Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Cowpe Moss

 

21.10.24  Thieveley Pike (SD 871 271) 

Thieveley Pike (SD 871 271)

With the weather set fine Mark and I headed north to the wild surrounds of Burnley.  We were visiting John Kirk for two days, someone neither of us had seen for quite some time.  Prior to our visit, Mark sent links to a number of hills he had not visited in this area, and it was these we would concentrate on.  This also applied to me, as I had not visited any of the hills in the vicinity of Burnley, although I had travelled over the moors from the Calder valley.  On that occasion the hills looked wild, with rough grass and open moor predominating.

It was good to see John again, and we were soon immersed in a lunchtime snack and catch up.  As the weather forecast gave settled and dry conditions we were in no particular rush to head to the hills and had a number to choose from that were on Mark’s bagging agenda.  Something short in distance and not too boggy was the order of the day, although John did warm us that the ground would be wet.  Thankfully I opted for my winter wellies, and was grateful that I did so.

Our first hill was Thieveley Pike, which forms the high point of a broad extended ridge that has the town of Bacup to its south and the western end of the Calder valley to its north. 

Heading for the hill

We parked just south of the summit of the hill, with John having driven.  This was just off the A671 on a corner that bisects a minor road.  It was only a short distance to the high point which suited our relatively late start and this gave opportunity to visit another hill afterward. 

On the path leading up to the broad summit ridge

A kissing gate gave access on to the moor.  Reed grass predominated hereabouts, with the boggy path heading up beside a partially collapsed stone wall and parallel to a fence.  As we gained height a breeze blew across the moor. 

Heading for the summit

Reaching the broad summit ridge we veered right.  It was only a short distance from here to the patch of green grass beside the trig pillar which marks the highest point of the hill.  The customary summit photographs were taken before I set the Trimble up atop my rucksack approximately three metres from the base of the trig, on what we considered the summit of the hill.  Once the measurement offset was taken between its internal antenna and the ground at its base, the equipment was set up to gather data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Thieveley Pike

Five minutes later I closed the equipment down, took a few photos, and packed it away.  We then reversed our inward route down the hill.  Just over an hour from leaving the car we were back standing beside it, which considering our leisurely pace and the 10 – 15 minutes at the summit wasn’t bad.

 

Survey Result:

 

Thieveley Pike                           

Summit Height:  449.5m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SD 87175 27121 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  393.8m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SD 88939 24381 (LIDAR)

Drop:  55.7m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  12.39% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)  

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet