We had first activated this one in November 2006. But despite deployment of the FT-817 and the SOTA Beam, we made only one contact. The weather was awful, and the presence of static rain rendered things nigh on impossible. We made one contact each, and that was it. Richard G3CWI, who was with us that day, got his QSOs using 40m CW, but even he struggled through the static rain.

   

So although we both had the 'SOTA Unique' for this one, it was "unfinished business" and we wanted the 2 points each as well!  On Saturday 26th July 2008, from Watch Hill G/LD-054, we returned to the A66 and headed East. We looked out for the A5091 as a 'marker' for we knew our turning was the next right after that.  We pulled in by the track into the forest at NY407247, and set off along what we recalled to be a short easy stroll. However, that it most certainly was not. We were tired out by our exertions of the week so far, but furthermore, we had managed to completely forget about the punishingly steep hauls up slippery grassy paths that were required. Nonetheless we laboured our way up around by the edge of the wood, and reached the summit just after a quarter to midday local.

After contacts with John G0TDM, and a S2S with Terry G0VWP/P on Fairfield G/LD-007, things went a little quiet. On the radio front that is. On the hill, thinks were getting pretty lively, with determined midges attacking us from all angles. Despite the hot and humid weather, I was into full waterproofs as soon as I could, with my hood up, yet still they wanted more pieces of me! It was quite a relief when the 3rd and 4th contacts each came in, and we were able to escape the midge hell.

   

It was so hot, that we decided to brave the swarms while removing our coats and over trousers, and then leg it off the summit. Jimmy got into a right pickle, tangling up his coat and then dropping the fishing pole from his rucksack, the sections cascading out onto the fell. As these mishaps occurred, Jimmy was dancing animatedly trying to stave off the midges. I told him it was like watching an episode of Mr Bean, which he took in good spirit!

The midges followed us off the summit for about 50 metres, but then gave up, thank goodness. What a horrible experience. We made sure we got down the steeper sections safely and returned to the car. Although we had made good time on the day so far, it was definitely too late to consider trying to shoehorn in Loughrigg Fell G/LD-047, so we made for our last summit of the expedition, Gummer's How G/LD-050.  Thanks to the following stations, worked on 2m FM with 5 watts: