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This was day two at Blackrock Cottage, the
beautifully situated cottage on Rannoch Moor. I did this walk around
Creise and Meall a' Bhuiridh with Colin and it meant we could start from
the front door, a rarity for us since multi-hour travelling is usually
involved in getting to the hills.
To Creise
The weather forecasters had predicted a disappointment today but the
weather was looking superb when we got up, with blue skies dominating.
Yet we knew it would be a mixture of the sun and showers and we headed
up to the ski centre car park to find the path across to Creise. The ski
centre was bustling with the mountain biking, but we left the car park
and headed onto the moorland. We found a clear (though boggy) path
scored onto the grass and we followed it out from the car park. Ahead,
the Buachaille looked awesome and the sun was out. I was completely
happy, although didn't hold too high a pace at this point. I was just
out the tail end of a virus so I wasn't all gun's blazing yet...
Then as we approached Creise, Colin asked what I thought about climbing
Sron na Creise. It's a Grade 3 scramble, and superbly exposed - I knew
that by looking at it. I didn't know how I'd perform, although the
possibility filled me with apprehension and excitement. Two guys were
above us climbing onto it, and it wasn't long before we were climbing up
behind them.
Sron na Creise
We crossed the grassy slopes and got onto the ridge, closing the gap
between us and the other group. A vague path was worm into the ridge
which made the going easier and we followed it upwards in the correct
direction. The crags up high looked impressive, and unclimbable, but I
thought I would think about that later. Exposure in most cases doesn't
usually bother me, but it did on these lower slopes. Maybe I was aware
of what lay above? But I felt that unease all the way up the mountain,
although I acknowledged it and tried to explain away. It wouldn't go
away, and never does when you want it to. I was going to have to deal
with it. We followed the ridge up beside the crags, generally staying on
the left hand side of the ridge, the slopes continuing to climb at a 45°
angle. We passed the other guys, exchanged some brief conversation
before heading up into a sort of gully. A rock wall closed in on the
left hand side and scree poured down: large boulders, angular, poised
and ready to go. I'd been in the lead, but Colin took over since I'd
become hesitant to climb. If I stepped on these boulders, I'd send them
crashing onto the guys below. And here onwards marked a change in my
mind. I climbed while occupied about stepping carefully. I stopped
thinking about the exposure and had to think about where I was. Above
the scree was the first tough move of the scramble. It was a couple of
moves but I was putting hand to rock, pulling myself up with the the
most mental void beneath me.
The anxiety of the exposure disappeared but in many ways was still
present. I was above a point of no return but felt fine about it. I'd
broken through a barrier, felt my confidence rise through the roof and
now whatever terrain lay ahead would be dealt with and risen above. I was a
good climber without the exposure paralysing me, I thought. My mind
turned crazed with the adrenaline, and now I was feeling this route,
channelling the adrenaline into something positive. I couldn't pull the
smile from my face.
Much of the upper section of the route is a blur in my mind, but the
final moves at the top of the route stick out for the mind bending drop
they're placed above. I was in such a cool place and I could really
enjoy it. The final moves really are hands on - place hand, place other
hand, get foot up, look for next foothold and lift up! We did this a
couple of times and then came out onto flatter ground. The last
part of the climb was a rock knoll, made easier by lack of an immediate
drop below. But I was high on adrenaline and nerves and a realised path
bypassed the obstacle on the left hand side. My resolve and state of
mind left me when I was given an alternative and Colin climbed over the
top of the last bump alone. I followed the path around onto the top of
Sron na Creise and reverted back to 'hill walker' as quickly as I'd
turned into 'scrambler'.
Creise and two Munro Tops
Walking is always dull once you've come off the high of climbing,
but I was happy enough to be on the flat, so Colin and I continued
across Stob a' Ghlais Choire to Creise with a wind blasting from the
west. On Creise, the cloud briefly closed in and the horizontal
hailstones stung pretty bad. On Creise we detoured across to Clach
Leathad, wind still blowing hard. Than back and to the ridge across to
Meall a' Bhuiridh, the second Munro today and my Munro #80. But the
entire time I thought about climbing, getting off the high and trying to
recollect the insane confidence I'd gained on it. It was just too
amazing. A lot of climbers seem to say the following, and I almost feel like it's
a cliché saying it, but I'd overcome my fears. I've done a lot of
scrambling, but it's never felt like it did on Sron na Creise. The
exposure and difficulty level (and the difficulty level in relation to the
exposure) were pitched right to expand my
abilities but not enough to overstretch as to make me reach 'shit
myself' point.
Meall a' Bhuiridh and Descent
Meall a' Bhuiridh is a big hill and it's a big slog, especially since I
was feeling tired. But the west ridge is just boulders was not bad
ground for an ascent. For the record, the descent off Creise was easy -
only a bit of snow left in the way with big granite blocks for holds on
the steepest part. We slogged up Meall a' Bhuiridh, I gathered remaining
energy together to the sound of Tool's album AEnema (I'm really into
this music thing, when the mood suits) and completed the final slopes to
the top.
After a few cold minutes on the summit, we headed off Meall a' Bhuiridh
down what seems the most boring slope in Scotland. Good thing then
that someone should think to spice it up a little with a ski centre. The
descent was a little punishing until we reached the last of the winter
snowfields and ran down, losing 300m in about ten minutes. But a painful
walk back down past the mountain bike trail (thronged with bikers -
quite entertaining) brought us back to the car park and ten minutes
later to the cottage for a fire, warmth, and food.
Images: Descent
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