This summit was activated by me, accompanied by Jimmy on Saturday 22nd November 2003.   

After a tricky steep descent from Dale Head G/LD-020 to the coll, we each consumed an energy bar and made the ascent of Robinson pretty quickly. Just five QSOs were made here - G3XWB/P, G6DDQ/P, G7LFC, G7DIE and G3WTB - before we packed up to complete the walk with the descent to Buttermere.  This proved to be more difficult than originally thought. The descent from Robinson to the moor was very steep, and the scree filled path that struck brutally and directly down did not appeal to me whatsoever. Instead we followed the dotted line on the map that was fairly well defined taking a less direct zigzag route down to the moor. The moor itself was very boggy, and so any hopes of catching up time here were dashed. The sun began to set, the daylight fading, and so we gathered out new headtorches from the rucksacks. The elastic on Jimmy's snapped immediately, even though I had prepared all the adjustments at home during the week. My improvised repair worked, and we were on our illuminated way.

At the other side of the moor, we couldn't find the path over the boggy stream for the final descent to Buttermere. We considered following another sheep track indicated on the map that would take us north to the road.  As we headed that way, everywhere we got to still seemed to be much higher than the road, and potentially close to some dangerous edges in the dark. So we headed back to the edge of the moor and this time, managed to find our way across to the path down to Buttermere. Jimmy had been "worried" that he wouldn't get to use his new headtorch in the dark, so he was rather delighted with the situation. I obviously was not, but from this point managed to take good decisions and navigate well. One definite bonus was the stunning night sky, free of cloud and light pollution. It was wonderful.

Just after 6.00pm we were on the road down to Buttermere, where we went in the Bridge Hotel to try and blag a lift, or at least get a taxi. It seemed neither were available, and so I needed to get in touch with the group back at the hostel to inform of my lateness and assure them of our safety. Unfortunately, Myke had no reception on his mobile in Grasmere, and the directory enquiries service available from the payphone was a disgrace. Nearly a tenner I threw down that 'phone for this premium rate service (the only '118' that could be used from this payphone), only to eventually get a number that proved to be a fax number.

At least I did then manage to persuade a kind chap to give us a quick run up to Honister, from where we drove back down via Keswick and back to the hostel around 8.30pm. The hostel staff has kindly put aside a couple of bowls of excellent homemade beef stew for us. Jimmy went to bed, and straight to sleep, while I nipped down to the Red Lion for half-an-hour or so with the rest of the party. This was the first point where the whole group had been together, and it was nice to meet up with Alan M1EYO, Shirley M(W)0YLS and Ray M1REK again. We discussed and compared the day's activations, studied maps, made final decisions on tomorrow's walks and retreated back to the hostel. After a cuppa and a chat with Shirley in the members' kitchen, I decided to watch the World Rugby final on the box (with no sound of course, which is not permitted after 11pm!).

Thanks to the following stations worked, all on 2m FM with 2.5 watts: