With Rod away walking Arthur's Pike and Loadpot Hill David and I got together for a rather intrepid walk from Kirkstone over to the the top of Dunmail Raise via Red Screes, Hart Crag and Fairfield but the walk deserved a better forecast than the one we'd been dealt, in fact, if we'd have known how long the un-forecasted rain lasted I don't think we'd have planned a walk as high as our plan B walk, the Dodds from Sticks Pass. We met at the parking spaces back in Wanthwaite, St Johns-in-the-Vale and weighed our options looking stunned as the rain ran down the windscreen.

We expected a little mist and so went ahead leaving David's car in Wanthwaite before driving over to Stanah where I'd leave my car at the off road parking spaces. It was still tipping it down as we kitted up whilst watching clouds scuttling across the sky, blimey, it's a wild one. Given that the rain wasn't forecast we set off in waterproof jackets thinking the rain would soon stop to be replaced by brighter skies as per forecast.

By the time we had reached the sheep fold on Sticks Pass the rain began to fall heavier and adding to yesterdays downpours this mornings rain turned the path into a river bed so with heads down we persevered whilst the rain lashed the right side of our bodies, we were soaked and so to were our packs as we hadn't bothered to add the waterproof covers.

About half a mile from the top of Sticks Pass we stopped to add the waterproof over trousers which was a little like closing the stable door after the horse had bolted but at least they helped to protect our trousers from the strengthening wind. We topped out on Sticks Pass avoiding the standing water where we could and joined the path Stybarrow Dodd bound. The path was equally wet absorbing our boots like quick sand making the ascent more trying. If only if would stop bloody raining we'd be at home in the wind and clag.

From the base of Red Screes we passed two couples in ascent before crossing the grassy, boulder laden ground where we stopped to remove our waterproof over trousers. Mine were removed with the same dignity that I'd put them on back on Sticks Pass while at the same time I swapped my gloves for a pair of dryer ones.

This winter I have been using a pair of waterproof and windproof Sealskinz gloves which have a clever removable thumb and forefinger so I can unlock my phone, the trouble with that is you open your hands to elements and before you know it your hands are cold and wet inside your gloves. The pair I swapped them for were a pair of finger less mitts that cost me a tenner, five times less than the Sealskinz and were toastier than a toasty thing.

We dropped off Threlkeld Knotts subsidiary summit descending steeply over boulder, scree and grass, a much trickier descent than what we had bargained for. To our left the two Scotts were making their way towards The Old Coach Road who must have had a change of mind because we were sure they'd told us they were heading across the Dodds. It was still blowing a hooley but the winter sunshine took the edge off and once we joined the Coach Road there was a Spring feel to the remainder of the walk.

We laughed looking back at how wet the beginning of the walk was and for our school-boy error at not adding our waterproof over trousers when we should have but that's by the by now. My gear was drying out nicely as we took in the views from the old road where we passed a woman and her two dogs while beyond the sound of white water cascading down the tree lined fell side replaced the sound of wind. If we'd have known about how wet we'd have got I doubt we'd have set off for the Dodds but looking back the walk was full of its own atmospheric characters, aye definitely no regrets.