Portable ops at Blackstone Edge

 

Image courtesy of Sally - sharemyroutes.comBlackstone Edge is an escarpment in the Pennine hills forming a buttress to keep the Lancastrians out of the West Riding of Yorkshire! 🙂 It is an excellent location for portable ops, not least because of the proximity of the White House pub (meals and drinks)!

Location: IO83XP (WAB: SD91) Postcode: OL15 5LG access via A58

Michael (M0APC) and I decided to have a /P day and although the perfect WX of recent days had passed leaving us with strong winds, rain, hail, snow but finally sun, it proved to be a fun day out with some interesting contacts.

HF-wise we used Michael’s IC-706 Mk2, auto-tuner and mobile whips for 40m and 20m. The hoped for wire antennas were out of the question with the WX. Despite the bands being mostly poor we managed a contact in asiatic Russia.

2m-wise we used both Michael’s and my own mobile equipment (5w FM from TH-F7E with 5/8 whip), with some nice QSOs into north Wales and the Welsh Borders. Most distant being just over 90 miles; Colin, M0NVJ, who had activated SOTA Caer Caradoc Hill, south of Telford, Shropshire (G/WB-006 – 459m ASL – SO 477 953).  The North Wales repeaters GB3MP (Denbigh) and GB3GO (Llandudno) opened up nicely too!

All in all, an enjoyable exercise and food for thought for the next time.