- Creag na Cailliche - Aim for RHS
A lovely stone dyke wall is provided as a fixed navigation aid and leads right up very easy slopes to the higher ground.
- Stone dyke leading up ridge
- View to Spean Bridge munros
- Note variation in height of stone walls
A fence line then takes over and continues up near to the summit cairn. (1020) Great views.
- View back down ridge - fence posts on LHS
- Summit looking SW
- Meall Coire Chaoille rais top
I continued east along the ridge toward the Coire Ardair skirting the steep northern corrie and alongside the big chimera shaped cairn.
- Northern Corrie of CM
- Summit Cairns contrast
Just before the CA cliffs descend NW down to see through the window. A gradual climb up onto the ridge leads to the first of the two cairns on top of Stob Poite CoireArdair. (1120). this position provided superb views over to the impressive Coire Ardair.
- Summit of Stob Poite Coire Ardair
- Coire Ardair with CM in background
- Across to Coire Ardair
An old fence line provides a useful navigation feature to follow along the ridge over the intermediate tops at 1051m and 991m. The ridge walk provides some great views into the Coire a Chriochairein and surrounding mountains.
- NE along ridge - fenceline
- Intermediate top cairn
- NE along ridge - nice snow formations
One ice covered section leading down to the final ridge required the use of crampons to avoid a wee fall.
- Back up Coire Ardair
The ridge continued easily up to the final summit cairn of Carn Liath at 1006m (1320) Time for some shelter and a wee bit of lunch.
- Final wee ridge section up to Carn Liath
- View back down over ridge walk from CL ridge
- View back up to window from slopes of CL
I descended down the snow clad south ridge to lower grassy slopes and back to car at 1520. Easy to see how some people can miss the entrance to the little silverbirch wood as the small cairn looked to have been sabotaged.
I only noticed this as it was exactly where I discovered that my ice axe had decided to part company with the rucksack. Back at the car I decided to change my boots to summer ones and retrace my route back up Carn Liath. I passed 16 people without sign of the missing kit. Some 90 minutes later the runaway kit was found buried in the snow on the ridge. Nice one, note to self to avoid using a carabiner without a locking screw.
Safely reunited with the kit and back in car at 1820 it was time to collect the bike and make a belated date with the chipper at Spean Bridge. A nice view of Big Ben from a north layby sowed the seeds for a future visit.
- Ben Nevis from a layby
On reflection this route up from Moy was very gentle and provided easy access to the summit of Creag Meagaidh with minimal exposure. The use of a bike or two cars makes this a very good way to tackle the whole circuit with the added benefit of starting with the highest munro first and passing everyone else walking the tourist route.
Shame the about the reduced quality of the downloaded images on the blog as the original resolutions are superb. Surely it must be time for the golf season to kick off now.
Well done on the February walk and another sound one on the CMD..
