Let's get trekking - The West Highland Way

"I know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head." - Christopher McCandless, (Into the Wild)

Now, call me dramatic, opening this post with a quote like that, but I think it sums up well what I've decided to do next week. On Tuesday I'll be walking the West Highland Way, starting in Glasgow and walking 96 miles north to Fort William.

I know there's countless people that have walked this popular route, but it's usually hiked in the more favourable conditions of summer. A quick check on the weather forecast shows that there's heavy snow and gale-force winds of up to 80mph in the area where the trek is (west Scotland).

Now I might be making this sound a bit apocalyptic, but I'm really excited about getting to walk one of Britains finest long distance trails, and I'll be getting to do it in some 'extreme' conditions, hopefully. The thought of camping in deep snows and braving freezing temperatures might seem like hell for some people, but to me, it's a way of testing myself. Proving that I have the mental and physical strength to do it, and like the quote above says 'to measure myself'.

That said, the weather might be beautiful next week, who knows! Anyway, it'll be my first long distance trail and I'll be walking it with a mate of mine I've known since high school.

I won't be able to update my blog as I go along the trail as we'll be wild camping with no access to internet, and I'm not going to lug my laptop around with me anyway. But, I will be keeping a diary of each day and when I'm back I'll post them up daily.

For more info on the West Highland Way check out this website that's dedicated to the long distance path, there's some great info on there: http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/

Or if you have any questions on the trail leave a comment below and I'll find the answer for you!

Or or, if you've walked the WHW, or are going to be walking the WHW let me know!