I had originally planned to follow Birketts Woundale walk today but the pull of climbing High Street got the better of me before realising that todays ascent will be my 30th, I simply couldn't say no to that.

After firing a few emails between one another last night it was confirmed that David would be joining me after he and Rod had made use of yesterdays torrential weather forecast by giving High Rigg a circuit, via St Johns-in-the-Vale "it rained non stop" they said and got heavier by the time they had returned to the cars David told me but the point was they both got out while I took advantage of a much needed lie in.

I had penned a circuit of Mardale Head starting with the Rough Crag ridge before gaining High Street, Mardale III Bell and finally Harter Fell from where my plan was to descend the steep north ridge to Mardale Beck, a descent that I've been wanting to do for some time but for one reason or another I never got round to it. I only wish David would have been there to enjoy it with me but sadly things didn't go quite the way we had planned.

After jumping back into my car I soon joined David who had just reversed his car up to the wall where I park along side him. My car gave me the chance to warm up again but once out I instantly felt the cold in what felt like double measures. I kit up while we catch up behind the cars adding my beanie and gloves along with my gaiters which are starting to feel like the norm so early into the Autumn/Winter season. With the cars locked we pass through the Deer gate and turn right towards the footbridge over Mardale Beck where I stopped to take this photo, it was here I mentioned how David felt about descending Harter Fell north ridge (seen sloping from top left to bottom right) and after assuring David of the research I've put into this descent David was well up for it

"we'll see the line I plan to descend once we get higher" I added.

Everything was going fine to a point were we spoke of numerous optional descents should Harter Fell north ridge not work out, that was until David surged forward as he descended from Rough Crag summit then skipped on his right foot quickly followed by a "f#ck" right there and then I knew this was serious. Without thinking David slumped to the ground on his backside holding his right ankle "bloody hell that hurts" I could do nothing but to advise David not to move while a look of concern concealed both our faces and indeed, our thoughts. The next few minutes was going to entail me helping David off this ridge or whether we scrap the walk altogether.

David reaches for the pain killers in his pack and downs them with a gulp from his water bottle while all I could do was feebly ask "how's the pain? can you move your foot and can you wiggle your toes" David could do all three but it was painful, a pain it would seem that after five minutes or so was starting to subside which told me that hopefully nothing was broken. David got back up and continued to wiggle his foot "try put pressure on it mate" . David gently puts his foot down and walks three to four steps "I can walk Paul but I'm not sure it would be wise for me to continue" This was Davids first assessment and in my philosophy you should always go with your first thoughts. Ok, we'll head back before David assures me he will be fine alone but I'm not sure, I wait a few moments and ask again "I'm coming with you" to which David replied "no, honestly I'll be fine, I'll just take my time I just can't risk continuing the walk" I am uneasy but I agree and we part with a hearty handshake as I watched David disappear over Rough Crag's summit.

Footnote: David sensibly has rested his foot and after three days of swelling from his foot injury it has now gone down and David is pain free, even though it took lots of 'second guessing' David certainly made the right call by cutting short his walk, I strongly suspect despite this weekends poor forecast David will be putting boot onto fell once again.

David was still on my mind as I left Caspel Gate and began the steep ascent on Long Stile, it's not like me to 'muster' the energy and indeed find the enthusiasm for such an ascent but that's what I found myself doing, I just couldn't shake off what had just happened. I had reached the halfway point during my Long Stile ascent when I spotted two fell runners with four collies making their way down, they were making good ground and before I knew it they were almost upon me, it turned out it was a couple with the female leading quickly followed by the male who right in front of me slipped causing him to land perched on all fours "you ok his partner asked" he said nothing nor moved, he just stayed there in the all fours position "your gonna have to give me a minute he replied" I couldn't believe what I was seeing and I remarked that my friend had to turn back after doing the same, both myself and the woman agreed it was still incredibly wet underfoot.

The guy recovered from all fours and skipped a few steps forward, "ok lets go" but instead of a confident trot they began making their descent slowly until they were out of sight.

I must admit I never tire of the ascent of Harter Fell from the top of Nan Bield Pass and todays ascent was no different helped along by the dramatic views over Small Water which are about to get even more dramatic as I have decided to descend Harter Fell via its steep North ridge, as mentioned earlier this has been something something I have been wanting to do for sometime and with todays perfect conditions I have decided to go for it but before I do please accept this word of warning.

Do not attempt to follow this route in anything other than perfect conditions unless you are confidently trained to do so, to the east of the north ridge there are steep cliffs and gullies that drop suddenly 800ft to the scree below, please keep well back from the edge where a fall could prove fatal.

With the grass rake carefully negotiated and with a fixed view on where I was heading next I dropped into the cove not before kicking my feet into the back of my boots that is. I looked back on what I had just descended and saw nothing but 600ft of vertical grass a quarter of a mile wide and gulped, Jesus, did I just descend that.

Over to my right lies the edge of the east ridge consumed by steep cliffs and gullies where my plan is to visit the grass rock knoll seen centre right which forms the head of a steep gully. At 1,800ft ABL I didn't want to get too close to the edge but I was intrigued to get as close as safely possible.

With my heart rate just about returning to normality I reached Small Water Beck where once again I kicked my feet into the back of my boots and made some minor adjustments to clothing after the descent made me feel, and look a tad 'roughed up' I rejoined the path back to Mardale Head within shadow of the ridge I had just descended. I could see Mardale Head was still busy with more cars arriving one of which stopped me as I approached my car as the driver wound down his window and asked "are you leaving, mind if I pinch your spot" "aye that's fine I replied but I'm going to be a few minutes kitting down"

I took once last look at Harter Fell which looked still as menacing cast in shadow and located the rock knoll from which I had been stood less than an hour earlier, I gulp emotionally not knowing whether it was because I had just descended Harter Fell's north ridge after all these years or was it just the adrenalin wearing off, I think it was a bit of both.