This summit was activated by myself, accompanied by Jimmy on Thursday 19th August 2004.

Waking up at 7am in the Youth Hostel, I used the hour before breakfast to retrieve our rags and boots (and C108) from the drying room, load the car, refold the map in the mapcase and hunt down the flask. The weather forecast was for much the same as the previous day, but with the thunderstorms likely to be more prevalent in the Eastern fells. Hence I cancelled my intended attack on St Sunday Crag G/LD-010 and Fairfield G/LD-007, replacing them with a wander up the Old Man of Coniston G/LD-013. With a breakfast of porridge and full English inside us, and a flask full of hot Lobster Bisque soup, we drove down to Coniston and out up Walna Scar Road. We parked in the area just beyond the gate at SD 288 971, and walked NNW up the good path to Crowberry Haws. We then turned left to plod up through the old quarries (why don't disused quarry areas on OS maps indicate any contours?). Much of this section was less a path, more of a river, with quite powerful cascades of water spewing down. It had been raining hard through much of the night. Where the path turns left and clearly goes through what used to be the mine tramway, it was less a path, more a training venue for our Olympic canoeists. Jimmy skilfully picked out route through it which kept one's feet largely dry, before we were able to ascend on slightly drier terrain (although on descent, this carried much water too) up to the lovely 'Low Water' tarn.

       

Although 80% of the hoizontal distance had now been covered, only 50% of the vertical requirement had been made, so I told Jimmy to expect to take another hour before the summit. He ignored me, and set the pace to the top, reaching it just over half an hour later. On the summit, the wind was very strong, and the rain fine, but hard. Thankfully, there was no sign of a repeat of the previous day's thundery stuff. We found good shelter out of both wind and rain on the south of the cairn after the obligatory trig point photo shoot, and prioritised hot soup, food and drink before thinking about radio. With the weather less than perfect, and a tired descent to follow, I again set out to qualify the summit for myself, rather than give lots of points away to chasers. This time though, I started with the Yaesu FT-817, even though the handy was now back to full fitness. The logbook covered 11 minutes of operating time covering 5 contacts, following which no-one else came back to my 2.5 watts through the rubber duck. I packed away, but Jimmy and myself took a little more time to eat, drink, rest, chat and contemplate. Rob G4RQJ kindly monitored the proceedings to compile a back-up log should the rain get the better of mine. It didn't, but thanks for the insurance policy Rob!

Before closing down, both Keith and Rob advised of more favourable weather heading in my direction. Thanks for the kiss of death lads! What, I have to admit was a very pleasant and enjoyable descent, did begin with over an hour that was pretty dry, although the skies remained very murky. The views opened up, and we we treated to a super panorama of Low Water and Levers Water, together with the several cascades of white water tumbling off the fells. As we turned the corner, great views across Coniston Water that hadn't been in evidence during our ascent. Here we met a family who looked partly well-equipped, but only partly, and they asked us how much further to the summit. The two girls with the family were a couple of years younger than Jimmy and Liam respectively, and I had noted the speed they were going.  I showed them the map and explained how, vertically, they were only halfway up, and advised them not to try for the summit, but just the tarn and then turn back.  Thankfully this is what they did, and we met again in the car park later, while Jimmy and I were having a food break before driving home. The 'mum' asked me how I coped with the various fleece and waterproof layers, explaining to me that she gets too hot at times. I explained how, if she had a rucksack (which she didn't), she would be able to add and remove garments accordingly! Seems obvious to me now, as it would to all on here, but I recall learing the concept of layering from a walking book a couple of years ago myself, so I won't be disdainful.

   

What did concern me, was another family heading on upwards as we were descending, about 2.30pm. They were poorly equipped - very young girls in blue plastic sandals wading through the water, no boots, no fleecy hats, and neither mum nor dad carrying a rucksack, indicating no extra layers, food or drink. I was hoping they too would ask me how far to the summit, but they didn't and continued. Then the heavens really opened, and we got a good soaking. The woman I was talking to in the car park told me that this other family had continued ascending past them as they turned back at the tarn. I only hope thay had the good sense to get down off the hills sooner rather than later, but sadly it seemed that good sense was not part of their make-up. Another thing I saw a lot of over the two days was men out walking in denim jeans (something I would have done myself before Alan M1EYO explained to me the error of my ways). These experiences made me realise that I have to be, and am, very appreciative of the high level of instruction and advice about hillwalking I have received through being part of the SOTA programme. It seems to me there are plenty of 'walkers' out there, who are making basic mistakes with clothing, equipment and food. I feel that I have been privileged to learn from the 'masters' - as do Jimmy and Liam, who are clearly much more aware of the correct techniques than other kids their age when out walking.

I finsihed my radio activity in the LD, by calling into GB3LD repeater from the parking area for OMC, from the warmth and comfort of my car, and catching a word with Linda G0YLM ("IANS"). And despite our 140 previous activations, we had never done an 8-point summit - done 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10, but never 8 - so this was a first. With winter bonus, I can also claim 3, 5 and 7 - so just 9, 11 and 13 to complete the set (12 is the only 'impossible' one).

So there we go - a grand two days' walking, fine company and a boost of 24 points and 3 activations to my activator's record. I've caught my long-term target & fellow Maxonian G3CWI in the table at last, so who's next........?

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