to set up camp before starting the activation.
Tent and HF Antenna
Stony Cove Pike Activation for SOTA & WOTA
Calling CQ on the handheld with RH-7700 produced some surprising results this evening! First in the log was John G0TDM at 22:08 local time followed by Chris 2E0MOW in Poulton le fylde. There were various European stations breaking through at S1 making things a bit tricky with the quieter stations. Next in the log wsa G7TCQ/M - when asked his location he said he was at J11 of the M6! That is Cannock, just north of Birmingham. He was coming through at 57 and he reported me 59! Geoff GM4WHA/M was a strong 55 coming through next followed by G0WUY - Alex in York! I was weaker with him, hardly moving the needle but he was 57 to me.
Then came the longest 2m DX of the evening - G4IOG, Bob using an FT991 at 50w with a 55 received, 52 reported, in Sittingborne North Kent! That is a 265 mile QSO with a handheld! He couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t either, but the signal was strong and consistent. I then worked stations in Herefordshire, Newmarket, and two in Norfolk! what an evening!
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | 2E0MOW |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G0TDM |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G0WUY |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G3TFX |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G4IOG |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G4WUH |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | G7TCQ |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | GM4WHA |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | LZ5DD |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | M0UJD |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | M3RDE |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | MW0HTC |
| 28 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-055 - Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor) | S51DX |
Once I’d set the HF antenna up (the cheap Decathalon pole works remarkably well given how light it is, although the height on the top of the dipole isn’t anywhere near that when I use the much heavier SOTABeams 10m compact travel mast) I crawled into the tent and it was a welcome respite from the wind.
I’ve been struggling to get back into QRP HF after the luxury of the FT-857’s 100 watts. My activation frequency on 20m remained quiet so I went hunting and only found two decent signals: LZ5DD - Dan in Sofia, Bulgaria (who knows me on first name terms, he is always strong into North West England), and S51DX Janez in Slovenia - again a bit hitter generally. Janez was working Stateside and Canadian stations in sporadic bursts but at this point I couldn’t hear the other end.
I listened to the radio for a while, till about midnight. The tent never really got dark, the sky was clear. I left the antenna up but it didn’t last the night, but with such a light pole I knew it would collapse gracefully. Unfortunately for me the Skylarks thought it wsa time to announce dawn around 3:30am and although I managed to doze I was up at 5:30 when two very keen runners were heard in elation at reaching the summit!
Day 2 - onwards to Thornthwaite Crag
With a very light breakfast I got packed away and headed ‘over the top’ and down the menacing Thornthwaite Gap. The sheep kept me company for a while whilst I dragged that rucksack up the other side. Last time I’d been up here was on a RAYNET mission - in fog on the way up then 3 hours in horizontal rain! No such issues this time.
Thornthwaite Gap with the Beacon in the distance
Obligatory Sheep Photo #1
The beautiful valley looking down towards the Tongue
Obligatory Sheep Photo #2
Looking towards Ullswater
With a final push the beacon came in sight and a welcome one at that, and making ridiculously good time with my first 2m QSO at 07:15 with EI3GO County laois Ireland. Clearly there was still a good lift on with that being just over 200 miles with a 59 both ways. He reported thunderstorms close by. Another early riser M1DHA was in the log next, Allan being closer on the Lancashire/Yorkshire Border, but then the DX continued with the final station to return my CQ WOTA call - G0BUB, Mick in Grantham at around 135 miles. By this point I was playing with lower power so his 55 / 53 QSO was on 2.5 watts!
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-043 - Thornthwaite Crag | EI3GO |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-043 - Thornthwaite Crag | G0BUB |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-043 - Thornthwaite Crag | M1DHA |
The formidable Thornthwaite Beacon
Looking towards High Street
High Street SOTA/WOTA Activation
The journey to High Street was uneventful, having not seen anyone since the day before. My mind wandered, as it always does when here, to imagining the Romans using this path and how many folk had trodden it before and since. When I got to the trig point at Racecourse Hill I slumped down out of the wind and just had a rest. I might even have dozed a little, the Skylarks were singing their song again and it was just a very, very restful place to be.
High Street Benchmark
Wild Camper on High Street - looking towards Helvellyn
When I eventually came round I setup for my HF activation first and then gave a quick call on 2m. John G0TDM was on frequency quickly followed by Geoff GM4WHA from his home QTH. Chris 2E0MOW was the last on 2m at this stage, I then switched to HF with a thought to come back to VHF later and give the sleepier locals a bit more time to stir from their beds!
HF Setup on High Street
HF went very well considering the QRP 10w power from the KX3 with external LifePo4 battery. An assortment of the usual chasers and some new callsigns were had on both 20m and 40m. Dave G6LKB was operating as the special event callsign TM50WAB - I thought I recognised the voice! Towards the end I managed a couple of SOTA S2S with Petr as DL/OK1CZ/P at 607m on DM/BW-841.
S2S with Petr DL/OK1CZ/P on Vögelestein
Then, after a wait while the big stations worked her, EA2DNO/P Iratxe at 1,290m on EA1/CT-044.
S2S with EA2DNO/P on Jano, Pico
During this time a few folk started filtering past, and the wild camper packed up, talked into his GoPro, and then left. I wonder if I featured on his footage?
At just after 10am local I gave another shout out on 2m and Sue G1OHH, Douggie G7CDA, Chris 2E0MOW and Rick M7FRD responded. Rick is fairly new to radio but not stranger to the mountains. I worked him from home on Thursday as he made his way up to Scafell Pike via the Langdale valley and Pike of Blisco - no mean feat!
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | 2E0ESY |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | 2E0FEH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | 2E0MOW |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | DJ5AV |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | DL8DXL |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | EA1DFP |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | EA2DNO |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | EA2DT |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | F4HZR |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | G0RQL |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | G0TDM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | G1OHH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | G7CDA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | G8HBS |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | GM4WHA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | HB9DHA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | M0BKV |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | M7FRD |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | OK1CZ |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | SA4BLM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | SM4CJM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | SP9AMH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | SQ9MDF |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | SQ9NOT |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-025 - High Street | TM50WAB |
LDW-059 Mardale Ill Bell
It was much quicker reaching the next Wainwright than anticipated - Mardale Ill Bell being only around 20 minutes walk from High Street.
Leaving High Street, looking back towards Helvellyn
First glimpse of Haweswater_
On the Summit of Mardale Ill Bell LDW-059
By now it was getting hot - the early few spits of rain now long gone. I was being careful with my water now, and John pointed out that using Chlorine tablets with water taken from the small tarns near the summit was probably a bad idea in that Cryptosporidium quite happily lived through the threat of Chlorine tablets to prove a nasty addition to the gut for a few weeks. With a trip to the Isle of Man on Monday I was definitely warned off taking water on board at this stage!
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | 2E0BJT |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G0HRT |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G0TDM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G1OHH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G4KDX |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G7CDA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | G7VQU |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | GM4WHA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | GW4ZPL |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | M5ADD |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | M7FRD |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-059 - Mardale Ill Bell | MW0ISC |
A good run of 2m contacts had from this summit, with the surprise being that Geoff could still work me from his home QTH.
It was clear from the view at this stage that the leg to Harter Fell wasn’t going to be anywhere near as easy and my estimate of an hour to get there wasn’t far off. The view opened up to Haweswater and the tarn that feeds it as I descended to the bottom of the gap where two mountain biker were resting at the shelter.
Feeling the weight of the pack on the ascent I made sure to take plenty of breaks as the temperature at this point had risen significantly and I was now very conscious of my dwindling water supplies.
LDW-048 Mardale Harter Fell
A bit of a strange cairn stone pile greets you at the top of the summit, and I couldn’t quite work out what was going on there. Geoff had informed me that this was also a HEMA summit, HLD-028, and if I’d had more water I would have setup for HF as it is a nice flat summit and perfect for the 80m dipole. However, the temperature was as high as it was going to get, so I made what in hindsight was a very sensible decision not to take too much time here.
Mardale Harter Fell Cairn Stones
Excellent take off from this location and again I got Geoff in the log from his home QTH. All the VHF work was done using 2.5 watts now to conserve battery.
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | G0TDM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | G1OHH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | G1XJO |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | G4ZRP |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | G7CDA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | GD0BFN |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | GM4WHA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | GW4ZPL |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | M7FRD |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-048 - Harter Fell (Mardale) | MW0ISC |
Following the obvious somewhat-flat ridgeline path, with the fence/wall to the left I pushed on to Kentmere Pike.
LDW-071 Kentmere Pike
Getting myself confused I thought I only had one summit to go. As it happens on Kentmere Pike I’d made the decision that any further ascent was secondary to getting to a pub! In the end Shipman Knotts turned out to be on the way back so it didn’t make any sense not to get all the Wainwrights in the log. It was good to both get consistent contacts with some chasers and a few new callsigns in the log on the way. Unfortunately I had lost Geoff now GM4WHA - the RH-7700 no longer able to reach over the northern fells on 2.5 watts. Water was now getting low with a few sips left although I still felt fairly hydrated. Fortunately the sporadic cloud cover gave some respite to the sun and I also re-applied sun cream.
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | 2E0EOI |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | G0HRT |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | G0TDM |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | G1OHH |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | G4ZRP |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | G7CDA |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-071 - Kentmere Pike | M7FRD |
Looking back to Kentmere Pike
LDW-133 Shipman Knotts
The final summit with only a 25m ascent, Shipman Knotts was at least an easy one to add to the list at the end of a long day.
| Date | Activator | Summit | Chaser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | 2E0MOW |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | 2E0NMK |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | G4KRN |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | G4ZRP |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | GW4ZPL |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | M7FLY |
| 29 Jun 2019 | M0NOM/P | LDW-133 - Shipman Knotts | M7FRD |
Looking down towards Kentmere Village
The track between the Kentmere and Sleddale Valleys
Back to Civilisation
Looking back at the Kentmere Horseshoe
Back to Staveley
Well, my optimism that there might be a pub in Kentmere was short lived, and the resulting walk wasn’t really what I had planned for. I knew from cycling this road previously that it dragged on, and after an hour and 20 minutes when I finally arrived at the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall that first pint was long overdue! Total walking distance since Kirkstone Pass was 25 km.
The LONG road home!
Alex and the girls came to pick me up after about an hour which was great and I then collapsed for the rest of the day, catching up on sleep sporadically!
A welcome pint!
Thanks to all the chasers for your support on this (to me at least) mammoth trek!
73! Mark.