Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Burton Hill 2006

 

This really was pushing it, but to give ourselves the best chance of completing the 24 WB summits in the six days available, we really needed to claim a fifth activation today, Wednesday 30th August 2006.  We had earlier managed to book ourselves in at Leominster Youth Hostel, so we were assured of somewhere to sleep, and it was in the town centre, so getting something to eat late on shouldn't be a problem.  From Aconbury Hill G/WB-024, we drove around the west of Hereford and picked up the A438 then B4320 past Calver Hill and to the start of the path at SO 389 494.  A little further down the road was a pull-in on the opposite side where we left the car.

        Arrival at the summit trig on Burton Hill            Activation point in the clearing

We ascended the steep track past Shoals Bank, with a sense of nervous anticipation of our fifth summit in a single day.  With this one, we would have crossed some off the potentially most difficult summits to activate (on VHF), leaving the probability good that we would achieve our overall aim by the coming Sunday.  However, we also knew that this summit would be the most wooded, and the most difficult to find a suitable take-off for VHF amateur radio.  Towards the top of a steep and tiring climb, we swerved around to the left and looked in the heavily wooded area for the final path to take us up to the summit plateau.

The plateau on top was rather large, and was completely cleared of trees, except for its perimeter, which still boasted a thick layer of forest.  Having not noticed any opportunities to wave the antenna through the trees at an edge of the plateau, we opted to get as close to the centre of the felled area as possible.  For a long while, the contacts did not come, and we began to worry.  The minutes ticked away and the light began to fade.  However, after 7.30pm local, we began to hear other stations in QSO around the band.  We tried to invite ourselves onto working frequencies, but seemingly could not be heard.  Eventually however, this did work and we both made contact with 2E0GOM/P in Birmingham.  Frank G3RMD had heard us, so he called in and we QSY'd  and both spoke to him too.  Frank kindly then tipped off some of his local amateur radio friends, and two of them were able to work us.  What a relief to get this summit qualified!

                Jimmy activating in the failing light

Many thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM:

2E0GOM/P 5 miles N of Birmingham Charlie 5 watts T, J
G3RMD Cheltenham Frank 2.5 watts T, J
G4ERP Bishops Cleeve Richard 1 watt T, J
G4FUJ Cheltenham Graham 5 watts T, J

We just about managed to pack up before the light faded sharply, but then we were resigned to having to pick our way down this summit in the dark.  With the last shreds of daylight at about 8.45pm, we got off the summit area and onto the forest tracks, but now the onset of night coupled with the heavy woodland overhead cast us into pitch darkness.  For some inexplicable reason, I head left headtorches in the car, but Jimmy used the illuminated screen on his mobile 'phone to guide us through the most difficult sections.  This part of the track was steep and stony, so it was a relief when we reached the tarmac access road to lead down to the car.

I drove into Leominster for about 10pm, where we found a chippy and an off licence.  Two fish suppers and a bottle of beer were in order, and we took these to the youth hostel to devour before retiring to bed.  It had been another long, exhausting, but ultimately satisfying day.  I set the alarm early again, having agreed with Jimmy to begin tomorrow with a dawn raid of Hegdon Hill G/WB-023.