It's been a few weeks since my last blog, which is an unusually long gap between posts, but there's been good reason for my absence! Throughout August and the start of September, every spare moment I've had has been taken up by preparing for a little adventure that I'm going on next week, walking the West Highland Way. For those unfamiliar with the route, the WHW is a 96 mile through-hike, typically undertaken in a northward direction from Milngavie, a suburb north of Glasgow, up past Loch Lomond, past Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy, through Glencoe and eventually finishing in Fort William. It takes in drovers roads, military roads and other paths and is the most popular long distance walk in Scotland, attracting over 35,000 walkers who attempt the entire route each year.
There are a variety of ways to undertake the route, with some opting to carry all of their belongings with them and camping out along the route, either in campsites or simply wild camping when they get tired or run out of light on a given day, however the more humane version, for someone who is in their forties and doesn't fancy sleeping on a pile of gravel every night, involves carrying only a day pack, staying in hotels and B&Bs along the way and using one of the luggage transfer services to move the bulk of your baggage from one hotel to the next, to be met on your arrival. Naturally, my walking partner and I have opted for the latter! Our focus is going to be on setting a nice pace, enjoying the scenery, spending the time catching up and doing our best to avoid blisters and twisted ankles!
In order to be ready for the trip, I've tapped into one of my best and worst traits, my obsessive nature! Anyone who knows me or who has followed these blogs for any length of time will be very familiar with the fact that when I have a hobby or a project, I quickly become obsessed with every detail of it and immerse myself into it with every spare second I have. That's sometimes a terrible trait, when the topic of my obsession ends up being something that's not particularly useful or relevant to what's going on in my life at the time (like the time I became obsessed with soldering, building guitar effects pedals, or the time I became obsessed with fermenting foods and made about ten tonnes of sauerkraut and kimchi, or the time I became obsessed with Suduko.....) but when there's something like this which really does require a good level of attention and focus, that obsessive quality can be a huge help in making sure I'm ready for the rigours ahead.
I've watched hours of videos on YouTube of hikers talking about their experiences on the WHW, read two books and listened to over five hours of podcasts on the subject, to give me a good idea of what equipment to take, what not to take, areas to be aware of and places to stop and visit on the way. I've invested in some key equipment such as new walking boots to replace my worn-out old pair and, crucially, I've broken them in by walking over 200 miles through the Pentlands since I picked them up. I know more about midges and blister prevention and care than it's sensible to know and I feel about as prepared as it's possible to feel. The exercise has helped me shed a few pounds which my knees will be thankful, for, particularly as we descend Conic Hill or the Devil's Staircase and I've done the majority of my practice walks carrying my pack, fully loaded with everything I'll be taking, to get me used to the weight.
What's been most lovely about the preparation has been the time spent back outdoors, up in the hills. Several years back I got into a great habit of walking every day, doing 10-15km on foot, before sitting down to work and it was the best I've ever felt, physically and mentally. There are obvious health benefits from walking but the mental benefits were the ones which really surprised me. More energy, better clarity of thought, more creativity with new ideas springing to mine more readily, more resilience and less feelings of stress and pressure when things get busy. I also felt a deeper connection with the countryside and the area where we live, watching the seasons change and the plants and animals grow. It was good for the soul and it was incredibly eye-opening to experience all of that.
But as often happens with habits, I got out of it. My walks became fewer and further between and I lost that sense of connection with the area and got stuck back into old routines, prioritising sitting at my desk over getting outside. Having the WHW to prepare for has forced me back into those old habits, being on the trails before sunrise and adventuring for hours up over the Pentlands, a range of hills to the South of Edinburgh. I've seen deer and squirrels, sheep and Kestrel, investigated many of the hidden reservoirs that litter the area and followed the progress of a number of Heron who fish in their waters. It's a journey into mindfulness, being out on the hills with your dog (Flora has enjoyed the adventures almost as much as I have) and your thoughts and I feel physically strengthened and spiritually enriched by having done it.
And that has got me wondering about why and how I'm able to let something, which has such a positive impact on me, go so easily. I know it's good for me, I know it's important to me, so how do I let it slip away and be replaced with things which are less valuable. I've been reflecting on all the reading and learning I've done on habits and the thing that seems to make an impact for me, is having a clear goal or target. First time I did this regularly I was working hard to lose weight. This time I'm preparing for a significant event. Those two things seemed to cement the habit in place, even if just for a time. So what comes after the West Highland Way and how do I make sure that the good habits I've got into aren't left by the finish line in Fort William? Well I've got my eyes on a few other potential challenges for next year so maybe that'll be it. Or maybe you've got some wisdom to share on the subject (or some experiences of walking the West Highland Way you'd like to share)? I'd love to hear them!
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