Return to Creise - after 23 years

[Awams]

I first climbed Meall a'Bhuiridh with my wife Edwina in June 1999. Edwina was uneasy about the connecting route to Creise so we didn't go on to do this. These are photos we took of the 2 of us on Meall a'Bhuiridh summit.

On Meall a'Bhuirid summit - June 1999

On Meall a'Bhuirid summit - June 1999

Since then we've climbed many other munros. Last month I climbed my 199th - Sgurr Fhuar-thuill in Glen Strathfarrar. For my 200th I thought it was time we went back to Glencoe and tried again to climb Creise. The weather forecast was a bit uncertain but good enough to take the risk, so we booked in to the Kingshouse Hotel at the head of Glencoe. Quite expensive, but this was (hopefully) to be a celebration, and this hotel is the ideal venue for accessing Creise.

View of Creise from our hotel bedroom window

The first time we climbed Meall a'Bhuiridh we walked up from the White Corries car park, so this time we felt we could take the ski lift to start and this wouldn't be cheating as our only target today was really Creise, so that's what we did. We're both in our 70's now and it's all a bit more challenging. Edwina feels she can't manage munro's any more, so we separated at the top of the ski lift. Edwina went off to visit the Creag Dhubh viewpoint and would then go back down, while I set off up Meall a'Bhuiridh and Creise.

Edwina near the top of the ski lift

Me near the top of the ski lift

I walked up via the various roads around and under the ski tows and ended up going on a track beneath the highest of the ski tows. I'm pretty sure this was not the best way as it was rough and decidedly steep:

I have a microvascular problem now, which isn't life-threatening but does force me to go slowly on the ascents or a sharp chest pain kicks in. This route was so steep I had to pause a few times to let the pain subside.. But it did at least have the merit of getting me almost directly to the summit. The cloud base then was high enough that the views were excellent.

Me on Meall a'Bhuiridh summit (again)

View SE from Meall a'Bhuiridh towards Loch Tulla

This time I was going to carry on to Creise. The descent to the saddle between the two munros was a bit loose but ok, then there's a 600' ascent up to the ridge on Creise. It looks intimidating but there's a decent path through the rocks and a nice little scramble right at the top.

Route from the saddle to Creise

Then it's an easy walk along the ridge to Creise summit. The clouds chose that moment to come down so the views from the actual summit were non-existent.

On Creise summit (munro number 200!)

View (!) looking along the ridge from Creise summit

I debated whether to hang about and wait for the cloud to lift, but I was restricted in time as I didn't want to miss the last ski lift down and anyway the clouds might not lift all day. So I set off back towards the point on the ridge where the descent to the saddle begins (which is usefully marked by a cairn). As I walked the clouds did from time to time lift, though only briefly, so I got some fleeting views.

Meall a'Bhuiridh as seen from Creise

View SE from Creise summit ridge (I think to the Glen Etive hills)

Then it was down to the saddle, where the unwelcome sight of the 730' of re-ascent to Meall a'Bhuiridh was waiting. I kept meeting people who said they'd met my wife, who'd asked them to look out for this lone walker wearing black. Edwina seemed to have met a lot of people on her way down!

Return route to Meall a'Bhuiridh

That was a bit of a pain (literally) but eventually I was back on the summit of Meall a'Bhuiridh and there were some fine views.

Looking towards Buachaille Etive Mor

View towards Stob a'Choire Odhair and the hills beyond

View of Buachaille Etive Mor and Beinn Chrulaiste with rain sweeping in from Glencoe

Then it was just a matter of heading on down to the ski lift and meeting up with Edwina in the hotel. Some champagne was drunk that evening to mark the 200th munro!

That'll be our last Scottish trip this year, but we will be back in the spring. I suspect Edwina would like me to stop climbing munros now. I know I'll not get them all done, but amongst the 82 that are left there are some very fine mountains, so I might have to have a serious think about this in the spring. To anyone else ticking off munros who can see themselves getting to our sort of age before they finish, a word of advice - save some easier ones for when you get older (which we didn't do)!