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Buachaille Etive Mor

Buachaille Etive Mor


Postby gman » Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:57 pm

Route description: Buachaille Etive Mòr

Munros included on this walk: Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mòr), Stob na Bròige (Buachaille Etive Mòr)

Date walked: 15/02/2012

Time taken: 7.2 hours

Distance: 13 km

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Forecast looked OK, cloud & possibly wind so went for this one. Passed the Altnafeadh layby, there's one round the corner that's bigger & less busy. It's on the return route too, so shorter walk back. View from here:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0002.jpg

Started to walk along road to start point, but took direct route instead - shorter and less risk of roadkill. Crossed a burn, Buachaille etive Beag:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0005.jpg

Then over rough ground to corrie, knew I'd pick up path somewhere on right of burn.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0006.jpg

Got path eventually, heading to lowest point on bealach:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0009.jpg

Nice path:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0014.jpg

Hill is busy even on a Wednesday. A few guided groups who wore helmets & were roped up. They started early on snow to get practise, I'm still on the path here:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0019.jpg

Further up, the path turns to loose scree which gives way underfoot as the hill becomes steeper. Got crampons on & went for snow at this point. There were queues of walkers towards the top, maybe guides were giving instructions? Others avoided this by going up alternate routes to the right but it was clear when I got there.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0022.jpg

Nice view for 'camera' breaks. 'I remember when this was all hills...'.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0024.jpg

Camera stayed in bag towards the end, nearly had to perform impromptu self arrest even with crampons & ice axe. Finally got to the top & started up Stob Dearg. This was rockier so crampons off again, there's a route to the left that includes more snow so you could keep them on. Looking down to bealach and Stob na Doire:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0032.jpg

The large group at the top of the bealach were being told they could remove helmets from now on, they followed me to summit but I had 5 mins peace for a piece.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0043.jpg

Got back to corrie, more roped up climbers practising something?
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0045.jpg

Then onwards to Stob na Doire, was being followed by large group now. Hard slog uphill in snow & felt like I was pursued by human centipede.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0052.jpg

Back to Stob Dearg from top:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0054.jpg

Weather was deteriorating now, winds getting up with rain. My intuition told me to go straight on from top, but compass disagreed. Turn right & down along ridge. You can see the return point to the valley from here, it's further along in a snowy section so care needed.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0057.jpg

Stob Coire Altrium:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0063.jpg

Looking back to Stob na Doire descent, had crampons off for this:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0064.jpg

Route up to this point:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0070.jpg

Met a couple of guys on way up, they said it was freezing on Stob na Broig but an easy walk. Had a look at where they left ridge for valley, had to cross cornice and it didn't look too stable. Easy walk:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0074.jpg

And rewarded with a nice big cairn at the top:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0075.jpg

As advertised, it was freezing here. Wind was gusting which made the walk along narrow snowy ridge interesting. Had to stop & dig crampons and ice axe in a couple of times. Return route:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0078.jpg

And it looks so inviting, beware its charms :lol:
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0080.jpg

Back to descent point, snow looks dodgy here so took care.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0083.jpg

It was steep at the other side. Snow was soft and deep in the middle where there had been obvious avalanches, firmer around sides.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0084.jpg

After this there's a good path down on the left of the burn to the valley and another fine path - and fine walk - back to car park.
buachaille etive mor_15Feb2012_0087.jpg
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gman
 
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby pollyh33 » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:16 pm

Great stuff! :D :D

Thanks for posting such a detailed walk and accompanying photographs :D

I really appreciated this :thumbup:

Cheers Px
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pollyh33
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby quoman » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:22 pm

Nice report and pic's
it sure looks a busy place right enough.
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quoman
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby Redrock » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:56 pm

Looks like the snow is going fast! :( But you had plenty to keep you going! Enjoyed your report - it's some mountain (range!) :lol: Cheers! 8)
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby SusieThePensioner » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:26 pm

I really enjoyed reading your report, I was with you every step of the way :lol: And some great photos :thumbup:
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby Frogwell » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:26 pm

Was this from two days ago?! Amazing how much snow has disappeared in the past couple of weeks. Really liking the mood of the pictures there Gman :)
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby gman » Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:14 am

Frogwell wrote:Was this from two days ago?! Amazing how much snow has disappeared in the past couple of weeks. Really liking the mood of the pictures there Gman :)


Yeah, it was Wednesday. I was on Creise a fortnight ago and Buachaille Etive Beag last week, definitely thought there was much less snow this week and your report confirms it. The guy leading the large group heard it would get colder & hopefully snow this weekend so fingers crossed :D
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Re: Buachaille Etive Mor

Postby gman » Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:39 am

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