AT: International Appalachian Trail

We haven’t had much time to rest since finishing the AT on July 13. Soon after, Mrs. Haze and I enjoyed a week on Cement Creek near Crested Butte, Colorado. Some hiking, some fishing, and some campfires. I even read a book, Kevin Fedarko’s, A Walk in the Park, a true story about two friends and their misadventures on a 750-mile, end to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon. So happy they survived! I related to this book with some of my own experiences and laughed until I cried more than once.

A few days ago, we returned from a 2-week trip to Scotland including hiking the northern half of the 96-mile long West Highland Way (WHW) in the Scottish Highlands. The trail opened in 1980 and was Scotland’s first officially designated Long Distance Route. In 2010, the WHW was co-designated as part of the International Appalachian Trail. The stated reason was that geologic evidence shows that the Appalachian Mountains, certain mountains of Western Europe and North Africa were parts of the ancient Pangean Mountains. With the breakup of Pangea over 200 million years ago, sections of the former range remained with the continents as they drifted to their present location.

I could get used to this kind of thru-hiking with day packs. Luggage was picked up every day and delivered to our next inn or B&B. After the AT, I really appreciated the good tread, expansive views and a pint of Scottish Ale at the end of each day.

I did my best to gain back some of the 30+ pounds lost on the AT. Full Scottish breakfasts almost every day. Fried or poached eggs, tatties (compressed hash browns), baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and bacon or the Scottish delicacies of haggis or blood sausage. We also enjoyed plenty of fish and chips.

With the recent knowledge of my Scottish heritage, I brought back a scarf with the Elliot(t) tartan. But I don’t think I’ll be wearing a kilt on the next thru-hike!