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Birks Fell, G/NP-031 - 610m ASL - SD 918 763 - OS Explorer OL30 - 4 SOTA points
This weekend went almost completely to plan, other than I didn't really pay
much attention to the geographical viability of my intended summits and
accommodation! Jimmy faultlessly navigated us to the hamlet of Litton, which is between
Kettlewell and Halton Gill, and surrounded by Fountains
Fell G/NP-017, Pen-y-ghent G/NP-010,
Horse Head Moor G/NP-021 (deceased) and Birks Fell
G/NP-031 (newly born). It was the latter that we were here for, and we were soon
ambling up the bridleway away from the pub, in cheerfully mild and bright
weather. A few fields later was our cue to turn left, following the route directly up
the hill. It was not particularly long nor steep, but a sustained effort was
still required. Coming down the other way were hoards of mountain bikers, each
trying - and failing to negotiate a particularly stony, loose and steep section
with putting a foot down. I remarked to the penultimate cyclist that none of the
group had achieved it, which resulted in him carrying hi bike back up the slope
to repeat his effort every time he himself fell short! He got it on the third
attempt. Upon cresting the summit ridge, I glanced right to a trig point a short
distance away, and left to the cairn on the true summit, over a kilometre away.
This whole stretch was comfortably in the activation zone, so I went with Liam
to set up at the 607m trig point, while Jimmy strolled off alone to capture the
610m true summit on camera. By the time he returned, I had made plenty of
contacts on 2m SSB, and he took over, eventually qualifying on 2m FM. Liam and
myself took over the soup, which was a combination of tins of Highlanders Broth
and Scotch Broth. S2S contacts were conspicuous by their absence given the high
levels of SOTA activity today. The descent was particularly lovely, with the sun lighting up the beautiful steep-side limestone-laced dales. This was a fine start to a fine weekend. Thanks to the following stations all worked on 2m with 5 watts:
Upon returning to the car, we drove across through Kettlewell, and up to Tor Dyke for a late afternoon hike on Great Whernside G/NP-008. |
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