Aye Gill Pike, G/NP-023 - 556m ASL - SD 720 886  - OS Explorer OL2 - 2 SOTA points           

After Baugh Fell-Tarn Rigg Hill G/NP-012 on Tuesday 30th December 2008, we drove back to the large parking area on the main road. "We'll just check if there's anything closer" I advised Jimmy as we headed along the road. Pulled in was a Land Rover with an antenna on it. We wondered if other SOTA activators were already on that hill.

   

We found the start of the byway, and there was room for me to back the car onto the roadside just by it. This certainly wasn't a driveable byway, like the one enjoyed earlier though! We pulled ourselves up the uneven grassy track and out onto the open fell. No the hard work was done for the day, but there remained another hour's march along the crest of the ridge as it gently rose to the summit. Two-thirds of the way up we met Geoff G6MZX and his wife, expressing surprise at how long a walk it was. I was thinking the same thing! But that obviously accounted for the Land Rover with aerial spotted down on the road.

   

We reached the summit an hour behind schedule at 4pm, in temperatures of -5 degrees. After setting up for 80m, we shared the Thai Green Chicken Curry soup, and Jimmy kicked off on 3.660MHz SSB. He only made four QSOs, but that was all he needed, so I took over and went on 3.557MHz CW. Here things were much brighter, and I got nine contacts. I missed Roy G4SSH, who was clearly heard calling, but didn't respond when I called him in.

   

After completing the packing away, it was nearly five o'clock, and about to go dark. We donned our headtorches, switched on the beams, and commenced the descent. Very soon, it was completely dark, but with a superb view of the stars above.  Jimmy led the after-dark descent confidently and ably, delivering us at the car in one hour. Good show.  We now needed just Wild Boar Fell G/NP-007, Hoove G/NP-024 and Cracoe Fell G/NP-032 to complete the NPs.  Many thanks to all who worked us.