Curved Ridge, Buachaille Etive Mor Sunday 10-10-10
Cloud 2500-4000ft occasional Sun, Fair Breeze.
Start 10:30 Summit 14:00 Finish 15:45
Time: 5:15 hrs
Distance: 5.5k / 3.5 miles
Ascent: 740m / 2360 ft
Scrambling Grade 2/3
Participants: Mayaculpa, +13
Start from the car park on A82 at Altnafeadh. GR: NN220563
The Herdsman of Etive, Buachaille Etive Mor, is one of Britain's most evocative mountains and ceratainly one of the most photographed.
Curved ridge is one of the prominent features of the Buchaille seen from the A82 as a curving ridge that passes underneath the face of Rannoch Wall. Graded as a 2 it is climbable when wet, the rhyolite offering a good grip.
I did it for the first time last year bagging Stob Dearg and then continued on along its sinuous ridge to claim Stob na Broige
There are many scrambling lines that can be taken on Curved ridge and further up, we found crampon marks showing the lines used in winter.
Care needs to be taken with route finding, especially in poor visibility to ensure you ARE on Curved Ridge and NOT something more challenging.
A helmet should be worn on the ridge proper, and specially if in a group. There's a lot of loose rock, and it's steep.
The scrambling, sustained and airy, progressed at various degrees from pleasant inclines to ooh that's steep in sections from 2m to 20m. Most difficulties can be avoided if needed.
From about half way up, the huge face of Ranoch Wall became visible. Climbers on Agag's Groove and a team following another line were seen.
Shortly after that the dark looming mass of Crowberry Tower was seen, and before long we parked ourselves underneath it's ramparts and decided whether to climb it or no.
Some will, and some won't do Crowberry Tower. It's what makes the route a grade 3 rather than a 2. First it requires some nerve to traverse a grassy notch less of 1.5m with a huge drop if you slip. Having done that the climb up the tower is straight forward, and those that dodged the tower will now take photos of you in your triumph.
At this point the cloud lowered and further views were taken from us.
Getting off the tower is pretty much a vertical downclimb of 3m of damp rock in the dark recess behind the tower. This is the most difficult piece of the entire route.
From here it was than 15 mins easy scrambling to the Summit of Stob Dearg 1022m, and adventures end.
Here we had a bite to eat and celebrated the achievement. For me it was sweet. I faced my fear and conquered Crowberry Tower. last year I had walked away from it, knowing of course that it would be there another day and so would I.
Some decided to walk on and bag Stob na Broige. Preferring an easier day I descended by the tourist path into Coire na Tulaich and down to Altnafeadh.
For those wanting a less exciting route, a slog up the Tourist route will do to bag the Booky, and on a clear day will be rewarded with fabulous views.
Route including Stob na Broige 12.2k / 7.6 miles
Buachaille Etive Mor. Curved Ridge is left of centre.
I took the red route down this time
Where's the summit gone ?
Easy scrambling to start
Gaining height over easier ground
Onwards and upwards
Looking over to Ranoch Wall and climbers on Agag's Groove
Closeup of climbers on Ranoch Wall
Three points of contact at all times
YEssssssssssss :-)
Crowberry Tower peers down
Ranoch Moor below takes on autumn colours
You need helmets on this route, plenty of loose rock!!
Crowberry Tower looming large
Toward Stob Dearg Summit from Crowberry Tower. The view opposite across
the moor would be stunning 'cept for the mist.
Stob Dearg Summit in the mist.
The Tourist route to Altnafeadh.
