The descents from Conic Hill, the final one into Fort William and, worst of all, into Kinlochleven are things to fear if you suffer Downhill Knee but Lynne and I have a story for optimism.
In days BC (Before Children) we did a great deal of walking, including a couple of trips to the top of the big fella itself, Ben Nevis. For over 20 years, our walking challenges were considerably reduced and when we began to test ourselves again, we discovered that, though we could get up the hills, we both suffered terribly coming down again with knee pain. We have chosen routes to avoid severe descents and purchased walking poles which we used to reduce the stress of downhill. We thought that our hill walking days were largely over.
However, a conversation with our son who has had some knee problems in early life and had been researching the subject has given us new optimism and, I believe, a more comfortable future with a return to more taxing environments.
His research suggested that the problem came from the knee being bent inward out of the natural line of the leg movement combined with weak muscle structure which was only made worse by avoidance.
I began to work on this concept, studying my own leg movement and found that trying to hold my knee joint outward resulted in a feeling of being twine toed. Looking carefully at my feet I realised that actually, this unnatural feeling coincided with my feet pointing directly forward rather than slightly outward.
I carried this forward and began to think I was encountering less problems downhill and bored Lynne to the point where she experimented with the idea hersel;f.
We noted that when going downhill, if we looked down, both of us had our feet pointing outward. We began concentrating on making sure that when we walked downhill our toes pointed directly forward. Through all our practice walks, with considerable downhill sections, we worked at this and found ourselves resorting to our poles less and less.
The outcome of all this is that we carried our poles the whole WHW but only used them about 3 times. The slippery section of Conic Hill descent, largely for balance, some of the section to Rowardennan, again for balance on the scramble sections and a stepped descent in woods which I cannot recall where but the length and height of the steps was much easier to deal with with poles.
Neither of us resorted to poles on the horrible descent to Kinlochleven but both concentrated on keeping toes pointing directly forward all the way. We arrived at the town with tired muscles but very little knee pain.
If you try it, stick with it for a while and we'd love to know how you go on via the Comments.
West Highland Way - Ged and Lynne 2011
Ged and Lynne prepare for and walk (hopefully) the West Highland Way long distance footpath.
Our route will be approx 96 miles over 8 days. We will be staying in B&Bs and making use of a Luggage transfer agency so only carrying day sacks during the walk.
The WHW goes from Milgavie, just north of Glasgow to Fort William.
PS: We did it. Scroll down to April on right hand menu to find our day by day.
Also see http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1082589 for GPS track
Monday, 25 April 2011
Insects
I've been asked on Twitter about insects so I thought I'd comment here.
We were walking between 14 and 21 April and, Insect-wise, it's still a good way before midge season; one reason why we were doing the walk now.
It had been fairly dry on the lead up and the weather during our walk went from overcast and mild to hot and sunny though hazy with a little overnight rain.
We did encounter the odd small cloud woken up by the sun, usually at the end of the afternoon near woodland but these were insignificant quantities. We did opt to use a little bit of repellent but mainly around ankles to stop the odd insect in the heather from heading up trouser legs and biting when we were sitting down for lunch.
No encounters with tics, horseflies, wasps or hornets but we did see the odd Butterfly and Bumble Bee.
Locals again talking of the Avon Skin-So-Soft Dry Oil Spray being very good. Apparently, the midges do still land and may be found stuck to your skin but Don't Bite. There's nothing that deals with the nuisance factor of them clouding around your face.
We were walking between 14 and 21 April and, Insect-wise, it's still a good way before midge season; one reason why we were doing the walk now.
It had been fairly dry on the lead up and the weather during our walk went from overcast and mild to hot and sunny though hazy with a little overnight rain.
We did encounter the odd small cloud woken up by the sun, usually at the end of the afternoon near woodland but these were insignificant quantities. We did opt to use a little bit of repellent but mainly around ankles to stop the odd insect in the heather from heading up trouser legs and biting when we were sitting down for lunch.
No encounters with tics, horseflies, wasps or hornets but we did see the odd Butterfly and Bumble Bee.
Locals again talking of the Avon Skin-So-Soft Dry Oil Spray being very good. Apparently, the midges do still land and may be found stuck to your skin but Don't Bite. There's nothing that deals with the nuisance factor of them clouding around your face.
Friday, 22 April 2011
More to come so Please Come Back
Over the next few days when I have a decent Internet link at home, I plan to add
Ged & Lynne
Done:
- Some more Photo's * done 9/5
- A bit about the overall walk
- Something about painful knees * done 25/4
- Our votes for our best B&B and Hotel stops
Ged & Lynne
Done:
- Photos added 9/5/11
- Downhill Knee post 25/4/11
- Comments opened to Anyone/Anon - previously unintentionally set to Account Holders only.25/4/11
- spellings corrected throughout 25/4/11
Day 8 Kinlochleven - Fort William
The day started with a big ascent immediately from our hotel after our final full Scottish breakfast. Not good for thew digestion but it was good to get the climb over before the day got hotter which it did. Although a tough ascent with a good number of brief rest stops, we are much fitter than at Conic Hill on day 2 and our breathing under stress and the distance before legs complain is pretty good.
The top opens to wonderful wide brochure and film set highland and much of the day continues a comparatively easy if not long walk through this. After 3 x 10 mile days, everything seems to go on for a long way but it's another sunny bright day and it is a delight to be up here.
There is a significant attrition rate on this walk, we had heard of a young German girl with a party of 3 lads who had trapped a nerve in her shoulder and was in severe pain. Yesterday we saw them descending to Kinlochleven and she seemed on the verge of collapse with miles to go. The boys were looking after her well, carrying all her camping gear as well as their own and constantly checking. Today we saw the 3 young guys minus the girl, clearly she had reached the end of what her body could take. Everyone thinks of the impact on feet and legs but even with day packs for 8 days, shoulders take a battering and full camping gear is a serious load. Many people are clearly struggling on valiantly in the face of severe pain in one location or another.
We again face a long descent toward Fort William which is still about 5 miles after you first see the outskirts eventually reaching the road in Glen Nevis. From here, it is simply a road walk into town which seems incongruous after days of being away from traffic and tarmac.
We carry on through town and eventually along the high street to the far end and the new finish point. There are very few confirmation signs and you feel a little isolated as you walk among shoppers and ambling tourists, however, walkers coming back from the finish to the hotels or to the pubs greet you and "Well Done" is repeatedly exchanged. We also encounter Carol and John who we have met repeatedly and been in the same B&B twice. The recommend the beer in the Grog and Gruel and had enjoyed a couple already.
Track distance includes traversing Fort William to the new end point and again to our hotel the far side of the rail station.
Day 8 GPS track - Dist: 17.3 Miles Total Ascent: 2137 ft
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Day 7 Kingshouse - Kinlochleven
It is a long, long descent down to Kinlochleven at sea level from around 1800ft.
7 days so far with about 20 mins of drizzle on day 1 and 2 drops or rain on day 6. Hasrained overnight but not on us.
Day 7 GPS track - Dist: 10.73 Miles Total Ascent: 1066 ft
Day 6 Inveroran - Kingshouse
Last night was a bit worrying as I my right hip seemed to be out of kilter and it felt as is an old back problem was imminent. It was still a problem this morning but once walking seemed to release. I suspect is was using the waist strap of my day pack which I realised was restricting my natural movement slightly. Lynne seems to have passed a problem with her feet,the shorter easier day seems to have worked wonders.
For those doing the 20 miles day here, including Andy and Clare, the time from first sight of the Kingshouse Hotel to actually getting there must seem an eternity. It's one of those points that looks like you're almost there but you're a good way off. OK when you've only done 10 miles but must drag when you're at the end of a 20 mile day.
Lovely food and drink in the hotel bar tonight followed by a Ben Nevis malt - very nice.
Popped out to look at the stars but at 22:00 there is still a lot of light in the sky being this far north so a little disappointing.
Day 6 GPS track - Dist: 10.73 Miles Total Ascent: 1066 ft
Monday, 18 April 2011
Day 5 Tyndrum - Inveroran
Today was short run of 10 miles from Tyndrum to the Inveraran Hotel.
Felt a little as if cheating doing so short a day but the beautiful sunny day combined with wonderful open country was a treat to savour. We have now reached what Lynne and I were looking forward to seeing from the walkers' view having driven through the area many times past. Amazing high hills in the distance and above us and the views are becoming magnificent. Huge open glaciated valleys and curving hillsides.
Most of today was on good tracks, many of which were sections of the roads I drove my Ford Cortina mkII along as a nineteen year old in 1972 en route to climbing in Glen Coe and exploring the Isle of Skye. The modern roads are very different sweeping through and it is amazing how nature is reclaiming the old roads with only scraps of the Tarmac apparent leaving the stone beds of the old military roads.
The Inveraron Hotel is lovely, food was great and we bumped into John and Carol again. Apparently they only have a bath rather than a proper shower which would have disappointed us but ours is fine.
Two more short days ahead at approx 10 miles each. Surely our luck can't hold much longer with the weather? I hope so.
Day 5 GPS track - Dist: 10.17 Miles Total Ascent: 1247 ft
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