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

Freeholds top - G/SP-011 TP4100 - WABsq SD92. The ONLY operator in England!

The sister in law had a pre planned visit to the Rochdale infirmary for a small procedure, that was going to take about 4 hours.... hmmmm.... Freeholds top! G/SP-011.

Its only about a 20-25 min run from the infirmary at rochdale to Sharneyford, and the start of the track up to freeholds top so it was cracking idea!.... except for 1 thing..... the weather! The hourly weather was hastily pulled up on the PC and what do you know? dry from 1300 :laughing: :laughing: its VERY unusual for the WX gods to act favourably on me, but hey.. ill take it!

The start of the walk is a nice made up track called Limers gate, in the Village of Sharneyford a couple of miles East of the town of Bacup, but be warned it somewhat luls you into a false sense of security! and I somewhat understimated the time it would take me (and my still gammy ankle) to get up the track to the trig point! further up the track its made up of huge bricks and full of holes and chunks, that in the wet made the track quite hard going in places, with water completely covering the track over for large parts, facilitating the need to either wade or find an alternative! The path veers right near the end, and climbs steeply onto the moor plateu, with the wet weather this was by far worse than the track, and "bog hopping" was the order of the day, for the final tortuous 200M to the trig!

Just as i opened the gate to the trig area, lady luck ran out.. the heavens OPENED! So a quick operation on the "rubber duck" was called for, I fired up VK portalog, spotted gave it a min or 2 and then called CQ, Quickly Paul @M0CQE came back to me, for number one in the log.... "you know my friend, you are the only operator out in England today according to the spots" he informed me! Mind you, i wasnt suprised with the weather! it soon became apparent that paul was the only person who could hear me on the rubber duck, so with the rain pouring i stuck the trusty mast and Spectrum slim G up, and made another call.... BOOM! Straight into 3 more M7ELO - John, G1JPV - Tony and G6XBF - Walt! gotta admit it was a releif to hit the 4 mark, it was more of a releif for the rain to be stopping too! I added 6 more to the log for a total of 10, that'll do!

Anyhow the descent was more of the same, bog hopping, ankle crunching fun and it thankfully stopped dry! if i go again, i might try it from Shawforth next time.. steeper, but shorter!

Oh, and im now on 20 Activator points! haha

Thanks to all the Chasers and those taking the time to read.

Alan

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

First HF activation G/SP-004 Shining Tor TP5950 25/11/23

No idea why i forgot to post this one.. Anywhoo!

As pretty much all of you know by now, I have been off the mountains since my unfortunate accident on the way to Kinder Scout at the beginning of the year. Having missed pretty much all of the summer SOTA season and with my leg much improved, I have been ITCHING to get out! I also reckoned it was time to test the Little Xeigu G106 out on a proper activation…

A window of opportunity presented itself, and after spending most of the week watching the mountain weather, Saturday looked suprisingly pleasent! it also had the advantage of being a weekend when i had my son, so he could be roped in to help!

The day was pleasant and although it was cold, it was lovely in the sunshine. I couldnt have asked fr better walking conditions although imnot going to lie, I was nervous… conditions were spookily similar when it all went so wrong on Kinder! but I put this to the back of my mind as we set off up the track from the Cat and Fiddle. Now i must confess, I did cheat slightly, William was my Sherpa!

Anyhow, summit reached and time was knocking on… we were late (as usual for me) so we rapidly set up the EFHW to the summit finger post and got the G106 hooked up to the SLAB, found a peaceful frequency on 40M… chucked up a spot on SOTAwatch, gave it 2 mins and put a call out…

9 contacts later,i got wiped out by QRM and loads of stations suddenly deciding to use my frequency,sometimes QRP has its drawbacks! Either that or some people are just plain ignorant, but hey ho, I was not too dissapointed though! 9 contacts meant for the first time it was activation complete on 40M… happy days!

I left William packing up the HF gear, and decided on a quick VHF activation on the handheld with the NR770 antenna, mainly because I wanted a 10th contact for the POTA! This lead to another 7 in the log, but I soon had to call time on the activation, honestly i could have worked stations all day!

The sun was fading RAPIDLY as by now it was 1530 and i didnt fancy a walk off by head torch we gathered the gear and made our way back to the Cat and Fiddle just in time for the sun to set.. Perfect!

This is fantastic SOTA mountain I reckon ill be back to spend a whole afternoon up there in summer playing radio and making contacts. It was honestly such a fantastic feeling to be working contacts form a SOTA summit again, after the fat end of a year off the hills... Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support, and the Chasers I worked, you guys make SOTA what it is!

Till next time, 73 - Alan & William!

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

Broken leg vehicle assisted 6 Trig day! with a bonus HEMA.. 26/02/23

Getting pretty peed off stuck indoors with my smashed up leg, Duane (2E0DIJ) came up with a plan to activate 6 vehicle accessible trig points around Greater Manchester! as plans go, this wasn't a bad one, and obviously I was well up for it! a date was set for the 26/02/23 and we were off! 

WAB Trig #18 TP1071 WABSq SJ79 Barton Moss

First of the day, Barton Moss located up a private road near the AirField, we decided forgiveness was easier then permission and rocked up activate the trig!

 Me Making a dash on sticks for the trig! 😂😂

Anyhow, this one is a leaner, and is slowly toppling... 

1 contact made, 2E0LMD Anne in Heald green! (Anne and her partner Mark feature quite heavily in this story). as i was completing the contact the landowner came along to ask what we were up too (fair enough) he was a sound fella! good to have a natter matey! 5 mins later, we were off to the second one of the day..

WAB TRIG #19 TP2030 WABSq SJ78 Castle Hill

Interesting trig this one, being in view of the runways at Manchester Airport.

I absolutely promise you, there is a plane landing in this pic! 

Quick fire contacts with M0XMX/P who was up on the Gun G/SP-013 performing a SOTA activation (bonus chase FTW), 2E0LMD Anne (again, told you!) and M0CQE Paul in Oldham. Duane made his contacts separately, and with that we were off again.. no messing around with these! 

WAB TRIG #20 TP3640 WABSq SJ88 Harrison Pit

Not an easy one to locate this one, we had to use the Trig FindAR app to help us, its below road level in a field, but not to worry! we could operate well within the 30M limit from the car... slightly dodgy parking so no messing with this one, quick in and out smash and grab job! 😂😂

Quick contact with Mark this time, in Heald Green.. 2E0LKC, and off we went!

WAB TRIG #21 TP3920 WABSq SJ88 Hill Top Farm

Another one up Private farm tracks in this case, you have to go through the farms yard.. tried to call to request permission, but no answer.. so like last time we went for it! We got busted in the farms yard, but the guy was sound and allowed us to continue 😄 another one where we had to use the TRIGFINDAR app, buried in a hedge just off the track is the trig... again, the 30M rule was used here, I think we were 16M away from the trig point. not wanting to block the farms track, it was fast again... 2E0LKC - Mark in heald green was the contact! less tan 5 mins on this one.. time to go again!

WAB TRIG #22 TP4668 WABsq SJ98 Marple Ridge

Spectacular spot, plenty of altitude... could have played radio up here all day, but the pillar is on someone's drive in a cul-de-sac.. 

the usual quick call and we got 2W0JYN Stephen in Rhos, nice and strong full scale too! fantastic! and with that, the curtain twitchers were starting, so off we went again!

WAB TRIG #23 TP6798 WABsq SJ99 Werneth Low

Located in a gatehole Just off Cowlishaw Road, this was to be the last one of the day. usual quick call and Mark 2E0LKC replied.. job done!

6 trigs in just over 2 hours... and my 20 activated certificate too! Fabulous day out.... good company and some right laughs! 

But, you said there was a bonus HEMA?? I did! and for that you will have to wait till tomorrow evening.. sorry! [NB - Post will be 1700 on the 03/03/23 - Alan]

Thanks as usual to the chasers, its great fun working you all, and a special thanks again to Duane 2E0DIJ for being the driver and photographer!

Cheers, till tomorrow! 

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

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