Almost made it up Beinn Liath Mhor with son
Route: Beinn Liath Mhor, Achnashellach
Munros: Beinn Liath Mhòr
Date walked: 01/04/2018
Time taken: 5 hours
Distance: 10km
Ascent: 800m
My son (14) and I attempted this route on Easter Sunday. It was fairly cold in the wind but fine whenever we dipped into shelter. There was little or no snow below 600m but the pools of water were freezing over from about 350m upwards.
We followed the route up from the station and just as the guide predicted, failed to take the left turn which is now marked by a sign but seemed to be directing us back down stream. Exactly as it says on the website we wandered through the wood as the trail petered out until we hit the deer fence. There was a sort of ladder at the north eastern end of the fence.
Once we were pack on the stalkers path the going was excellent and we made our way fairly quickly into the glen. The views up to Beinn Liath Mhor and across to Sgorr Ruadh were amazing. Through the binoculars the snow cornices on Leth Chreag were amazingly deep and overhung.
As we got higher up on the path the going got tougher with long stretches of deep icy snow which were too large to walk around. The cloud came down, it started to snow and the wind was extremely cold by this point. We were well wrapped up and had sticks but no crampons so decided to call it a day at the first of the three peaks, well below the Munro. The snow and ice was just too thick.
Going down was almost as tricky as coming up but as soon as we dropped into shelter the clouds blew through and the view across to the buttresses on to the west of us with sun on the snow was something I wont forget for a long time.
My son and I were disappointed not to make it to the munro but it was still a fantastic day and I look forward to trying again when spring finally makes an appearance.
We followed the route up from the station and just as the guide predicted, failed to take the left turn which is now marked by a sign but seemed to be directing us back down stream. Exactly as it says on the website we wandered through the wood as the trail petered out until we hit the deer fence. There was a sort of ladder at the north eastern end of the fence.
Once we were pack on the stalkers path the going was excellent and we made our way fairly quickly into the glen. The views up to Beinn Liath Mhor and across to Sgorr Ruadh were amazing. Through the binoculars the snow cornices on Leth Chreag were amazingly deep and overhung.
As we got higher up on the path the going got tougher with long stretches of deep icy snow which were too large to walk around. The cloud came down, it started to snow and the wind was extremely cold by this point. We were well wrapped up and had sticks but no crampons so decided to call it a day at the first of the three peaks, well below the Munro. The snow and ice was just too thick.
Going down was almost as tricky as coming up but as soon as we dropped into shelter the clouds blew through and the view across to the buttresses on to the west of us with sun on the snow was something I wont forget for a long time.
My son and I were disappointed not to make it to the munro but it was still a fantastic day and I look forward to trying again when spring finally makes an appearance.
Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Comments: 3
-
anderew
- Activity: Munro compleatist
- Mountain: Liathach
- Place: Torridon
- Member: YHA, RSPB
- Ideal day out: An epic walk into the heart of the wilderness with tough climbs and amazing views. I love ridge walks but have to admit to a lack of confidence when it gets high and exposed (I crawled along Crob Goch). Hate midges and descending on scree.
- Munro rounds: 21
- Munros: 48
- Filter reports
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 10 km
- Ascent: 800m
- Munros: 1
- Joined: Mar 30, 2018
- Last visited: Jul 24, 2022
- Total posts: 1 | Search posts