Worked all Britain trig #17 TP1391 - Birshaw SD90 WAB 7/12/22 Part 2

 Part 2 of my unexpected day off...

The earlier contact with 2E0DIJ led to another text message.. "do you fancy a crack at the angry farmer?" the name we gave to the Birshaw trig, as the reports on the Trigpointing UK all point to the farmer not being so keen on people visiting the trig! talk of arguments, confrontations and dogs meant setting a contact up in advance was a must, as I would have to be stealthy to avoid the gaze of the farmer and speed was essential, its position in a valley also meant that an "organic" contact would be difficult on the hand held with a rubber duck antenna! contact set up, i made off for the difficult approach to the trig, through a forest in twilight, up a steep hill and out to the Trig...

 

I gave a CQ call, and was VERY surprised when G4DEE- Tony in Bury!

Did a QSY, completed the call, Duane followed us up, so had a second one with him and then my peace was shattered by the sound a barking dog, getting louder and louder, next thing, its on to me! Oh balls I thought, quickly completing my QSOs... the hound was hotly followed by a human, I can only assume it was the angry farmer.. I didn't wait to find out! I high-tailed it for the trees and disappeared in the undergrowth before I was spotted! PHEW!

Back at the car, I caught my breath.. job done! happy I had finally done the closest Trig to my house! who would have thought trig activating could be so exciting!

As usual thanks to the chasers, we couldn't do this stuff without you!

Till next time, Cheers! 2E0JWA - Alan

Worked all Britain Trig #16 TP3756 - Hey Farm SD91 WAB 7/12/22 part 1

 One of my locals, and been on the list for AGES! (but not as long as Trig #17).... anyway an unexpected day off, gave me a bit of free time so I reckoned i could squeeze a couple in off my list..

Maps read and plan made, went for the direct route (and later regretted it)..

the reason for my regret?? the path after a couple of hundred yards following a stream, becomes the stream!! and here's me in my lightweight boots.. oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound!

After a VERY muddy ascent (if i ever go up again, wellies 100% needed!) you end up wondering up a sheep field, looking for the trig... 

AHHHH There it is! activation at the actual trig is difficult, as its in a mud pit, so I set up on an adjacent fence within the AZ...

I HOPED due to its great take off that an operation on the rubber duck would do the job, but sadly that wasn't to be, Luckily I had chucked the Mast and the Spectrum slim G in the bag! so, mast up... improvement none.... Balls, this is going to be a cold waste of time!

Got a text off Duane 2E0DIJ, "are you coming on the radio pal?" WINNER!! Trig activated... but, this brought in another caller Paul G6SPG in Irlam, 2 contacts.. that'll do! by this time I was positively icy, so a quick de-rig and made for the ascent, not before a quick look back to see the moon rising! 

Now, the ascent! I didn't much fancy the river bed again, so I found a longer but MUCH drier way down via the farm, if I'm honest I wish I went up that way!

Anyway, job done! onto the next... #17 - Birshaw!

Thanks to the Chasers as usual, 73! Alan - 2E0JWA

SOTA G/SP-017 - Billinge Hill TRIG #15 WAB Sq SD50 TP1362 - Billinge 3/12/22

Looked at this one once or twice, but the price of diesel has held me back recently, anyway it was my weekend to have my boy, and I had some business to attend to in the nearby town of Atherton so this fitted in perfectly with a trip to Billinge Hill.. FINALLY! 

If I am being completely honest here, I think the real reason I haven't visited was procrastination.. Anyhow, I digress!

I am fairly certain that Billinge must be the lowest summit on the SOTA programme, I honestly cant think of and havent seen another smaller. Mind you, dont be put off by its meagre 179M its a Marilyn.. Just! the walk up is pretty easy, and good practice for my boy, who, I am happy to add has finally stared training with me, for his Foundation exam!

Here he is, having just made the gentle walk up the slope to the Summit!

plenty of space up the top, but it is quite busy. Consequently daft antenna's wouldn't be a good idea! i set up on the trig, with the usual 6M fishing pole, and my NEW spectrum communications Slim G antenna!

Now, just let me take a few seconds out here... The Slim G by Spectrum Communications is an EXCELLENT piece of kit, honestly! I was previously using a homebrew "flowerpot" and while it served me well, the Slim G was in a different league, just so much quieter and less susceptible to noise.. if you want a lightweight portable antenna for £25 you cant go wrong!

Right, back to the action...... there is a large collection of transmitting towers adjacent to the summit, i would advise the use of a filter, so i deployed the SOTABEAMS 2M bandpass filter, and as usual it worked fantastically.

Trig pics, and the Flush Bracket.....

so, all setup, quick spot.. and off we go! first to bite was M0MOL-Gareth in Barrow-in-Furness with a cracking signal 5/9 across the scale! (told you this was a good hill)... ended up with a total of 14 across Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales with the final call 40 mins after I started!

With that, it was time to go. but not before we had a quick look at the ROC nuclear warfare observation bunker on the way down. sadly not much of it left, and what is left has been filled with concrete!

The underground access hatch would have been on the top of this concrete block

Access Hatch from the other side, sadly missing the air vent and louvres

Extant green paint

The FSM tube, missing its metal cap

And sadly that is all that remains! I couldn't find the vent stack or the BPS tube sadly, but hey ho!

If you wish to know more about ROC posts WIKI is a good start and there is TONS of info on google!

Anyway, as usual thanks to the Chasers/SWLs and huge thanks to those who follow my ramblings!

73, 2E0JWA - Alan

SOTA in the dark! G/SP-015 - The Cloud. Trig #14 TP6366 WAB sq SJ96. 23/10/22

 SOTA in the dark?? Well.... the wife decided herself and her niece wanted to go to play Bingo and I dropped them off at the Bingo hall around 1715 (BST). all dropped off, i sat in the car and pondered what to do with myself for the next 3 and half or so hours till the needed collecting! Anyhow, I had all my portable kit in the car so decided to have a go at a SOTA in the dark! 

I needed an easy hill, one that wouldn't get too technical, could be done fairly quickly and preferably one I wouldn't have to put the antenna up! only 1 fitted this bill.... The Cloud! so off I went... just a smidge over an hours drive to get there after a satnav fail I was in the parking area at SJ907633, follow the track up the hill to the steps on the right, and follow your nose to the trig! now, let me talk about them steps.... They are HORRIBLE in my opinion, each step is a different height and shape from the previous, and its damn near impossible to get a rhythm going on them, and they seem to go on FOREVER! anyway, once up the steps its a well defined marked path for about 6 or so mins walking up to the Trig and Viewing area...

 No sparkling photography today, handheld night shots off my phone! Sorry!

*A quick important note about this summit* 

It is located on National Trust land, and sometimes the patrolling wardens do get funny about radio hams chucking big daft antennas and elaborate setups up on their hill! Permission is recommended if not discretion is a must! Keep it simple folks :)  that said I went up at 1900 on a dark Sunday night, i didn't reckon on there being an issue, and there wasn't 😂😂 

Didn't bother chucking the antenna up, went for a handheld activation.. spotted on the app and then called CQ.... Nothing.... UH OH!! this surprised me considering the views and the area's i was potentially transmitting over!

I had a pause, and decided to let the spot do its "thing" as i sat there, a HUGE lightning storm caught my eye to the east, over the hills.. I later found out it was over Leicester and it looked spectacular!

Ok, time for another CQ.... THANK THE LORD! there was life... first call 2E0LKC-Mark in Heald Green followed by his wife 2E0LMD-Anne. a quick recall produced 2E0NRL-Ethan in Sandbach and then finally 2E0DIJ-Duane in Prestwich. PHEW! Activation complete! WAHEY! few more CQs came to nought and the lightening storm appeared to be on the move and getting brighter, so a quick exit was decided upon. Ascend - Activate - Descend all done in 40mins perfect! so I hit the car, and headed back to the Bingo hall to collect the girls and arrived back with time to spare! Short and sweet, the plan worked!

As usual thanks to the chasers for the dedication to be listening at 1900BST on a Sunday night and coming back to me. 

Till next time 73 for now and cheers! Alan

Trig #13 Brown Edge TP1702 WAB sq SD90 24/09/22

 A DOUBLE Trig day! That rarest of days.. After Trig #12 we had a look at Brown Edge, its essentially overlooking the small town of Mossley adjacent to the large cross that stands over the village, just inside a farmers field! 

we parked at SD96202 03074 and took the public footpath just up the lane to the left, this leads you up a track into a field and you can see the trig at the top of the hill we just sort of winged it from there!

The farmer (im assuming) has re-painted the trig to look like the George cross, and I like it! 

Anyway, all calls hand held again due to my earlier forgetfulness.. Calls were VERY difficult, infact I thought the radio was dead TBH.. after 20 mins of calling I had Zero to show for it. I was about to give up, and had a sudden thought... DUANE! I knew 2E0DIJ was out and about so I jumped on the phone, turns out he was over Pendle direction in the car. he gave a shout on his car radio and BINGO! we were on, the day was saved!! 1 contact, trig activated.. Duane, you are a lifesaver! 

im not sure what it is about Saturday afternoons, they always seem hard work when trying to activate... 

The mighty FT4XE

Thanks for reading! 

Cheers, Alan - 2E0JWA

Trig #12 Slack Hall TP6012 WAB sq SD90 24/09/22

 Probably the second closest to my house and to my shame, I've only just done it 😂😂

Anyway, dragged the boy up there as we had a few hours to kill before i took him home to his mum.. Funny trig this, it seems so pointless! add that to the fact its buried in a hedge and tricky to spot its a bit of a PITA! accessible via Austerlands cricket club if its open, the trig us in the back hedge.. I accessed from the other side off  Back 'Oth Low Road park at the last houses and follow the tracks across the top of the quarry.

Trig located, I went 100% hand held (rookie mistake, I forgot the roach pole to mount the antenna on) we called, and called, and called, and called.. i was about to give it up when a call saved the day! 2E0LKC, Mark in Heald green followed by his wife Anne 2E0LMD.. day saved and 2 calls.. trig Activated!

Buried in the hedge

Some Curious Bovines!

Cheers Alan - 2E0JWA

Trig #11 Moss Moor (White Hill) TP4930 WAB sq SD91 29/08/22

 After the success of Standedge a few days before i had been trying to persuade Duane, 2E0DIJ to come try a trig point, and after some procrastination he agreed to come out! we selected Hare Hill, as its a fairly easy walk, and an area Duane is familiar with as he normally works /P DX from up there just not quite at the trig!

Anyhow, park in the car park at the top of the hill off the M62 Jnc 22, cross the road, and follow the Pennine Way.. EASY!

I set up my usual setup on the Trig, and Duane set up to the side. I went first to give him an example. Sadly not as many calls as a few days before, ended up on 4 M6DSV Shaun was the first into Bury and qualified the Trig. A fairly uneventful hour out, playing radio with a very good friend and his dog Maverick, Thanks Duane 😊

Some piccies

Fantastic afternoon, Cheers. Alan - 2E0JWA

TRIG #10 Standedge, TP6152 WAB sq SE01 27/08/22

 Another local one, stuck for something to do with my Son and my Niece I chucked them in the car "don't worry kids it only a little walk" now my lad loves a walk, my niece not so much.. infact if she has to do something physical away from WiFi for more then 5 mins, panic starts to set in!

Anyhow, this one is an old favourite, its above the village of my birth and childhood till the age of 20 - Diggle! its easy too, park the car where you can near Brun Clough Resr (the car park was closed at the time of activating) and follow the well marked paths to the Pennine way, keep following and you will find the trig.. EASY! 

Just look at them happy smiling faces! 😂😂

Anyway, we soon got the roach pole up and the antenna, and started calling, calls were thick and fast with a nice mini pileup M0ALA was the qualifying first call, QSOs were mainly into Lancashire and Yorkshire the FT4XE doing the business on 5W into the flowerpot antenna. the best call was G1PHN, Clee Hills near Ludlow.. I couldn't believe it! 120 miles on 5W into a home made antenna... the quick session ended with 10 calls and 1 very happy operator!

Anyhow, a great couple of hours out, with some amazing contacts!

Cheers, Alan - 2E0JWA

Trig #9 Hare Hill, Walney Island - Cumbria. TP3619 WAB sq SD26 24/07/22

 Each year I have a short break with the XYL up in Cumbria at my parents place on Walney Island. This is the 2nd highest spot on the island (Beacon brow is the highest at 21M ASL), located at far south end, and is a MASSIVE 16M ASL!! 

Its a bit of an odd place as there is a tower of unknown use on the site, I've hears several uses or the tower given over the years, from a radio beacon for shipping, to a light for the docks and military uses related to the large gun battery located at the south tip of the island. There is also a few local tales of the local Hams climbing it to attach portable antennas! 

Anyhow, some pictures...

Note the tower of unknown use, and the fire beacon stand, with he trig in-between

The FT4XE all hooked up and ready to go!

Anyway, I could have picked a better evening for it, it was grey, and threatening rain.. but I was there so I had a go! no sooner had I chucked the antenna up, it POURED down so i hurriedly called CQ on S20!

it took ages to get a response, in the end i was begging.. "cmon, there MUST be someone listening, I only need 1 contact to qualify the trig.." anyhow, to my surprise it worked! 2E1RAN, Rick in Clitheroe came back to me, music to my ears! the usual info was passed, and happy I de-rigged and made for the car...

Possibly a better trig for those using HF this one! but glad I ticked it off the list.

Cheers, Alan - 2E0JWA

OARC SOTA Day - G/SP-009 Hail storm Hill, SOTA #6 Trig #8 25/06/22

Full details - SOTA, Hail Storm Hill G/SP-009. WAB Sq SD81 Trig point TP3566 Hail Storm Ridge.

The OARC (Online Amateur Radio Club) is a free to join radio club, who encourage activity, this was one of those activity days, Organised by an OARC member to encourage SOTA operation and get people out portable operating!

Anyhow, I had originally planned to do Freeholds top G/SP-011 but somehow, I decided Hail storm would be better. I took some advice off Tom, M1EYP who suggested that the Trig point located at Top of Leach was in the Activation Zone, and makes an ideal activation point apparently the actual summit of Hail storm Hill is a boggy unpleasant mess! Tom also suggested a route to the summit from the village of Cowpe, however I noticed that it was also accessible from Rooley Moor Road AKA The Cotton Famine Road..

Time for a quick History lesson! The Cotton famine road got its name, when, during the American civil war there was a great Cotton Famine during the years 1861 - 1865. most of the mills of Lancashire were either on stop, or short time, and 1000s of mill workers were laid off. in order to receive poor relief men were "employed" to make improvements to the then Catley Lane. a total of 327,600 stone setts were hewn out of the local quarries on the route and laid to form a road. quite a feat! sadly some of the road is now damaged, and the setts stolen but large sections still exist and are open as a bridleway.

Right, back to the activation... I've always fancied a walk up the "Cotton Famine Road" so this was a perfect opportunity! I duly Alerted the activation on the SOTA system, and awaited the day..

The day was a warm, but not massively sunny (my first mistake!) warm enough for shorts (significant later on) so I ditched all my wet weather gear, packed snacks and plenty of water as well as my portable setup and headed up to the start of my walk. I decided to start at Catley Lane Head, parking the car at SD 86954 16092 and essentially follow the yellow brick road up hill from there!

The road surface varies from the yellow stone setts, to sections of none existence where the setts have been robbed out and can be VERY rough in places! interestingly some sections have long stones placed for cart wheels to run along, and still show the grooves of the carts that once plied thier trade over this bleak moor..

There are also some fantastic views down the valleys I was really enjoying this!

After an hour or so's walking I diverged off the track to find the trig, and located it easily, got setup, spotted and gave a CQ call..

it was pretty Windy up top, so I found a hole in the grass to lie in and get out the wind (mistake number 2). the calls came in fast totalling 17 2E0DIJ being the first. the calls covered a good area, into Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire the best being into Ulverston and near the end a S2S with Peter MW0PJE/P who was on GW/NW-062 - Hope Mountain. after 50 mins the calls tailed off, and I decided to pack up..

Now, remember from the top of the post, this was supposed to be the OARC SOTA day, so imagine my disappointment at not having an S2S with any other OARC member! that said, it was another SOTA and another Trig in the bag.

Logbook..

The descent was as uneventful as the Ascent, and equally enjoyable except my legs felt a bit funny.. sort of sensitive, i thought it somewhat odd maybe the grass i lay in had irritated my skin.. very odd!

it wasn't
until i got home, and realised my 2 mistakes! Balls, BURNT LEGS!!

these were sore for the best chunk of 2 weeks... Lessons learned!! Sunblock and not lying in the sun!

Another Great afternoon out, as ever thanks to the chasers and fellow activators always makes my day to see the contacts rolling in!

Cheers, Alan de 2E0JWA

Moel Famau GW/NW-044 TP0005, in a sunny gale! SOTA #5 TRIG #7 11/06/22

Being on a short break in wales, and having activated the nearest summits to where we stay previously I was at a bit of a loose end. anyhow, the XYL was hatching a plan to drag me to the weekend market at Towyn so i needed a plan, FAST!! after a twitter post, and a reply, Moel Famau GW/NW-044 was suggested as a relatively easy 2 pointer, and with the threat of a market in mind… i was off!

A 40 min drive from Towyn had me to the car park. On the way there I could see the tower looming on the hilltop.

Anyway, the walk up is a decent well marked track, with some fantastic views across and down the valley to the sea…

Continuing up the track, its about an hours walk (definitely less if you not fat and unfit like me)…

the only way is up!

Anyway, at the summit stands the remains of Jubilee tower, and a rather colourful Trig point, im led to believe it has been painted for the Eistefodd that recently took place in the area. Its also potentially the windiest summit I have ever been on! the wind was absolutely HOWLING!

It was at that point, i noticed a roach pole attached to the fence… DANG IT! someone's beaten me too it, and sure enough attached to the other end of the pole was a radio ham! (My apologies, i have forgotten your name and callsign) anyway, after exchanging pleasantries, i found he was working HF, i was going to work VHF so no problem! i set up on the fence, out of the wind and started calling CQ after spotting… Made 4 calls (LKC being the final) and DISASTER the gale force winds brought my antenna down! so after a short break to sort it out, I was back on the air 4 or 5 mins later!

14 contacts in total, with a nice s2s with Tom MQ1EYP on Gun G/SP-013 made for a pleasant activation! another 2 points, and a trig point in the bag!

Log…

Quick explore of the tower after a butty, and the obligatory selfies…

and the road back down again…

Brilliant afternoon, but im running low on easy North welsh summits now! haha

Thanks to all the chasers as usual, its great to hear you all!

And i hope to catch you all again on the air soon!

Alan - 2W0JWA

A Traffic jam, and Tal-Y-Fan - GW/NW-040. TP6307 SOTA #4 Trig #6 17/4/22

Full info.. SOTA GW/NW-040 Tal-Y-Fan. Wab SH77 WAL, TP6307

To conclude my long weekend in north wales, i decided on 1 last activation. Tal-Y-Fan, “the easiest 4 pointer in Wales” (allegedly) anyhow, the day was set and the weather was good. had a good study of the maps and previous reports and headed up to the parking point. bit of a problem on the way mind, as the traffic was terrible! 

Anyway, from the bottom it looks pretty reasonable for a portly chap like me, I know my limitations and im not going to risk injury for a few SOTA points. the decision was made to go for it!

7

I will admit I did find the climb a bit of a slog, but took my time and made it to the top, now… the top isnt actually the top! to gain access to the trig there is a double rocky scramble to get there, I had my doubts about it, but had a go, being careful to not go beyond my limitations, it was pretty tough TBH, but slowly and steadily i made my way to the trig, and it was totally worth it! the views off here are MEGA. I also had the advantage of pretty much having the summit to myself!

View over the great Orme, and Llandudno

after a breather i got set up, with the assistance of a handy fence pole to get the 6M pole up and the flowerpot i spotted, gave it a couple of mins and started calling CQ…

I had the all important 4 contacts logged in the 1st 6 mins… G1PIE in Preston, M7BIA/P on G/SP-004 Shining tor with an S2S, MW0CCG/P - Nick, near Moel Famau (but sadly not on the summit) and 2E0DIJ - Duane in Prestwich. the calls continued to pile in, another S2S later on with 2E0NRL - Ethan on G/SP-015 the cloud and ended up with an eventual total of 15, happy days!

One happy operator about to descend

But not before one last look at the epic view!

the descent was pretty uneventful, i did manage to avoid reversing most of the scrambles and picked an easier way down… and a quick chat with the locals before I got in the car and headed home! overall a very pleasing activation, and definitely worth he effort.. possibly one of my favourite SOTAs so far.

I think this one is called BAAAAAAARBRA....

As ever, thanks to all the chasers and OPS for the S2S QSOs!