6 Sota summit weekender!! (part 1) G/SP-010 Winter hill. TP0701 Rivington 4/9/24

 Ok, ok I know the 4th september wasn't a weekend day. I did however have this planned for the weekends adventures, its just I was working in the area, and I managed a dinner time finish..  the weather was decent so I thought what the hell! 

My plan was always to ascend from the Belmont side, the path seems to be a decent balance between steep and walkable! 

If im honest, it looks alot worse than it actually is the path is well made and in reasonable condition, and I was soon on the top.

once up top, You arrive at the tarmac service road for the transmitters and swing to the right  a few more 100 yards walk, and you will find the trig point, The Trig isnt named after the hill, and is called Rivington TP0701. this seems to cause much confusion amongst trig enthusiasts and baggers alike!

the feelings of antenna inadequacy over, I set to activating. given the fact it was an opporunist activation, i had none of my usual kit, infact I ascended in steel toe work boots, and a luminous yellow work coat! this meant, it was the handheld a Nagoya rubber duck, and luckily the SOTAbeams filter for 2M band! Game on!

Got on the air for 1330bst 1230utc and quickly got M0CQE - Paul in the log. followed by 7 more QSOs giving me 8 in the log. but a storm was brewing and threatening rain, so I decided to quit while I had a chance of getting down in the dry! so I headed for the car, quick selfie and away back to the car!

A great activation for a weekday afternoon, as usual thanks to all the chasers without you guys we couldnt do what we do!

To be continued in part 2!

Alan

The Fear - Kinder scout G/SP-001 TP6378 (the Edge) 8/6/24

With hog roast weekend nearing closer, and fancying a piece of the S2S action, I spoke with my good friend Andy M7BOA and we decided to have a go at Black Hill (G/SP-002) this was, however, despite my posting an alert going to be the subject of a Denby Dale RC Field day station, that was announced with a week to go to activation day… Denby dale were very polite about it by the way, but We decided to step aside and re-plan for another summit. so plans were changed, and alerts altered! we decided in G/SP-001 Kinder Scout!!

Now, many of you will remember, last time I attempeted Kinder Scout, I ended up throwing myself in a gully on Ashop moor and having to be rescued by mountain Rescue with a smashed leg! this is something that weighed heavily on my mind, in more ways than one, its what kept me off the hills for most of 2023, and left me with a feeling of unfinished business… but this also stirred a new feeling in me, something I have never experienced going onto the hills… The Fear! but with a week to go at this point, I put it to the back of my mind and we made our plans…

The plan was, myself and my lad William would go via the route I came a cropper on 18 months ago. Snake pass summit, over Ashop moor and up the corner of Kinder, then follow the path along towards Kinder downfall, turning left just after Sandy Heys, to activate at the trig poinf at SK077893 - The Edge! for this walk i Reckoned about 1 hour and 20 mins (big mistake, more later) And after the activation follow the same route back. Andy M7BOA was travelling by train and was going to Solo up from Edale via Grindslow and Crowden tower, accross the downfall then meet us at the trig, with a return straight down the P/Way via Jacobs ladder and Upper Booth. All we needed now was the weather!!

the morning of the activation was upon as, and with an early start to collect William from his Mum’s we were up at snake pass head for around 0800, we were met with a heavy mist and wet weather with poor visability and miserable conditions, now if i hadnt read the mountian weather reports and knew it was going to clear up, at that point the activation would have been off, we agreed to re-asses the weather the other side of Ashop moor before we made the ascent onto Kinder! now i reckoned on half an hour for Ashop moor, its fairly flat going on stone slabs, and with the fear hanging haevily on me we gingerly set off along the slab pathway that was literally my downfall last time…

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The slabs are endless and punishing made more so by the conditions, but we were soon past the gully I came a cropper on, pausing for thought as we went it was at this point the fear ws at its wost, but i gingerly stepped accross the gully, and made it to the other side safely… just like that the fear lifted, like a weight coming off me, I finally felt free of the curse of 18 months ago! at that we pressed on, in pretty horrific conditions. Driving rain and a proper wind chill mader this feel like a winter bonus activation, I kept having to remind myself we were in June! But slowly, and thankfully the cloud began to lift and we could see the Behemoth that is Kinder Scout looming out of the mist.

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Ashop Moor was a huge underestimation on my part, i think the ZigZagging of the stone slabs robbed time, and added un-neccecary distance it had took us over an hour to reach the Tee junction at Mill Hill, but with the weather improving as predicted we decided to press on, cross the Col to the bottom of the ascent to Kinder, and then up the steep Scramble to the top! by this point the P/Way path has been joined by other paths coming up the hill, and its got alot busier with other walkers, which is re-assuring! we pressed on up the Charged Rocks and were rewarded with fantastic views! Notice how the clouds have gone… quite a contrast!

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By this stage we were well late for our alerted time, but making good progress on tired legs we located the fences that marked the way up to the trig, and after a bit of an awkward navigation we located the trig, sat on its plinth! by now, over an hour late, I decided due to time constraints to forget the HF, and concentrate on VHF so the Slim G was deployed and the FT4X hooked up and the activation was on!

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Straight into the S2S contacts from North wales I rapidly got the 4 needed to Qualify the activation, and ended up with 13 S2S and 17 all told, not massive, but i only had about 25 mins, as we needed to get back! I was a bit gutted not to have more time, i could have easily doubled that total I would have thought but hey ho! We needed to get back!

M7BOA (left) and myself

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Some idiot on a trig!

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The way back was relatively uneventful, just very busy with walkers till we got to Ashop moor, the slog across the moor was even worse on the way back, on extremely tired legs and bad cramps… but eventually 2 hours and 10 mins after leaving the trig we were safely back at the car EXHAUSTED!!

I really did underestimate the scale of this walk, I reckoned on an hour and a half up but it took 2 1/2 hours almost the same back… but I conquered it! I also realised I had made the same mistake the day I fell, and maybe the fall saved me from a worse fate, as I would have been benighted in a snowstorm on Kinder… not good! but it doesnt do to dwell on these things…

Thanks to everyone I worked, and the usual Chasers, without you guys we wouldnt do what we do!

Alan & William

Battling Gun - G/SP-013 - TP3538 29/03/24

My lovely Wifey decided that she wanted to go to Bingo, with her pal and wanted to be dropped off in Manchester near Belle Vue at 1715… given that it was now 1500 that didnt leave me alot of time. So a plan was hastily formed to have a quick trip up the Gun, i should be able to drive there, activate, and get back to the car before we lost complete daylight. and given its a fairly straightforward half mile wander up a well defined track a headtorch descent wasnt the end of the world! the weather had been fairly decent here all day, and so I reckoned the going would be ok, with no major issues!!

Quick activation gear was packed, and the Girls dropped off to (try) and win us some money I was on my way to the Gun! G/SP-013. all was well, as I passed through the town of Macclesfieldbut as we drove up the Leek road, the heavens OPENED! proper biblical rain… ooooohhhhh i was chatting with my mate on 4M FM at the time and distinctly remeber saying “if this doesnt clear up soon, im calling it off” anyhow, as quickly as it started was as quick as as it stopped, with warming spring sunshine and blue skies behind it, I decided to press on.

As I arived at the parking area, I could see the remnants of a hail storm settled on the road, but it was fast dissapearing, but there was ALOT of water on the road… i had a quick look at the track and the bottom bit by the gate was a quagmire, but the rest form this position looked easy going, so the gear was grabbed and off i went! Quagmire was an UNDERSTATEMENT it was a horrible wet mud pit that tried to suck my trekking poles into its black depths, but after some careful footwork i was accross and on the track proper. Now this was to be the HARDEST virtually flat 1/2 mile i have EVER walked, the mud and water was constant and never ending, and what should have been a 10 min bounce to the top turned into a half hour battle with the bog!! however, i would come oput triumphant!

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud…

Anyhow, the twighlight was fast approaching and in the distance in incoming squall, I needed to do this and do it FAST! I chucked the roach pole up on the trig point, whipped the Slim G up on it, and cracked on… 10 contacts in 11 mins, that’ll do!

Everybody loves a Slim G!

Selfie time!

With the rain spit spotting as i packed my final bits, and donned my head torch we were off to do battle again! unsuprisingly things hadnt improved much, but the descent was slightly quicker (about 20 mins) than the ascent! after again crossing the mud pit of doom, I was elated to be back at the car! gear packed and off to find food…

Muddy…

Great little evening out, and ill be back on the Gun, i can see it being a great little spot on a nice summers evening in the dry!

Thanks to all the Chasers, with a special mention to Paul @M0CQE First in the log, and for later checking I was down safe by whatsapp. thankyou buddy!

73 all, till next time!

Alan

21 & 29/10/23 - A BOTA completion, and a bonus trig to trig..... B/G-0944 Crossland Moor and TP2622 Crossland heath.

 Unfortunately due to "life" I haven't been as active as Id hoped on activating the bunkers, i am quite lucky here, that I am within half an hours drive of several bunkers, but settled on the one at Crossland Moor, Huddersfield as my first one.

The Bunker is located in front of the Huddersfield Observatory, and has sadly been demolished, or rather the surface features have been, I'm unsure if the bunker its self is still underground. 

Anyhow, the bunker rues stipulate an activation is allowed within 1Km of the bunker site, and this one affords a nice easy Layby where you can sit in the car and fill yer boots! 

I first activated the Bunker on the 21/10/2023 on HF, using the little Xeigu G106 and an EFHW on 40M, but I ROYALLY messed up my timing, Worked all Germany weekend and the usual big station contesters were making life VERY difficult, with my little 5W QRP station! I persevered and with some internet assistance managed 17 calls, including a few into France and Belgium, but sadly short of the 25 needed to qualify a bunker as activated. I gave up in the end, as the band conditions were worsening by the second... 

Now this is where the rules work to an activators advantage, you dont have to do all 25 qualifying contacts in 1 session so I planned a return at some point...

I returned on the 29/10/23, I did take the HF gear, but planned on doing the activation on VHF, using the car antenna and the usual FT4XE handheld, I made a start calling on the 2M calling frequncey, but calls were slow! I needed 8 to qualify the bunker, and boy did I struggle!

The first out of the bag was G6XBF - Walt and then M7GDE - Andy K in Kippax, north Leeds. who proceeded to text his radio friends and DX groups he knew of to try and get me over the line, Thanks Andy!

I got a few more in the log, and then spoke to Paul, M0AIA/P who was at a trig point, we got talking and he mentioned there was a trig near to the bunker! A golden opportunity for a trig to trig... he helped me over the line with my last 3 contacts, and a change of antenna to the slim G helped AGAIN to get the last couple in the log, happy with 25 uniques, it was tick tick... bunker activated! 

Trig point TP2622 - Crossland heath

Bunker done, I was off to the trig point, its literally a few mins walk from the road, Paul had kindly agreed to hang around for a trig to trig. so i made my way over with the handheld, and called "trig to trig, trig to trig 2E0JWA/P" and we did it! A VHF trig to trig TP2622 Crossland heath to TP3676 Haw Cliff Top .. had a little QSO from the trig, and with the light failing and the temperatures dropping rapidly I made a dart back to the car!

A really nice trig point, in a picturesque location made a nice end to the activation.
Special thanks to the Bunkers on the Air crew, for setting up and managing a fantastic scheme, long may it continue! Andy K M7GDE for Rallying the troops and Paul M0AIA for telling me about the trig, passing some of his calls to me so I could get over the line, and for hanging around so we could get the trig to trig. Sometimes I am humbled by the amateur radio community's willingness to help others and keep the spirit of amateur radio alive..

Till next time 73s - Alan

POTA - Peak District National Park G-0048 - A foggy activation! 16/09/23

 Still on the now long road to leg recovery, and owning a new radio I have been itching to do SOMETHING for a few weeks now... I had the thought of a potentially easy SOTA on the Gun, and then the Cloud, but the weather looked like it was turning and it was decided that maybe my fitness isnt quite there to deal with crappy weather!

Not fancying another Mountain Rescue, myself and my son (William) decided a POTA might be a nice idea. Living on the edge of the Peak District national park has the advantage that we don't have to go far to have a play! anyway, we decided that Holme Moss car park might be a handy spot for some QRP HF action.

As you can see the weather was pretty crappy on the tops, and we were glad we didnt attempt SOTA! We managed to get my pole up and the EFHW thanks to a handily positioned fence, there is a pole on the end of the wire.. Honestly there is! 😂😂

EFHW up, and radios connected to the battery and the bits and bats, it was time to have a go! 40M was the weapon of choice, and a spot on the POTA site, and another on the WAB group soon produced some calls, I got 3 in on 7097 but then the perils of operating QRP kicked in and I got wiped out by a station who either couldn't hear me, or could hear me and decided that he wanted the frequency anyway by tuning up, and then calling CQ on the frequency....... needless to be said I wasn't too pleased!

A scan about the band showed a space on 7108.500, so I spotted my new location and was soon into some great contacts, Lincolnshire, Devon, London, Leicestershire and Norfolk.. all on 5W! then the surprise for the day, PD1CW, Patrick in the Netherlands! Williams jaw dropped, he couldn't believe it! Anyhow, after 12 contacts on HF we were getting cold, so we decided to pack up the HF gear.. A successful activation! operating from the boot of the car.

After we packed up, I wasnt QUITE ready to give up yet, so i stuck the 2M filter on the handheld and made some calls on the car antenna on VHF! another 10 local QSOs, predominantly Leeds & Bradford filled the log nicely for a total of 22, and a completed activation! While sat in the car operating VHF William got a bit bored, but something pulled in the car park that woke him up and got him all excited!

A Rally Replica Skoda! he went running over camera in hand, and took the picture below. it was nice to be fair, and the owner was a nice guy too!

That done, it was time to go home.. 22 contacts in the bag, 12 of them on the little Xeigu at 5W.. Cant wait to use this setup on a summit proper im absolutely over the moon with its small but mighty performance! as usual, thanks to all the Chasers new and old...

73, till next time! Alan - 2E0JWA

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