The sign said it would take four hours to get to the top of Pirongia, an ancient 959 metre-high volcano in New Zealand's Waikato/King Country region, and to the Pahautea hut. Clearly this sign does not take into account a 17kg backpack nor the mud. But six hours to the highest peak on #WalkNZ so … Continue reading Volcano number 21: The #WalkNZ volcano
walking
#WalkNZ – highlights from the first 49 days on the Te Araroa trail
Forty-nine days of walking (up to my festive five-day rest break), 773.5km walked. Here’s the highlights from the first quarter of the Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Walking the whole of Ninety Mile Beach (boy it was hard and an introduction to Te Araroa) Spending 12 hours wading through … Continue reading #WalkNZ – highlights from the first 49 days on the Te Araroa trail
Volcanoes 18, 19 and 20: The Auckland volcanoes
So far, #WalkNZ has been a solo journey – but it was always meant to be. Last week I was asked if I was bored of walking by myself. An interesting question. I said no – I’ve met many people along the Te Araroa trail and, for the most part, I’ve spent each night with … Continue reading Volcanoes 18, 19 and 20: The Auckland volcanoes
How much training is enough?
3,000km. Five to six months. Mountains, forests, knee-high mud, wet river crossings, kayaking, road walking. The legendary Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. How much training is enough? I put my hands up – I think I’m not doing enough. At least when I was walking up Box Hill last weekend with … Continue reading How much training is enough?
Adventure alert: I’m going to solo walk the length of New Zealand
I’m saying it, it’s out there – starting in November, I’m going to solo walk the 3,000km Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Yip, you heard right. New Zealand, Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Lots of walking. The thru-hike (or through-tramp as it’s known in kiwi land) will take around … Continue reading Adventure alert: I’m going to solo walk the length of New Zealand
Volcanoes number 13 and 14: The train strike volcanoes
It had been an awesome three days in the Auvergne region in France walking a section of the GR400 route and climbing volcanoes. In three days we had hoped to climb four volcanic peaks as part of my #40by40 quest to climb 40 volcanoes by the age of 40 but we’d only been able to … Continue reading Volcanoes number 13 and 14: The train strike volcanoes
Ultimate beginner’s guide to walking the Cheviot Hills
Things to know for walking newbies venturing into Northumberland National Park The Cheviot Hills of England’s Northumberland National Park are a dramatically desolate landscape, born out of ancient volcanic activity some 350-400 million years ago when two continents (what is now Scotland and what is now England) collided. Melancholy yet romantic, these slopes, summits and … Continue reading Ultimate beginner’s guide to walking the Cheviot Hills
Volcano number 9: The boggy volcano (part 2)
Day two of my ninth volcano, walking across the Cheviot Hills in England’s Northumberland National Park, and we were off. The rain of yesterday was gone, replaced by a gentle frost and lashings of lush sunshine. Now this was more like it. My walking boots were still sodden from yesterday’s dismal weather and bog-hopping. Pulling … Continue reading Volcano number 9: The boggy volcano (part 2)