Meall a'Chrasgaidh via its East Ridge. A Different Approach

[Cairngorm creeper]

Neither of us can remember where the idea of ascending Meall a Chrasgaidh via its east ridge originated from, but having studied the map it looked an interesting way of approaching what has been described as an unremarkable Munro. A bit of exploring helped us finalise our route viewtopic.php?f=9&t=69323 and on this unseasonably, glorious sunny January day we set off with high hopes of a mini adventure. .
At 9:15 we parked in layby at Breamore junction, (where the A832 meets the A835) and walked a very short way up the road to join the track.

The Route

The first km followed a very rutted track through forestry, where a large number of trees have recently been brought down by the wind, but it was not long before we were out of the woods and on the open moorland. The ground was frozen, the mud underfoot was crackling and crunching in a most sastfying way and the visibility and views in all directions were excellent.

Low lying mist in the east

AnTeallach

First views of Carn Na Criche

Looking back Across Loch Broom to Assynt

We followed the stream across the moor, over a hill and into a magical small glen. Magical both in appearance and the regularity with which the path across it appeared and disappeared amongst tussocks, hillocks, bogs and stream. . Our route finding was not helped by the brilliant sunlight as the only way we could see what was in front of us was to stop every few steps to shade our eyes. Eventually we reached the large cairn marking the Bealach between Meall a Bhainne and Creag Raineach Mor. From here it is easy walking to Creag Raineach Mor, a superb view point, of Loch a Mhadaidh and surrounding hills near and far. But we didn't linger, we were on a mission and could see our objective.

11:20 Approaching Meall a'Chrasgaidh from Creag Raineach Mor

and as we got closer to Meall a Chrasgaidh the route became clearer.

The Route

We went up the ridge on the right of the picture and came down the good path into Coire a Mhadaidh traversing the craggy side of Meall a Chrasgaidh.
The ridge exceeded our expectations We mostly followed a very steep grassy path that wound its way through crags with some short sections of unavoidable easy scrambling but it looked as though you could scramble fairly continuously all the way up the ridge on good rock.

The start of the east ridge

Winding our way through the rock

Looking up the gully

And down the gully

Short sections easy scrambling

Impressive when you look down

Thank fully there were no impassable obstacles and although we could have descended our route it may have involved crawling backwards on the steeper sections. All too soon it was all over and we were on the grassy slope leading to Meall a Chrasgaidh summit.

Looking between TheFannich peaks to the south

12:45 The summit

A nice shelter for lunch with a view across to Assynt.

Refreshed and revitalised it was time to make our way down this time following a better known but still impressive and enjoyable path down Am Burach and traversing the craggy east face of Meall a Chrasgaidh.

Bealch with Carn Na Crich

The path was extremely icy and we were glad of the Kahtoola KTS crampons, but when it came to crossing a couple of steep snow gullies the Kahtoolas did feel very secure and I regretted not bringing an ice axe.

Wishing I had an Ice Axe

The path became a little wider, and the ice avoidable but the situation and views remained spectacular.

Traversing the craggy face of Meall a'Chrasgaidh

Looking across to Bein Dearg

Loch a Mhadaidh

Time to recross the magical Glen

We have to cross the Glen somehow

An Teallach in the evening sun

back through the forest

Troublesome Tree

A very satisfying and fun mini adventure and anyone finding Meall a Chrasgaidh unremarkable should try approaching it a different way.

[jmarkb]

Nice report! Looks good: I'm always on the lookout for interesting "off-piste" routes, so thanks for posting this!

[Cairngorm creeper]

If you do go that way I hope you enjoy it and I would be interested to know what you think of the scrambling on the ridge.

[BlackPanther]

I think most of us walk over MC en route to Sgurr nan Clach Geala, without even realizing, we passed over a Munro!

Interesting approach, will keep it in mind for the future. I'm running out of new local hills to climb, so an alternative route for a repeat is always welcome.

[Cairngorm creeper]

I think most of us walk over MC en route to Sgurr nan Clach Geala, without even realizing, we passed over a Munro!

Interesting approach, will keep it in mind for the future. I'm running out of new local hills to climb, so an alternative route for a repeat is always welcome.

It. Is a good one for a short day (alough the Coire would be treacherous in snow) but also could be used as an approach to Sgurr nan Clach Geala if you are looking for something different.

[jmarkb]

Interesting approach, will keep it in mind for the future. I'm running out of new local hills to climb, so an alternative route for a repeat is always welcome.

I once walked in from Lochdrum to Loch a' Mhadaidh and did a round over Sgurr Mor and BLMF. You could easily include this ridge in that which would make a good day out.

[Jaxter]

This looks like great fun!! And you picked a good day for it too

Might see if I can work this into my plans for these hills

[Cairngorm creeper]

This looks like great fun!! And you picked a good day for it too

Might see if I can work this into my plans for these hills

It was fun and a lovely day but pleased to see the snow back now
I am sure you would like the ridge if it fitted on your route, really surprised it does seem to get a mention anywhere.

[Coop]

So annoying when you've exerted all that energy climbing a mountain and someone blocks your path with a pesky tree

Great report and good reading. Well in

[Cairngorm creeper]

So annoying when you've exerted all that energy climbing a mountain and someone blocks your path with a pesky tree

Great report and good reading. Well in

Thanks Coop, that tree was the crux of the route

[litljortindan]

Interesting indeed. Not sure about your limbo dancing technique at the end there though!

[Cairngorm creeper]

Interesting indeed. Not sure about your limbo dancing technique at the end there though!

Definitely more limbo practice required