Upper falls, Sour Milk Gill

A wind had got up as I started the climb alongside Sour Milk Gill and the falls were spectacular with the wind blowing spray high into the air.  Last time I climbed Base Brown with Ann, Roger and Jo we did the direct route but the wet greasy conditions on the scramble beside the gill put me off doing a similar scramble up Base Brown.  So I headed into Gillercomb and into a stiff, cold wind.  My last time at the head of Gillercomb was ten years ago in quite heavy snow; today I could see that there is quite a good pitched path.
Form the head of Gillercomab it was a short walk back to Base Brown summit.  It was windy and gloomy yet I could see the Vale of Keswick bathed in sunshine - very frustrating.

Then up Green Gable.  Excellent views in all directions from the top and then down to the foot of Windy Gap which once again lived up to its name.  Polly headed for the summit of Great Gable whilst I was taking photographs and was reluctant to join me as I started to descent Aaron Slack.  Rumours that this scree run now has a good path up it are wide of the mark.  An intermittent path appears half way down the scree but you are well into the final third and out of the scree before a continuous pitched path is seen.
Lots of water flooding the paths on either side of the outlet from Styhead Tarn meant I spent a lot of time hopping from boulder to boulder to avoid getting wet feet.  As I walked back to Seathwaite from Stockley Bridge I looked over to Taylorgill Force which was amazing today but I was glad I had opted not to come down that way as the flooding higher up suggested I would have had difficulty following the path and keeping my feet dry.

A surprising short walk of four hours including a lunch stop. Wild, wet and windy with short bursts of sunshine - sums up the Lake District really!

Enjoy the pictures http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/561206567raszLg

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