I met Thomas Parsons on my next to last day of the Great Glen Way in Scotland.  We were both registered at the Abriachan Eco Cafe & Campsite (a delightful place that merits it's own episode) and were in fact its only guests that evening, likely due to an impending storm.  The following day we walked the final leg of the journey together and I learned that there is definitely something to the saying that thru-hiking is really about the people you meet.  

Thomas is an avid hiker, having hiked some of the most beautiful places in Europe and his Instagram @acasualhikersguide is a peek into the outdoor treks of a self-described "average guy seeking adventure."  His beautiful photographs make one want to put on some walking boots and get out there as well.  

So what made him want to tackle a thru-hike?  And why the Great Glen Way?  Join us as we discuss our shared experiences on the trail, the emotional connection he has to the trails of his youth and the reasons why the Great Glen Way was a great first multi-day walk.