It feels like we're on the cusp of Autumn or at least it does on the Lakeland fells where not one hour is the same. It's been a mixed week of hot sunshine and prolonged downpours and as the nights draw in some areas of the UK have already experienced their first frost. The Lakeland fells are changing too, you can feel it in the air as well as on the ground which after a few days of rain was very boggy today, boggy being the understatement.

I experienced my first 'angels torches' of the season over southern Lakeland this morning, it was one of a few on a day when taking a soaking took on a new meaning. It wasn't meant to rain so prolific according to the experts but what do they know, this is Lakeland losing her greenery, she has every right to change her mind and today her frustration spilled out in the form of rain.

From memory I've only ever been as wet as I was today on two previous occasions, one was when David and I walked the complete Loweswater Fells where we were rained on for ten hours straight and the second was with Rod while doing a tour of the head of Great Langdale when it rained for seven of the eight hours we were on the fell. I wasn't out for no where near those times today but I did manage to fill my walking boots with puddles of water, now that was a first.

By the time I'd parked up close to Wrynose Bridge it had started to rain first lightly soon turning heavy and vertical. I could have waited the shower out in the car but I knew what kind of day I was in for and one shower now wouldn't change getting wet now or later on the grand scheme of things. I used the drivers side of my car as a shelter which shielded me from the winds which were gusting down the pass, I hadn't even locked my car and I was already wet and getting wetter by minute, I add my gaiters for the first time in months and remembered the left one is missing its top press stud but it isn't any hardship.

Despite the sweeping wind and rain I made sure I did a final gear check and pat down before locking my car then headed out towards a roaring Wrynose Beck. My plan was to get a shot of Wrynose Bridge but it was raining so hard I didn't want to get my lens wet on the first photo so for now the camera is left in its bag. Birkett recommends to gain Little Horse Crag/Blake Rigg by ascending a narrow trod to the right of Wrynose Beck but not through want of trying I just couldn't pick this path out, something that I'm usually very good at. Instead I followed a broad footpath to the left which would lead me directly to Pike O'Blisco, I then spotted a cluster of rocks where I could safely cross the beck about 180ft above Wrynose Pass.

From the top of Blake Rigg I tried to pick out route from which I could gain Wrynose Fell by and in the end I chose an 'off path' approach. It had started to rain again but in between the sun would come out illuminating the wild grasses which made up for getting wet again at a point when my waterproofs had just dried out.

From Wrynose Fell I head along the south ridge towards Long Crag summit which is in essence, is a short out and back.

I was always going to be weary of the wet rock on the three rock steps below Pike O'Blisco summit which was confirmed as I approached the first rock step finding not just wet rock but flowing water over the polished rock. After packing my poles away I cleared the first rock step, then the second and finally the third which was more of a groove than a step. It was whilst I unpacked my poles did it start to rain again, quite squally at first which was accompanied by strong summit gusts.

By the time I reached the summit cairn the gusts were knocking me here, there and everywhere and at one point I pinned myself to the ground using my hands. I made my way over towards the summit shelter and recorded gust of 29.7mph which were increasing and decreasing by the minute. The summit was no place to hang around so I left and headed towards the footpath bound for Red Tarn below.

Three walkers were approaching from Red Tarn who were all wearing shorts, surely I though they must have seen the forecast. They made hard work of the two pools which make up the outflow of Red Tarn and soon they were out of sight as I continued the steady ascent towards Great Knott.

The rain continued to pour down and through my own callas as I walked straight through said pools were my right boot must have leaked in, I paid it no attention. From out of nowhere three walkers appeared up ahead, then two solo walkers who all appeared to be heading for the Crinkles, rather them than me I thought.

For my descent I used the footpath which by now resembled a river bed, at times the rain was so loud it felt like a stampede, the ground seemed to be vibrating and I could only spare a thought for those attempting the Crinkles that I'd seen earlier. I linked back up with the path and the rain slackened where I passed three more drenched walkers heading for Crinkle Crags, we all spoke of the heavy burst and laughed it off.

The three asked was I heading back to Oxendale and if so to take care because the footbridge over Oxendale Beck had been washed away, I replied that I wasn't but thanks for informing me anyway. Despite the rain we were all in good spirits and even managed a few laughs before bidding each other to 'enjoy the rest of your day'

Despite the heavy rain continuing the cloud had cleared from the Crinkles and Bow Fell. More walkers had gained the junction from Oxendale all of whom looked as soaked as I was, some downed packs while others continued. By now my feet were not just damp but swimming in water a layer of which I could feel between my socks and the soles of my boots, my body and legs were bordering but thankfully no main leakages. The rain stopped shortly after taking this photo and for the first time since my descent of Pike O'Blisco I could draw back my hood. The sound of drainage echoed around the fell side like someone had just removed a plug from the bath. The footpath at times was largely under running water but I waded through it anyway, my assumption was my feet couldn't get any wetter.

The cloud was still down on Swirl How and Grey Friar and as I descended further cloud lingered over Wrynose Bottom too. The sight of where the Three Shire Stone once stood came into view and I squelched my way towards where despite my wrung feet, the tarmac of the pass felt good underfoot. It started to rain again and the wind I'd experienced this morning on the pass returned and I threw my hood back up and drew in the cords. Passing the parked cars at the top of the pass I wondered of their occupants then began the short descent towards Wrynose Bridge where I spotted my car in the cutting surrounded by water flowing over tarmac. My sequence was too remove everything that was wet, which was basically everything. I removed everything bar my boxer shorts and slipped spare clothing I had kept in my boot that which up until today, I never had the call to use but nothing quite prepared me for the pools of water left in my boots, flipping eck I chuckled, never seen that before.