HIGH SUMMER BIVVY, AN TEALLACH TRAVERSE

An Teallach in early morning light

Ian nearing the summit of Sgurr Fiona

Loch Toll an Lochain from Glas Mheall Liath

Fabulous swirling cloud

First light in Loch Toll an Lochain

Sunrise, Loch Toll an Lochain

Corrag Buidhe and Lord Barkeleys Seat from Sgurr Fiona

Ian celebrating a fabulous morning on Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

The ridge up to Sgurr Fiona

Beinn Dearg Mhor and Loch na Sheallag

Bidein a' Ghals Thuill from Sgurr Fiona

Carn Liath & Loch Toll an Lochain

Enjoying the sun

Loch Toll an Lochain

Brocken Spectre

Ian on the steep slopes out of the corrie

Torridonian Sandsone is wonderful

An Teallach

The summer we are experiencing at the moment seems to be the odd day of good , sunny weather then back to the usual. One of these short 'weather windows' was Monday evening into Tuesday morning this week. A look at the North West Highlands area and it was indicating for some clear conditions, the best place to be for sun. With a cold evening in store then a night under the stars should mean a midge free night. So a planned bivvy and a traverse of the finest mountain on this planet was hatched. I gave Ian a quick ring to see if he was up for it, he never thought to long! He had a couple of days off so all good. After some leisurely travel from Aviemore with a stop off to gear shop, a cafe break and an evening meal at the Dundonnel we eventually got going at 8pm! Travelling light weight we headed into Loch Toll an Lochain which nestles beautifully in An Teallachs' most spectacular corrie. Surprisingly there is a lot of water in the Garbh Allt at the moment and the ground was quite wet but we eventually arrived at the lochan at 10.30pm with still a glimmer of light in the now clear skies. For some reason (both of us can't remember) we thought it may be a good idea to head up into the corrie headwall in darkness and get onto the ridge. It's some years since I last come down here in daylight and I forgot how craggy this area is plus it was very wet underfoot. We revised the idea and got back to the our original planned spot at 2 am! A midge free, windless and glorious starlit night was just wonderful. Up at dawn meant we only got a couple of hours rest but what a sunrise! We were soon packed up and heading onto the steep slopes of Glas Mheall Liath. Absolutely stunning light and views across to Sgurr Fiona, Corrag Buidhe and Sail Liath soaring high above  Loch Toll an Lochain. It is a while since I was last  on this Munro Top outlier and I forgot how wonderful the views are from here. We savoured every bit of ridge walking with cameras going into overdrive. We stood on the first Munro of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill with a perfect angle of sun cast onto Sgurr Fiona and the classic view of An Teallach. It felt we had the whole mountain to ourselves. As we headed across the ridge we enjoyed fabulous cloud formations, swirling around the tops of the peaks giving some stunning atmosphere to the entire mountain. Standing on the second Munro of Sgurr Fiona and only mid morning. We had enjoyed the finest weather for the day as the cloud started to sit on the tops of the hills. A truly memorable day (there have been many) on An Teallach. And that is why it is the finest mountain on this planet :)