Crampon abuse on Creise

[RTMcB]

NB: GPS batteries ran out just as we descended from the bealach at 698m, hence hairy descent not shown!

Creise_01_03_14.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Missed out on bagging Creise last year, it looked damn fine from Meall a' Bhuiridh. But SMRussell was too knakered from a Stone Roses gig the night before and ice climbing in the morning

From the start in Glen Etive there's a boggy bypass route, so as to give the cottage residents "privacy", Grrr, it was filthy! We opted to do the Corbett Beinn Mhic Chasgaig first. After about one KM we reached an interesting bridge for crossing the Alt Coire Ghiubhasan. The path leading through glen was very wet and boggy. It was a tough pull up wet grassy, heathery, snowy hillside. Once the snowline was reached crampons weren't necessary, we were shielded from the wind (for the time being). The summit was easily reached with fantastic views to be had in most directions. We could see the ominous dark clouds blowing in from the SW. The descent S, then SE off Beinn Mhic Chasgaig required crampons and axes but was straightforward.

We caught up with Weaselmaster and Sick Kid just after the bealach at 698. Their route up would be our route down. The winds had intensified as we were now on an exposed ridge. Our legs were getting blasted with hailstones driven by 50mph winds! Debated whether or not to put waterproof troos on but decided they would probably get blown away. It was an easy but long pull up the broad shoulder to Criese. The crampons were great in the strong gusts. The summit cairn was buried under the snow and the pronounced cornices meant we weren't going near the edges. We would have liked to have carried on to Clach Leathad but the high winds and cornices made us turn for home.

We headed south from the bealach at 698m. We knew it was going to be steep from the map and it was indeed really steep It was a descent of about 200m, if we slipped there wasn't going to be much to stop our fall, except from the rocks and the rushing water of Allt Coire Odhair . We kept our crampons on as they gave good purchase, first on the snowy heather then later on the slippy rock, as we gingerly made our way down. Definitely easier going up than down! With great relief we made it to the river and used that as our path out until we could see a drier alternative.


01 Mar 2014 10 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Path in up Allt a'Choarainn


01 Mar 2014 7 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Lovely deep pools


01 Mar 2014 11 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Big Bookle


01 Mar 2014 20 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
The Anoach Mor ridge


01 Mar 2014 17 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Interesting bridge crossing!



01 Mar 2014 23 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr


01 Mar 2014 26 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr


01 Mar 2014 37 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr


01 Mar 2014 25 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Approaching corbett summit


01 Mar 2014 33 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Summit shot


01 Mar 2014 29 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr


01 Mar 2014 34 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Broad ridge leading up to Criese


01 Mar 2014 42 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Stob a' Ghlais Choire from summit


01 Mar 2014 45 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Meall a' Bhuiridh


01 Mar 2014 47 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
rtmcb, weaselmaster and sick kid, all snapped by smrussell


01 Mar 2014 50 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Relief after a safe if hairy descent


01 Mar 2014 54 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Thinking about a well deserved pint!


01 Mar 2014 65 A550 by r.t.mcb, on Flickr
Glen Etive deer

[weaselmaster]

Good to have met up with you both.
Not surprised the descent was unpleasant from our experiences going up it... - we were a bit worried and wondered where you'd got to, but saw you appear on the swampy bit just before we drove off.

[SMRussell]

Good to have met up with you both.
Not surprised the descent was unpleasant from our experiences going up it... - we were a bit worried and wondered where you'd got to, but saw you appear on the swampy bit just before we drove off.

Cheers for thinking of us We both made it back in one piece after that precarious descent. A pint and a night in the Roy Bridge Hotel* well earned.

* not a fancy establishment but friendly staff, beer, food, hot water and very soft, comfy beds. What more does the average hill walker require?

[wilkiemurray]

nice piccies and report - did this same route almost exactly one year ago

[scottishkennyg]

Nice one..some good images there..