View Full Version : West Highland Way
Jinsin456
17-07-2011, 20:39
Hi all, Jason (Jag009) an I are planning ontackling the West Highland Way on Friday (22nd July) over roughly 7 days give or take. If anyone wants to come do the walk or come for a few days etc then you are more than welcome, dare say Jason could use a hand when he's hauling me up some hills :lmao:
Barn Owl
17-07-2011, 20:45
It's swmbo weekend off again and my rust bucket is in for it's m.o.t. This week.
But I'll see what transpires through the week.
Does a fortnight no' sound better? Lol...
Jinsin456
17-07-2011, 20:51
Personally I want to try and tackle it in 96 days (A mile or 2 a day) :lmao: but work says no :(
Would be good if you could make it but I know the MOT feeling it's a bugger :lol:
jinsin456 i will see if i can make it on friday as i would luv to try the west highland way Atb Allan
L8starter
17-07-2011, 22:34
theres surely some tough hills there and the weather can be treacherous. i did the nokia coast to coast adventure race from nairn to fort william 2 years ago which took in the end of it. there was no shelter, it rained and rained, the wind was dire and then it started to snow. oh, the month? september. then came the mud slide descent but we had turned off the way by that time. have a good one
Barn Owl
17-07-2011, 22:44
Swmbo s just in from work.
(I've been helping Darren Clarke celebrate his waste of a good walk), she can't decide yet.....
Swmbo s just in from work.
(I've been helping Darren Clarke celebrate his waste of a good walk), she can't decide yet.....
Clarkey won the Open then ? Blimey I've really lost track since I packed in a couple of years ago
Are you waking it or canoeing it ??
With the amount of rain we have had this summer a canoe or at least a good pair of wellies might be needed ! :)
Craig.......
aye he mibbee need the for the sheep ... haa haa
Just spoke to big Jason, hes on the final stage of his now solo West Highland Way adventure, he,s now going to be doing it over the 5 days instead of the 7 days as originally planned. He mentioned that unfortunately Scotty (Jinsin) had to pull out just after day 2 on the way, says he had a really good go at it but was hurting, i'd imagine the heat we've had up here recently wont have helped him, but at least he was willing to give it a good go, and id imagine he would have learned a lot about hiking over big distances and to be fair to him, he was hiking with a full pack and camping along the way as well, most people stay in B&B's their first time around and dont attempt it with a guy more experienced whos got a ultralight backpack on his back. Anyway well done to both of them, wish i was there doing it too, but planning on heading up in a day or two and joining Jason and going on to Inverness on the Great Glen Way.
Wish I'd have known about this. Only done the last two days of it. How quick do you think it is reasonable to do it if you are lightweight and move fast for most of the day?
Got the next three days off so will get out and about myself somewhere. Just re-proofed my tarp after a wet day on top of a hill in storm force winds. Seems its lost its waterproof qualities after a couple of years. Must be time for MLD purchase or at least Alpkit rig7. Enjoy your WHW extension Colin. Weather is going to be good I think.
Barn Owl
26-07-2011, 14:38
Aye, this heat would've killed me if putting a wee pace on.
Jinsin456
26-07-2011, 23:09
Aye unfortunately I had to give up about 32 miles in :( made it to rowardennan and started puking I think due to the heat and mainly dehydration as I couldn't manage to take enough water on, despite Jason trying to get me to drink as much as I could. I've also just relearned to walk today as the blisters on my feet were absolutely killing me but managed to put up with them for as long as I could.
Feel a bit disappointed that I only managed 2 days but I feel like I accomplished a lot, the longest walk I had ever done previous was 13 miles with a daypack and I managed 20 miles including conic hill with a 12kg backpack on and 15 the next by the time I had walked back. I did literally break towards the end though which was really a horrible feeling. It did however give me a chance to learn what I was up against as I had trined all the wrong ways, our hills in Ayrshire tend to be long and drawn out whereas the hills up there are sharp and steep, strathclyde hill nearly killed me lol!!
One final thing to say though is thank you so much to Jason, honestly what a guy, he really made sure I was okay throughout the whole walk and genuinely helped a lot. It actually cannot be put into words what a saint this guy is and I thank him whole heartedly for his help and banter along the way.
One final thing to mention is thank you to the forum as it was here that I had the chance to meet the big fella and I am so glad I did.
Think I will get into some serious training now and try and hit it in the colder months buts I think it's car camping for me for the time being :)
Barn Owl
27-07-2011, 15:07
Well done on the effort Scott.
treadlightly
27-07-2011, 16:12
Sounds to me like a courageous effort and more importantly I'm sure you've learned a hell of a lot.
Aye well done M8 sterling effort for sure
Jinsin456
27-07-2011, 21:02
Cheers lads, gave it my all and certainly did learn a lot that will come in handy in the future :)
tiger stacker
27-07-2011, 21:12
Conic hill is a nice introduction, not easy with the heatwave n rain last few days. You can always give it another go later on.
Good effort mind and try it sooner than later though.
kiltedpict
27-07-2011, 22:00
You did better than me mate! Many years ago I started it with a friend and my Aunt, who lives in Milngavie, kept telling us "your packs are too heavy!"
Well, we made it to Balmaha (avoiding Conic Hill!) and sat in our tent with aching feet and backs, listening to Oasis playing live across the water. "who's flipping stupid idea was this then?" we both said to each other... Bus home the next day :(
Epic Fail!
However, it is on my list to do so if you fancy it for next year- count me it!
ATB
KP
catching the early morning 6.05am train to fort william, will meet up with jason and then the great glen way over 4 or 5 days, looking forward to a nice wee walk/camp over the next few days.
catching the early morning 6.05am train to fort william, will meet up with jason and then the great glen way over 4 or 5 days, looking forward to a nice wee walk/camp over the next few days.
Tell him well done from me and i hope his feet and back are holding up ok .
I'm dead jealous as i would love to have the time to get away for a walk for a few days but i am just to busy at work .
Hope you have a good trip!
Craig...........
Jinsin456
28-07-2011, 22:13
Hope yous have a great time mate, tell him thanks again from me for all his help :)
Cheers lads, gave it my all and certainly did learn a lot that will come in handy in the future :) Well done wee man , great effort , the walk will all ways be there bud .. glad ur ok ..
catching the early morning 6.05am train to fort william, will meet up with jason and then the great glen way over 4 or 5 days, looking forward to a nice wee walk/camp over the next few days.
have a good time mate , sounds great ...
Jinsin456
28-07-2011, 22:20
Well done wee man , great effort , the walk will all ways be there bud .. glad ur ok ..
Cheers man, am fine now, well just about anyway :lol: think my feet will take a bit of recovery time but not long til I can venture back into the hills and play :)
Think we'll need to get a good big car camping meet organised soon, this walking business isn't all it's cracked up to be :lmao:
i'm up fer that bud ... defo