Oceania

Along the trail, you must continually push yourself to place one foot in front of the other—a battle of persistence over monotony. Chew through the tough times to arrive at …
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24 hours marooned at the Go-Cart Track Shelter on Day 20 was enough inactivity for my ‘hiking legs’ to suffer unbearable ‘itchiness’. My body had grown used to constant movement …
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At times on the trail, I felt truly isolated. Despite the constant support and steady stream of encouraging messages, there were moments I couldn’t help but feel emotionally separated on …
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I’m not sure you’ll find anybody who believes long-distance hiking is easy. In fact, it stretches every fibre of your being. You are pushed mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually. …
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Suffering aches and pains are part and parcel of life as a long-distance hiker. Whether it’s your legs, feet, arms, back or bum, you will inevitably pick up niggles somewhere …
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Before commencing the Heysen Trail, I made the slightly controversial decision to keep some hiking details a mystery. Other than setting out my basic itinerary, I knew little else about …
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There’s a point, somewhere along every long-distance trail, that a hiker’s natural state of concern deteriorates. Somehow trekking 20 kilometres becomes casual, surviving off limited rations is commonplace and carrying ones livelihood …
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Since departing Beetaloo Creek Campsite on Day 22, the trail had zigzagged through flat green terrain. While there were several diverse patches, including lofty ascents to New Campbell Hill on …
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There are difficult periods on every long-distance trail. Weather, terrain, supplies, health and, of course, all-important sleep all fluctuate. A hiker’s momentum and enthusiasm can be so easily zapped on such a …
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The Heysen Trail transverses some of Australia’s most astonishingly rugged landscapes. The route runs over rocky bluffs, along jagged ridgelines and through rolling grazing hills. There were countless ups and …
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