Day 2 - Kinlochleven to Glencoe

We did things a little differently today.  Instead of having the whole group head off to the trail at the same time, we staggered the departures.  The sprinters got a bit of a lie-in and planned to start around 1000.  The more leisurely walkers (I proudly include myself in that group) left the hotel at 0830, walked through the village, then started walking uphill.  And continued walking uphill.  AAANNNDDD continued walking uphill.  And THEN we started walking uphill in packed snow and ice.  You know, just for a bit of variety.  Sky was mostly overcast, with light snow flurries, and it was a bit breezy.  The trail led us over the highest point (elevation-wise) of the West Highland Way, and then onto a not-as-steep-as-the-way-up descent down the Devil's Staircase.

As the leisurely walkers reached the top of the Devil's Staircase, the jack-rabbits caught up with us and after a few minutes of photo-taking, we started down.  Heard along the way from one of our group: "Is there ANY level ground in Scotland?!?"

Upon reaching the bottom, we were picked up in the minibus and driven a couple of miles off the West Highland Way so that we could walk through Glencoe along an old military road.  This part of the walk was not originally planned, as it isn't part of the WHW itself, but it was well worth the extra miles walked, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

This leg of today's walk was a lot less strenuous than this morning's, and we were surrounded by hauntingly beautiful scenery.

After clocking in just under 14 miles for the day, we checked into the Clachaig Inn ("Good Craic").  We're all now settling down to supper in the pub, and fueling up for our "long" day tomorrow on Rannoch Moor.

And now, a few words from our guide, "Gentle" James Johnston:

Well its been a EPIC two days and am thrilled to be sharing my homeland with such a fun group of people. We have seen it all...pine martins, red deer, red squirrels and tons of birdlife. I think getting snowed on in the Larigmor was a real treat, gave the pass a real sense of loneliness, loved it! I'll keep in touch with you all through the week as I check in on Heathers blog, enjoy reading it, Slainte.