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Am returning this weekend with a couple of mates, our plan to traverse An Teallach and finish off the Munros down Gleann na Muice.  It's 25 years since I had a very late return to the bothy from there, getting back at 10 pm.  We came back on the river's left bank, where there's a path shown, but this causes another river crossing.  We waded across in Yetis then, but I no longer use them. 

Is the ground bad on the right bank - is it worth staying on the path? 

Also, any suggestions on where to cross the rivers?  From Shenaval 4 years ago, we crossed more or less on a straight line, I think, to the de-moted Beinn na Chlaidheimh opposite, had to pretty well crawl  the last part to its summit in the gales, then abandoned our mission returning to the bothy by a higher crossing as the river rose rapidly with the fast-melting snow.  We stayed in the bothy next day as the loch extended east in an alarming manner. It was very wet indeed!

Thanks.

alexander rae wrote (see)

A few walk photos

I went for a wander towards the glen at the base of  Glas Mheall Liath and Glas Mheall Mor, I followed the path that goes through the Rhododendrons.

Above are photod taken yesterday, the  ground is frosty and I would have thought the boggy bit on the other side of the river from Shenavall would be hard to walk on.

I found that I could cross Abhinn Ggeann na Muice in the area of where the path to Carnmore meets the river ( it could be down river from the Carnmore path on the Larachantivore  side ) there has been a change in the rivers course and there is a green grassy patch ( a bit like a small island ) you can cross on the boulders ( if they are not too icy ), when you get across the boggy bit heading towards Shenavall, if you cant get across Abhainn Strath na Sealga you can head up towards the birch trees along the river side ( going in a Loch an Nid direction ) and cross on boulders at the trees.

hope this helps

ps I have crossed the river near Achneigie on the  bends in the river where the old ruins and sheep fank is in the flat grassy ground where the Land Rover track starts twisting back and fore to go up the hill.

From my experiences in Fisherfield cross the Abhainn Srath na Sealga directly below Shenavall. You will see the obvious walker's path leading to the river bank.

You then cross some boggy ground to the Abhainn Gleann na Muice to near the private bothy at Larachantivore where a reasonable path runs up the west side of this stream.

Crossing the boggy area isn't pleasant. I've tried other options in that area but never found anything better.

If the streams are in spate there are no alternatives other than to wait until their level drops. I've known folks to be stranded on the wrong side of the water within insight of Shenavall and just having to wait. A bit too dangerous to cross these streams in spate.

Slainte

Lindsay

hi both,

Thanks very much for that.  So, on one's way out, say, having got to Larachantivore and heading up the glen, is it best to try to cross the river there or if too high, simpler to stay on the river's right bank (the east)?

It certainly is a wild area and rivers in spate rather scupper plans - including getting back to the bothy!  There was an interesting account in, I think, the MBA journal about 10 - 15 years ago of someone trying to get out of Shenaval back to the road.  Had an absolute pig of a trip.

I hav walked up Gleenn na Muice on the path till the end of the glen ( the west side of the river )  Its freezing ( or will be soon ) at present  and would expect it to be colder away from the coast, I would have thought you would be able to walk almost anywhere soon as long as it doesn't rain, the rivers are not very high at present and I would think the frost is holding some of the water that is about frozen. There was one car ar Corrie Hallie yesterday.

Last year when it was snowy I passed Shenavall on a walk and went out by Achneigie as it was easier to follow the Land Rover track than the footpath above Shenavall, but I knew it was going to be dark.

My recollection of the east side of the Abhainn Gleann na Muice is that it is quite rough going and pathless. It would be quite tiring using that side of the stream. AR is better located as he resides in that area, for an update on the weather so maybe worth contacting him before setting out to ascertain the current weather conditions and the state of the streams.

Slainte

Lindsay 

Its been freezing here for the last few nights with a slight breeze nearer the sea ( more than a slight breeze if you go high, it would cut you in half )

scottish road cameras

the link above may give an idea of what the roads are like.

Thanks again. Very cold on Dartmoor, too, minus 8 at 8 this morn. We leave this eve, will check conditions as we go and poss return to Fannichs if it looks too unsettled for An Teallach, then try later.  Plan to camp near Nest, which we were lucky to use in 1987 - so sad it's gone.

Has either of you done the traverse of AT in winter?  I have, but a very long time ago, and I can't remeber if we did the whole ridge or not - we weren't Munroing then and it only had one Munro anyway.   I'm a little worried that there is fresh snow forecast, which could give interesting conditions on it!

There will be a covering of snow  RD, it's been freezing all night and calm, its calm and sunny with a blue sky, everything will be frozen solid.

I've been up Sail Liath and thats as far as I've been, I returned to the Shenavall footpath the way I  had come.

 
IMG_5188 by hairypeatcutter, on Flickr

the photo was taken a few days ago An Teallach but there could be a bit more snow although it hasnt been snowing near the coast.

They are on about some snow but its been clear and starry over the last 3 nights , there is a slight breeze at sea level but not much (6mph ), it will be the same as the photo above

(  unless it snows ), I was walking on snow during the week and not sinking into it.