Is there some way to fix this consistent crash on travelling to cloud top? The game continues for 3 to 7 seconds then crashes every. single. time. nothing seems to work.

It's not a known issue or anything so we would need to see your load order. With Wrye Bash: right-click file-header > list mods > paste into post.

Actually I believe I found the culprit.

If you steal the book from Earana right away after she gives you her notes, then try to go to cloud top (whether you turn the book into the guild guy first or not does not matter), the game crashes as soon as you get within visual range of the pedestal you are supposed to zap to get the fingers spell.

Apparently there was a patch that fixed this that I used to have, but I dont have it anymore.

I have been able since posting to reproduce the crash with or without FCOM installed, so I apologize but it looks to NOT be a specific FCOM issue.