Fell Access

I headed towards the top of Whinlatter Pass and then almost doubled back on myself on to the single track road to Hopebeck. It was a remarkably nice day and it felt great to be out. I wasn't sure whether my access point to the fells would be okay since it went across a field. Some online maps showed a track in the field (although the OS map didn't). I thought it was worth a look. In the end, access was dead easy. The gate to the field was unlocked on both sides of the field and within five minutes of leaving the road, I was on the fell. Not only that, a good grassy track led upwards towards the ridgeline that would take me to the summit of Ladyside Pike. I started along the track and views opened up as I got higher. If I turned around I had a panoramic view of Whinlatter and the areas that the Tree Troublers had nuked.  Over to the north I could see the huge snowy lump of Skiddaw, and on my left, the snowy Hobcarton Crag leading up to Grisedale Pike. It didn't take long before patches of snow started appearing around me and it wasn't much long after, I was walking on a snowy path.

Ladyside Pike

I was grateful to the walkers who had ploughed a track up to the summit of Ladyside Pike. It made the going far easier than if I'd be creating my own path. I could see the track heading off along the broad ridge to the summit. I'd forgotten my gaiters today and so was relying on my over-trousers to stop snow tipping into the top of my boots. This was working out okay as long as I didn't stray off the ploughed track. I'd guess the snow was about 4-6 inches deep off track and even deeper where it had drifted. I was ascending into a brisk wind, and this became even stronger the higher got. I reached a fence that straddled the ridge before the final summit ascent. The snow had drifted around the gate and it wouldn't open. I climbed over it and started the steeper summit climb. The snow was deeper here and the going tough. The wind now felt like a cross wind and I had to brace myself at points to stop blowing over. Looking over to Whiteside, I could see a figure heading over the ridge towards Hopegill Head. I wondered if he was finding the conditions as difficult as me. I finally reached the summit cairn and. because of the crosswind, I struggled to hold the camera steady to take photos. There were certainly magnificent views from the summit.

My plan was to head towards Hopegill Head and then take the track down into Swinside. I stumbled to the south side of the summit and looked at the route up to Hopegill Head. It didn't look that appealing. I thought I could see some tracks heading down into the valley, roughly in the location I thought the track down into the Swinside valley would go. It looked difficult to reach the start point of the track. I got my map out, grabbing it tightly so that it wouldn't blow away, and thought that it might be easier to get down into the valley from the northside of Ladyside Pike's summit, roughly from the location of the stuck gate. It seemed like a plan, and I started descending using the same track that I'd earlier climbed. It was easier going down, but the snow was still deep and some of the cold stuff got into one of my boots. At least the wind eased a little and this made walking a bit easier. Back at the stuck gate, I started off heading towards the Swinside valley. Ten yards later, I gave up. I was going up to my knees on each step. That route wouldn't be much fun. I returned to the stuck gate and the easier ploughed path. I'd just have to return on the same route and treat the walk as an out-and-back. Even though I hadn't managed to reach Dodd, the walk had been quite an experience.

Return

The descent was definitely easier, not least because the wind was behind me now. When the snow started getting patchy, I was surprised to meet a runner slipping and sliding his way up. He went past me and headed along the ploughed track. I wondered how he would get on in the deep snow. I dropped down the fell, crossed the field and reached the road. The wind had almost dropped to nothing now and it felt very warm in the sun. If it wasn't for the snowy summits, you could've mistaken it for a summer's day. I made my back along the roads. I found a mobile home parked up at a junction on the single track road.. Given the narrowness of the road, I was surprised he'd been able to get it this far. When I got back to the carpark, my neighbours from this morning had gone. Obviously the entertainment I'd given them this morning wasn't enough for them to stick around for the matinee performance.

Although I'd not completed my intended walk, the day had turned out to be very memorable. The conditions had been difficult and it had all felt a bit of a challenge. The views were exceptional with an amazing view of Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head and Whiteside. Hopefully I'll get to do Dodd before the end of the year.