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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
We just got back to Tucson after the long drive back from Maine. Made even longer by having to recover from what I first thought was bad lobster, then thinking it was some strain of norovirus and finally treating myself for Giardia. I’ve been carrying Tinidazole in my first aid kit for years because I’ve had the “beaver fever” before. I must have picked it up in the 100-Mile Wilderness despite treating my water. Anyway, much better now but 40…
Daily Miles: 5.3, Total Miles: 2,197.4 I was on the trail by 4:45am this morning, leaving most of my gear at the Katahdin Stream Ranger Station. Filled my water bottle and set out on the Hunt Trail to Mt Katahdin. The Hunt Trail to the top is 5.3 miles long with 4k vertical feet of elevation gain. I didn’t need my headlamp for long. The climb started quickly and I was disappointed that it was raining, albeit slightly. As I…
Daily Miles: 9.8, Total Miles: 2,192.1 A bit drizzly starting out from Abol Bridge. First stop was the ranger kiosk upon entering Baxter State Park. I put my name on the list for The Birches, a campsite for thru-hikers near the Katahdin Stream Ranger Station. A 12-hiker limit but not much of a concern this early in the season. The 10-mile hike to The Birches followed water the whole way, first along the West Branch Penobscot River, then turning north…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 2,182.3 Every time I woke up last night it was raining hard – so nice to be high and dry. A smattering of showers during the day but I’m sure it was more intense towards the mountain. I stayed prone for much of the day with a few trips to the store for substance and to get an update on the weather report. My legs appreciated the rest, especially facing a 4,000 ft vertical climb…
Daily Miles: 9.1, Total Miles: 2,182.3 Warm evening but cooled off a bit early in the morning. The loons gave a rousing concert last night singing and crying every song they knew – repeatedly. Just beautiful and seemed fitting for my last night on a Maine lake near the end of my AT hike. Happy to have a dry night and only a few clouds in the morning. Heat, humidity and annoying gnats, skeeters and black flies from the get…
