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The Hiking Story

Journals, trip reports, gear reviews and musings from my long distance hiking adventures

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  • My HikesA list of the trails I have hiked, including a link to their journals.
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  • Gear Lists TemplateHelpful suggestions of what to bring on your next hike.
    • My 6.7 lb Gear List
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    • Ultralight Budget Gear List $800, 6.7lbs
  • Gear ReviewsIn depth reviews of gear that I have used and abused.
    • Enlightened Equipment Enigma (20F / -6C) Long Term Review (8,000+ miles / 450 nights)
    • Atom Pack’s Atom Review
  • How To / Additional ArticlesAll the other articles about hiking I have written.
    • The Best Hiking Apps
    • Editing Photos During A Hike (Lightroom)
    • 5 Meaningful Reasons why you should Thru Hike a Long Trail
    • Good vs Bad: Expectations When Thru Hiking
    • The 4 Rules to a Perfecting your Thru Hiking Resupply Strategy
    • 4 Meal Ideas to add Variety on a Thru Hike
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The Australian Parliament Building and the beginning of a new adventure. Now to get away from politics for the next week as I ride south. I've never really cycled more than a few hours as cross training, so this trip feel fresh amd exciting as I enter the unknown. #cyclinglife #cycling #cycletouring #longdistancehiking and now biking.
My Christmas break bike tour has changed due to the disastrous NSW fires. Have a swipe right to see all the fires currently burning along the east coast Instead of battling fire closures and thick smoke, I have decided to tackle a shorter but hilly route that will take in the length of Australia's Alpine region. This route will be approx 1000km long and primarily takes small country lanes, gravel roads.
A different view of Zion NP. It is such an incredible park! I was heading down from Observation Point and across to Angels Landing as part of the Zion Traverse. The clouds were rolling through all day and it started snowing / sleeting not long after this. The crappy weather meant that I did get to experience the valley and Angels Landing without the notmal crowds. #thruhiker #longdistancehiking #hikertrash #thruhiking #ziontraverse #zionnationalpark #zion
Looking back at Haute Route Pyrenees, and it's talus fields while planning my next trip. New bike equipment and flights are purchased, but I'm a little nervous about bike touring. It's the unknown, and the same feeling as before my first long hike. I have no idea how my body will handle cycling for 10-12 hours a day as I've never done it, or even if I'll enjoy this trip. It's a new, exciting adventure. Whatever happens, I will learn new things and see so much of Australia's South East coast.
Haute Route Pyrenees @evancharlton and I got to walk along this epic natural cliff band overlooking Odessa Canyon for a couple of hours. It was such a magical experience and do worth leaving the HRP to go see. Swipe right to see GQ standing under the mountain, which was how most of this trail was. I found the Pyranees a geological marvel. Six hours before walking along this limestone cliff I was in France and gazing up in awe at a 1000m (3000ft) granite cirque with glaciers, waterfalls and meadows. It only took one pass to the Spanish side for the whole landscape to dry up and the glaciers and meadows disappeared while the waterfalls were replaced with dry falls.
Haute Route Pyranees I found the HRP one of the more physically demanding trails that I have hiked. This photo was taken just before a 1200m (3950ft) decent in 5km (3 miles). And then it was straight back up the other side. I didn't even find the constantly steep gradient the toughest part, this is just fitness and our body can adapt to it eventually. I found the loose rocks, occasional very steep sections and huge steps to semi jump up or down meant it was hard to build up a hiking rythmn. The lack of consistency on this trail was an eye opener, and until this point I never realised how much easier hiking is once we have found our groove for the a section. In this regard, I found the HRP in total contrast to the PCT with its world renowned PCT grade.
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    Atom Pack's Atom Review
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    Best Backpacks
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    My Hiking Adventures
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    My 6.7 lb Gear List
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    Rain Gear
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    About Me
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  • Ultralight Budget Gear List $800, 6.7lbs
    Ultralight Budget Gear List $800, 6.7lbs
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