Dec 2022 - Ascent from Whinlatter Pass. Started this walk clockwise and then realised after about 5 minutes that I'd forgotten the walking poles, so it was back to the car and I ended up going anti-clockwise! The Swinside Plantation was fun with some of the tracks on the map not existing in reality, therefore there was a steep improvised push through the conifers onto the open fell. It was one of those 'keel over and die now, and nobody's finding your body for a long time' moments. Eventually, I reached Ladyside Pike, a fell which I'm still baffled as to why it didn't receive Alfred's treatment, especially given the arbitrary selection of some of the other Wainwrights. It's an amazing summit with enough prominence. Perhaps AW didn't like the scramble between it and Hopegill Head, a superb ridge. Given the blustery and wet conditions, I kept well away from the edge today or my crumpled up boneheap remains would've ultimately been recovered from the base of the stunning Hobcarton Crag. Once I'd reached the summit of Hopegill Head, the wind really picked up and I was treated to a leg and face-stinging hailstorm. Waterproof bottoms on. It was even windier on the summit of Grisedale Pike, eliciting a memory of Gemma taking off up there. Hobcarton End is a great route of descent before the trackless forest games resumed. No-one else on the tops once again.