CREISE

A view from Creise Ian did not get. Buachaille Etive Mor in the sun, Ben Nevis in the distance. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com

A view from Creise Ian did not get. Buachaille Etive Mor in the sun, Ben Nevis in the distance. Photo tms.nickbramhall.com

         5.0 miles     850 metres

Start                            Thursday    02.42
Creise                                              03.55
Finish                                               04.32

Squares: blue - start & finish. Circles summits: green - this leg, red - done. Map Colin Matheson

Squares: blue - start & finish. Circles summits: green - this leg, red - done. Map Colin Matheson

Time:         Actual 1.50

Ian writes:

Well I really thought I had done this one before but as a gesture to the lads (and lass) I would go back again just to make sure …. Well we had time to spare and I couldn't think of anything better to do at 4 a.m. on a cold windswept morning!

When I and Diana drove at breakneck speed to the river crossing our expediency was not exactly rewarded by the revelation that the River Etive was in full foaming spate. Well I wasn't going to try Ed's river technique with all those rocks about. Back to the bridge on the main A82 I calculated that a further 2 ½ miles of glorious saturated bog had been added and I really was overcome in an ecstasy of delight at the sheer prospect of it all. Still I thought I may as well go up there and give the lads a chance of some shut-eye.

The bog was WET! But the quick scramble up the ridge was a delight in the cold dawny light of a morning that threatened rain. The dark brooding clouds marched in relentlessly to envelop me and the summit plateau in a grey swirling miasma.

Once at the summit I checked and rechecked my bearings and touched all the cairns and every stone they contained just to make sure … let's face it the chaps are a bit paricular about which hills I go up despite my willingness to create a shortfall in the number of Munros! Once certainty had dispelled doubt I raced back across the bog to an awaiting Diana where a 'ton' and in excess of car ride ended my little alternative excursion.

Peaks done   263     time taken   12 days 1 hour     peaks to go   14

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