On Sunday morning, 17th April 2005, after another hearty breakfast, we reloaded the car to create the space for Steve and Bobbie, and set off for our summit. Steve G1INK set off for Whernside G/NP-005, where he was later joined by Phil M3SKN, the Essex 3 went for Lovely Seat G/NP-030 while the OZEs went to Ingleborough G/NP-005. We parked at SD779880 where the bridleway leaves the road at Crosshills Wold, and is due NW of Great Knoutberry Hill G/NP-015. Nigel 2E0NHM set up the chaser station for the day. We set off in differentiated groupings - up ahead was the fast pairing of Steve M0SGB and Jimmy, then came the middle group of Myke and Shirley, while finally there was the slow group of myself, Liam and Bobbie. It was great to walk with Bobbie as she was great company and meant that Liam didn't moan and chunter like he occasionally does when he has me to himself.

This ascent had more false summits than I thought possible this side of the Alps, but Liam plodded on giving each waymarker a number of taps with his walking pole according to how many he had counted. It became a little tedious towards the top when I had to wait while he tapped it seventeen times, but not as bad as when he'd realised he'd missed a couple further down - and retraced his steps to get them! At the top, the only shelter was provided by a stone seat which was immediately occupied by Jimmy and Liam. There was little opportunity to spread out on this hill, so simultaneous 2m operation was not an option. While I waited my turn, as Shirley was operating, I erected the fishing pole and 40m dipole. The bottom section of the pole then fractured in the wind, but I was able to re-erect it minus this section. I needn't have bothered - I didn't manage to make a single contact on 40m. The summit was qualified however on 2m using just the Yaesu FT-817 and rubber duck. I made S2S contacts with Steve and Phil on Whernside G/NP-005 and Rob G4RQJ/P on Calf Top G/NP-022, but others such as the Essex gang on Lovely Seat G/NP-030, Colin M0CGH/P on Horse Head Moor G/NP-021 and the OZEs on Ingleborough G/NP-005 all seemed to pack up after working Shirley, so they went into the SWL log only.

As I was about to commence operations, Alan M1EYO arrived on the summit, and he joined the queue to use 2m! He made his contacts as I was calling CQ fruitlessly on 7.060 MHz SSB, and we set off together. We soon inevitably split with Jimmy and Alan racing ahead and for once myself lagging behind Liam. This was because more radio opportunities presented themselves, with a batch of stations working me for chaser points before I was more than 25m below the summit (some of whom had just descended the same hill) and a S2S with Simon M1AVV/P on Top o' Selside G/LD-048. Don G0NES/M was also worked, but only after rotating the FT-817 horizontally!

As we were approaching the parking area, we saw Myke and Nigel and Gwendolyn head off. Shirley and Alan remained, but neither knew the location of the cafe meet up to round off the weekend. I tried calling on S20 for this information, but could not get hold of it. In the meantime, Steve and Bobbie, having descended Great Knoutberry Hill earlier, had now dropped into Dentdale and began climbing the ridge across to Aye Gill Pike G/NP-023. Shirley and I remained at Crosshills Wold to work them as they reached the summit. Steve qualified the activation with five contacts, after which Bobbie completed possibly the fastest activation in SOTA history, four contacts in two minutes from MX0RCH/P, M1EYP/M, GX4BJC/P and M0YLS/M.

I still couldn't ascertain the location of the cafe being descended upon, so I decided to head off for home. I had another good chat with Steve now descending from Aye Gill to Sedburgh, completing a rather impressive day's walk, and later Keith G0OXV and Mike G4BLH while on the M6. Shirley and I reconvened for a coffee at Charnock Richard services, and so ended the final social element of the weekend.

Jimmy and I agreed that this had probably been the best SOTA YH weekend so far. It was certainly the best hostel, where the staff, food and facilities were all excellent, and the ability to socialise in the lounge. We did some good walks, and Liam more than coped with them. Our thanks to Myke G6DDQ for the conception, organisation and admin of yet another superb SOTA YH weekend. I look forward to many more.  

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM - Don on 5 watts, Simon on 2.5 watts and the rest on 500mW: