SOTA G-NP/008 Great Whernside 2025-12-28

I had been planning a walk to try and get 2 summits on one trip out, Great Whernside and Buckden Pike as there is a pass between them where I could park the car and with a few days off between Christmas and New year this looked a good time to try. The weather forecast was ok, not too cold, about 4c in the towns and villages and a bit of wind. Yes it would be colder on the hills but I should be ok. I the day before I was going I  got my rucksack packed and some more spare kit in the car, left my XLY know where I was going, where I was parking and estimated times. On the morning all I had to do was make a flask of coffee and getting my pack-up out of the fridge.

It was a really nice drive and it being so close to Boxing Day there was still not a lot of traffic on the roads. I got to pass at about 08:50 and texted the XYL I was there. When hill walking especially on your own you want to make sure someone knows where you and when you were there incase someone has to come find you. Better safe then sorry.

Looking towards Great Whernside, I could not see the summit as it was covered in grey clouds, hmm this might be a damp walk, turned out I was right but not the damp I was thinking. I got my boots and gaiters on, double checked my rucksack and the map, locked the car and headed off on the path up Great Whernside.

The path was straight forward to start with but after 5 mins I had found the first bog, there were trails going all over it from people trying to find a dry path, I had a look and made my choice and started to follow one of them, I don’t think it would have made much of a difference to which I choose as it was just wet. I crossed through it and started to make the ascent which was slow going as it’s been a while since I did much walking and the rucksack was heavy and whilst I was out the bogs, the terrain was quite slippy.

I kept heading up and reached a style in the wall and checked the map, I was were I thought I was, now I had 2 choices, follow the wall up a steep slope and then head across the flatter plateau or go over the wall and follow the gentler ascent. I opted for the gentle ascent.  I had started walking with my coat on, to stop the wind but I was way to warm so took it off and stuffed it in my bag. Walking was better know I was not so hot.

Once I had moved on a bit I could see some rocks in the mist and hoped it might be  summit but it did not not site right with how long I had been walking for, a quick check on the map confirmed what I thought, just a rock outcrop, more walking yet.

I was still gaining height and the cloud was starting to thin, it was not long before  I was walking on the plateau and could see the trig point in the distance, Hurrah, though now I was exposed on the summit the wind was stronger and colder, Boo.

I got to the trig point and had the required photo of touching it and then found some shelter in the rocks to get out the wind and put my warm layer and my coat on. Again, if your stopping on the hills make sure you do not let yourself get cold.

I got my sit mat out and sat down, then shoved the map case behind me as bit of padding for my back. I sent the XLY a quick text to say I was ok and on the summit. I had both my IC-705 and Anytone 878 with me but thought I would try the handheld on VHF first as setting up the IC-705 for HF was going to take longer, and I did not want to be on the summit for longer than I had to be.

I found a free frequency and got myself spotted and started calling CQ, first to come back to me was G0TVB and then I got a couple more, I got the 4th contact 8 mins after I started activating and that was in to Wales, so was very happy with that distance.

I kept going for 6 more minutes and got 3 more contacts but by then one hand was really felling the cold and going numb, so it was time to pack up. Was a bit of pain packing up with my dominant hand numb but I managed to. Checked I had left nothing on the ground and set off down and back towards the car. The route back was easy as it was down hill and just the way I come up, the only tricky part was the bog, but it seemed easier on the way down as I could see a better path through it. Got back to the car and had a coffee, sandwich and some Christmas Cake and felt much better.

After fortifying myself I checked the map and the route to Buckden Pike and set off.

Operation Details

Summit: https://www.sotadata.org.uk/en/summit/G/NP-008 Grid square: IO94ad WAB square: SE07

Working Conditions

Anytone 878 Ham2K Polo

Operation Totals

5 QSOs 2 DXCC Entities 1 S2S 1 Band and 1 modes 2M – 7FM