WEST HIGHLAND WAY

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    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…

  • WHW Day 4: Kinlochleven to Fort William

    Daily Miles: 17.0, Total Miles: 45.0 Finally a clear, sunny day on the WHW so we got an early start! Today’s hike started with the final climb up through the woods above Kinlochleven. Wow, what great views back to the village and down Loch Leven. We re-joined the old military road and a more gradual climb through an empty glen flanked by the steep Mamore Mountains. We passed by Tigh-na-sleubhaich, remnants of former cottages on the old military road and…

  • WHW Day 3: Kings House to Kinlochleven

    Daily Miles: 9.0, Total Miles: 28.0 After a hearty breakfast at the Forest View Guesthouse in Kinlochleven, we got a lift back to Kings House to resume our WHW hike. The storm system we have experienced the last few days appears to be lifting but still cloudy and threatening rain. Despite the weather, we enjoyed the spectacular views of the Buachaille Etiv Mor as we walked towards and then by the prominent mountain. The challenge today was climbing the reportedly…

  • WHW Day 2: Bridge of Orchy to Kingshouse

    Daily Miles: 12.0, Total Miles: 19.0 More rain during the night and early morning so another wet day. After another full Scottish breakfast, we headed off, first crossing the Bridge of Orchy. This is also where the old military road crossed the river Orchy. This river reportedly has good salmon fishing. A short climb got us to the moorland and eventually misty views over Loch Tulla. On the descent, we passed by the Inveroran Hotel that dates back to 1707….

  • WHW Day 1: Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy

    Daily Miles: 7.0, Total Miles: 7.0 We arranged to leave our rental car in Tyndrum and will return by bus to pick it up after finishing at Fort Williams. Our B&B was conveniently located adjacent to the West Highland Way (WHW). After a nice breakfast, we set off on a cool, drizzly morning. We soon crossed the highway and quickly began a climb out of the village. The trail was running next to the West Highland Railway line. We walked…

  • WHW: Scotland’s West Highland Way

    What better way to celebrate getting my Triple Crown after finishing the Appalachian Trail this summer than to go on another hike. A few big differences to my previous hikes: The West Highland Way (WHW) is a 96-mile route in the Scottish Highlands opened in 1980 and Scotland’s first officially designated Long Distance Route. In 2010, the WHW was co-designated as part of the International Appalachian Trail, reason being the geologic evidence shows that the Appalachian Mountains, certain mountains of…