Hi I am planning a backpacking route from Braemar to Aviemore in a couple of weeks. I am hoping that the weather will be good another to take in Ben Avon en-route. If visibility is really poor I am thinking of crossing the Sneck between Ben Avon and Beinn a Bhuird and walking down the valley Slochd Mor to the river Avon. Has anyone been over this pass and is it safe to descend northwards to Slochd Mor? - the map shows it as fairly steep with craggy bits. The southern approach looks pretty gentle. Cheers 
|
 |
 I've never been down, but it looked straightforward the last time i was there. A few rocky outcrops if i remember right, but nothing to worry about. I'm sure someone on here has been down that way.
|
|
 Ive walked up it from the south. good stalkers path not too steep. other side looked ok but i didn't go down it. i'd say you could pick your way down fairly easy. the sneck.
|
| Edited: 08/07/08 18:38 |
 I'm like Mike I have been across The Sneck several times when linking Beinn a'Buird with Ben Avon. However my impression is that the descent north from The Sneck was steep and rocky. Better going over Ben Avon and down it's North East ridge I think.
|
|
I,ve been that way before dropping down northwards from the lowest point of the Sneck.From memory it was steep and loose but was quite safe. You have to make your own track for most of the way before joining a track on the left of the burn which leads to a bridge over the Avon just below the Ponymans hut. If it doesnt look good Lindsay,s suggestion is the best thing to do.You can drop down the shoulder of Sron na h-lolaire from the summit and dropback into Slochd Mor
|
|
 This is the only photo I have that shows the northern exit (right of photo). I was coming back from having failed to summit Ben Avon, I was pitched to the south of the Sneck (having come down it from Beinn a'Bhuird the day before).
|
|
If the weather is rubbish, you'll probably know that at the top of Ben Avon, so wouldn't just descending more or less north from the top down the ridge to the River Avon be a safer escape route?
|
|
I was thinking that if the weather was rubbish I would probably leave out Ben Avon. Just thinking of using the Sneck instead as a lower alternative route from south to north.
|
|
I never thought of looking at my Photographs and came across one of the Sneck - photo 12. It is taken from the opposite side than Cunning Duncan's. Sorry I don't know how to publish a photo on this post.
|
| Edited: 08/07/08 23:22 |
Hi Lindsay, Adding photos just needs the URL of the photo, eg by right-clicking on it and copying the image location. Next, back on OM, select the "insert image or movie" icon (wee green one to the left of the speel-checkr). A popup window appears, and you paste in the URL. And get something like this: Well, not quite this, as it appears at the top of the post, and the photo needs to be cut/pasted (dragging didn't work for me). You can also get the image from the OM gallery, or upload from your computer (250kb max). HTH
|
|
Thanks Duncan it worked. I'll have to take a note of your instructions for future use.
|
|
I haven't used it much, so just noticed that you were able to resize the image too, Lindsay. The teacher becomes the student. The cycle is complete. 
|
|
Duncan you told me that it needed to be 250kb so I copied the photo onto a picture folder I have and resized it using Google. It was then a sake of browsing for it and bingo it was there. Without your instructions I would still be pasting a link to the photos so thanks for that. May even annoy a few OMers by pasting an occasional photo on my Expedition and Photos thread when I add a walk. Slainte.
|
|
|
|
|
More sneck please. Oh, ok then.
|
|
 Here's another one. If you click to get the larger size, I think you can see that there is what looks like a fairly straightforward way down on the North side.
|
|
Yeah i couldn't see it being a problem, just abit of picking your way down. Even the map agrees with me..For a change.
|
|
![http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/members/images/13396/Gallery/12_The_Sneck[1].jpg](http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/members/images/13396/Gallery/12_The_Sneck[1].jpg)
