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After Munro compleation October last year I felt an incredible low in the weeks following and was stuck for things to do. The backpacking season, for me anyway, was over for the year and the prospect of another Scottish trip seemed far away. I had been going to the Lakes since I was a lad and had climbed Silver Howe in Langdale as a lad, my first ever hill at the age of 8. I had never considered doing the Wainwrights and had never looked at a list of the Wainwrights. The Lakes are fairly local to me, 2 hour drive to Borrowdale, Ullswater even shorter and for years I had been doing day trips all year round to keep the fitness up. The trouble was I had been repeating the same hills for years, The Scafells, Helvellyn, Fairfield and Pillar I must have been on 50+ times each.
Checking the WH map I was on 144 on 01/11/2016. I hadn't realised some hills that were Wainwrights I had been walking past ignoring them for years. Hills like Seathwaite Fell and Base Brown I must have walked past 100 of times without going onto their tops. So from November last year I began walking the hills that I had never been on. Still having the van at that time was a bonus getting into areas such as the east of Ullswater or doing multi day trips over the winter days around Skiddaw area and Whinlatter. The number was quickly whittled down and come the 18th May I was down to 1, Cold Pike at the end of the Crinkles another hill that I had ignored when doing the Crinkles.
I had been due to meet 2 mates on Monday 22nd May and did want to wait until then to finish off but a check of the forecast was poor and the 18th, on which I was free was perfect, so a solo trip it was then. The drive over to Langdale takes an 1/2 hour extra so I travelled with at least £8 in change ready for the car parking. On arriving I was very surprised to be able to easily park at the old bridge ,for free, between the campsite entrance and the ODG entrance. Suited and booted and with sun screen on it was off at 9.30am up towards the farm and onto The Band. Last time I was this way it was with the dog, who is now 6 year's retired and if I recall pulled on the lead all the way to the top so today was a pleasant amble up The Three Tarns.
At the Three Tarns it was surprisingly cold with a fresh wind blowing over the tops requiring shelter for a break and change of clothing. From there its a simple matter of following various paths as you wind your way between all the tops. I did bottle it at "The bad step" I just didn't fancy the climb down. I've done it few times up over with no issues but didn't like the look of the climb down on the day, so it was back to the top and around the path passing several persons who were also giving it a miss. It was then on to the last top before the short walk across the moorland path and easy walk onto Cold Pike. No celebration just a couple of photos and then down to the tarn and then onto the ridiculously steep path down into Oxendale and back to the car. I was back down for 2.30pm and had a couple of hours to spare so I drove around to Rydal water and walked up onto Loughrigg fell via The Terrace. The only other time I had been on here the weather was abysmal so it was nice to get a view.
That's The Wainwrights done. I will still go to the Lakes, in fact I was on Scafell Pike yesterday Been looking at other targets, might fancy the Donalds next, only 89 of them and not too far to travel.
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