One of the things I look forward to the most before going on a hike is choosing which book to take. Reading at night with a headlamp, after a day of walking is almost the best part of the experience. And even better if you're out of cellphone range!
I spend a lot of time looking at screens and thinking about work. Hiking or going for a long walk forces me to take a break. The day becomes simple... put your shoes and pack on and just walk.
Although if you’re walking with Alastair, the job is mostly trying to keep up and not die.
My dad took me hiking once or twice a year growing up, and over the years I’ve done most of New Zealand’s Great Walks as well as many other backcountry walks. Those trips gave me some of my best childhood memories. We've kept it up and looking forward to doing the Milford track next year! It's definitely something I'll be doing with my boys as they get older.
One experience that has really stayed with me is waking up on the second day of the Routeburn and finding it snowing. It was the first time I could remember watching snow fall. Being up in the mountains and waking up to snow was very special. Last year we did a day walk at the end of the Routeburn, it had been over 10 years since we first did it and the memory of that day was still as clear as can be!
I was very into fantasy as a teenager, and for that hike had brought along a few books from the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist. I remember the mist beneath our hut, perched on the edge of a mountain and feeling like I was somewhere inside the story. It’s a pretty good setting for reading fantasy and I've chased that feeling ever since.
Reading on a hike is peak living. If you haven't walked too fast and too hard (Alastair) then you hopefully won't fall asleep too quickly which gives you long blissful, undistracted reading time... A hard thing to find nowadays.
Recently, Alastair and I did an overnight trip to Pararaha Campsite in the Waitākeres. We left work too late and ended up setting our tents up in the dark. Apparently, the first challenge of getting away from work is actually leaving work.
Before that, we did the Karioi Summit Track near Raglan. Calling that one a “walk” feels a little generous. At one point we were hanging off a rockface using a chain. I have a photo, because I feel you need to see the evidence when I explain how vertical it was. To me this is climbing, not hiking. But was a fun adventure nonetheless!
Alastair also walks at a pace that I would call a quick march. Like most things Alastair does, he does it quickly and in a way that suggests he has somewhere very urgent to be or to get on with. Even his own family don’t go hiking with him anymore, which probably should have been a warning. And yet we’re already organising another trip in November, possibly to the Kaimanawas. So clearly I haven’t learnt anything! Or maybe I enjoy the challenge too...
Walking and being outside is really important to me and something I need to prioritise more as life and work get busier. And you don’t have to disappear into the wilderness to have the benefits. As much as I enjoy an overnight hike, I think there’s a lot to be said for simply going for a walk. I think walking is extremely good for you. It doesn't have to be an overnight hike. It can be just a moment in the day. Turn off the screen and wander down the road. We try to do this every weekend with our kids, and I need to make more time during the week for it. Maybe turn your meeting into a walking meeting. Maybe park a bit further away from work and enjoy the walk in.
Once you’re walking, your attention changes to what’s around you and where you’re putting your feet. You notice the environment, the weather and the world around you. For me it helps clarify my thinking, and allows my mind to wander in productive ways.
I also like the idea of making a familiar place interesting again. Take a different turn, walk a little further, or stop somewhere you usually hurry past. Exploring doesn’t always require going somewhere far away. And don't just take my word for it! Here are few books on walking that might convince you to spend a bit more time outside...
The longest I've ever walked has been a five day hike. I do enjoy a longer walk, and enjoy reading about other people’s adventures. If you're looking to plan your next walk, we have some great options in stock. Here are a few suggestions!
I really enjoyed Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods. The humour is fantastic, but I also love the idea of heading off on the Appalachian and spending months on the trail.
It made me want to do a much longer hike one day. Maybe the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Or Te Araroa, which is a 6 month walk from the top to the bottom of New Zealand.
There’s something exciting about waking up each morning and knowing that all you have to do is put your boots on and walk a bit further.
Whether I’ll ever manage to disappear for that long is another question. For now, I’m happy to keep the idea alive!
Speaking of the Te Araroa, Naomi Arnold’s account of spending nearly nine months walking the length of New Zealand.
A great read for anyone who shares the idea of one day walking New Zealand.
Wild Walks Aotearoa by Hannah-Rose Watt. With 59 walks around New Zealand, this has plenty of ideas for turning “we should go somewhere” into a plan, from short walks to bigger backcountry adventures.
A useful starting point for choosing and planning a Great Walk. Those trips have given me memories I still think about decades later, so I’m always keen to encourage someone else to give one a go!
For when a day away is all you can manage there's also the Lonely Planet Best Day Walks New Zealand. This guide covers 60 walks, from a few hours to a full day. Getting outside doesn’t have to involve a tent or a week off work!
And if you want even more picks here's a great list for NZ hikes.
Don’t forget something to read when you get there. The book you pack can be whatever you’re currently enjoying. For me, fantasy in the mountains will always be hard to beat.
What’s the best book you’ve taken on a hike? Or a walk you think we should try next? Let me know in the comments!
Tim
See more of Tim's book picks here