This is the area south of Buachaille Etive Mor as far as the A85 (Tyndrum to Oban road). It includes the peaks around the Glencoe Ski Centre (Creise and Meall a’Bhuiridh) alongside eleven other Munros and many other peaks above 600m. Highlights such as Ben Cruachan (1126m) and Stob Ghabhar (1090) remind all-comers that this is an area of high mountains and low glens.
From Glen Etive by Ceitlin Cottage to Meall nan Eun. Approach & last part of descent is rather a mess, indeed is much of Glen Etive, due to the hydro scheme. We must hope that reinstatement is better than on some other schemes. Only small snow patches remain on the is west side of Meall nan Eun, a little more crossing Beinn Tarsuinn & on east sides in general. The ramp up Stob Coire Albanaich was full of snow so Istarted up the rocks of the rib on the left. As these were streaked with ice, I put on crampons & headed up hard snow, still on the rib. The neve steepened for the final few metres to the ridge & I thought it prudent to have axe in hand too, but not needed. The ridge to the summit held a thin stripe of soft snow but I chose this rather than take off crampons, until I had seen the descent. At the top, I took them off & ran down soft snowfields to the col and down, losing 800m in the first hour. 5hr 50m for the round (19).
