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Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh


Postby gman » Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:58 pm

Route description: Creise and Meall a'Bhùiridh from the Ski centre

Munros included on this walk: Creise, Meall a' Bhùiridh

Date walked: 01/02/2012

Time taken: 7.15 hours

Distance: 10.5 km

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Got to the ski centre car park about 9:45 and realised I'd left map & compass at home :? Weather was fine and there were plenty of skiers around so thought I'd risk it - directions I could remember were: staight up ski lift, right at hut, head up ridge, then another ridge to Creise. Couldn't remember which way to go for summit of Creise though, so did both.

The path is slightly left of chair lift pillars, grass & rock with streams running down which had frozen into thick ice so was a bit tricky up & down.
Creise_01Feb2012_0001.jpg

Before the hut there's a sign pointing right towards the ridge up Meall a'Bhuiridh:
Creise_01Feb2012_0004.jpg

Ridge rising to the left with Creise in background, there are ski lifts going up the direct route and skiers coming down that way, so probably not a good idea to take a short cut:
Creise_01Feb2012_0005.jpg

Snow was thick but powdery, couldn't make a snowball :( Some rocky/icy sections though.
Creise_01Feb2012_0014.jpg

There are warning signs for skiers near the edge of ridge and on rocky sections so this is best for walkers. Second snafu of day - camera battery gave up after this shot, but warming up in glove did the trick for about 5 shots at a time.
Creise_01Feb2012_0017.jpg

Bit of a slog uphill in the snow, but there's a dramatic view at the top:
Creise_01Feb2012_0019.jpg

Cairn just to the right of this with ridge to Creise. Lens misted due to breathing on battery:
Creise_01Feb2012_0021.jpg

Then it was off down the ridge, looks worse than it is even in snow. Great views on the way:
Creise_01Feb2012_0027.jpg

Clearer shot of ridge:
Creise_01Feb2012_0028.jpg

Was quite steep at Creise end of ridge so put crampons on for extra grip. There's a cairn at the top of the ridge so it's easy to find on way back.
Creise_01Feb2012_0031.jpg

Stopped here for lunch & views. Saw a couple heading along ridge towards me, and a group of 8 or so at summit of Meall a'Bhuridh, they didn't come across ridge though.
Creise_01Feb2012_0034.jpg

Couldn't remember which cairn marked summit, so went to Clach Leathad first, bit of cornice so kept away from edge:
Creise_01Feb2012_0035.jpg

Great views all round so kept performing CPR on camera battery:
Creise_01Feb2012_0037.jpg

Steepish bit to top:
Creise_01Feb2012_0039.jpg

More hills:
Creise_01Feb2012_0043.jpg

Cairn & view:
Creise_01Feb2012_0051.jpg

Creise_01Feb2012_0053.jpg

Then it was back to other end of Creise ridge. I spotted the couple still heading up the ridge, looked like they had skis on their backs.
Creise_01Feb2012_0058.jpg

Buachaille Etive Mor:
Creise_01Feb2012_0061.jpg

Met 3 guys at cairn, they had come straight up Creise North side. Asked what this was like - 'interesting'. Wisely decided to go back the way I came.
Creise_01Feb2012_0062.jpg

Bumped into the couple on skis on my way back to ridge, they had spotted me in front of them on the ridge and thought they had caught me up a bit. Didn't tell them I'd also been to Clach Leathad as their patience appeared to be wearing thin with all the skis off/crampons on & vice versa routine. Meall a'Bhuiridh:
Creise_01Feb2012_0063.jpg

Back on ridge, crampons back off about halfway along as it was rockier underfoot. Got to Meall a'Bhuiridh again:
Creise_01Feb2012_0066.jpg

Last photo before battery finally gave up:
Creise_01Feb2012_0067.jpg

Got walking poles out for descent but couldn't lock them with twist grip - I had packed them in car overnight to save time in the morning and reckon they'd frozen as they worked fine at home later.

Straightforward back to car park, final section along chairlift was pretty icy & treacherous though.
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby SusieThePensioner » Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:41 pm

Really enjoyed your report and some fantastic photos :thumbup:

gman wrote:Great views all round so kept performing CPR on camera battery:

Good job you remembered the correct procedure :lol:
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby Redrock » Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:01 pm

Thanks for the insight into these two hills, gman! I've been avoiding these two since the snows came as I had the idea that the top of the ridge leading up to Creise would probably be corniced or at least snowed over! I'll maybe give them a go soon, now! It looks like you had a great day - you've got some really good pics! :D Just as well you brought the old battery back to life! :lol:
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby pigeon » Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:27 pm

Nice one gman ,tried this just before christmas but were foiled by bad weather so never made it over to criese,will try again soon.Some great pictures you got there 8)
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby PeteR » Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:30 pm

Nice report, and some great pictures. Done the battery CPR myself a few times in the past. You got a fine selection of photos though despite the battery :D Really enjoyed these two when I did them :D
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby davetherave » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:09 pm

Well done gman. Remember the navigation equipment neext time. :lol: i have been there, done that :lol:

Nice pics of the connecting ridge. When we did Beinn Mhic Chasgaig and Creise, we spent a bit of time trying to find that ridge in poor conditions. Was far to dodgy to go for it in the conditions we had, glad that was our descision.

We are also planning coming up from Creise's north side.
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Re: Creise, Meall a'Bhuiridh

Postby quoman » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:20 pm

Quality report gman

Excellent photo's to boot good to get out in the good weather though.
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