Preparation for the Trails

I have less than a week to go until I start now and all my preparation is done. My tickets and pre trail accomodation are booked, transport to the trail researched and accomodation for my first zero in Dwellingup is booked.

For the first time before a thru hike I have actually done some training. This is because I cannot rely on my natural fitness like I have for my previous trails. I am at the most unfit I have ever been and am starting to feel my age. Also I am not easing into the trail and doing short easy days for the first few weeks like my previous hikes. I am planning to start the first week doing 25 – 30km days.

My training started 2 1/2 weeks ago building up from 30 minutes taking my Mother’s dogs for a walk to my current state where I am walking for 2 hours with a 6 kg pack. The next week will alternate between longer walks with 6kg and shorter walks with 8kg.

My gear is all ready to go. I needed to make a new pack as the one I used for PCT and my North Island thru hike was starting to show some signs of wear and I would not like to risk it for another 2, 000 km of hiking. There were a few other minor sewing projects replacing some dry bags and cram bags and designing a protective case for my electronics. Most of my gear is the same as I used for my last few thru hikes and I am even still using gear from my first ever thru hike on Te Araroa in 2014.

This is a summary of the weights for my gear

And here is the full list.

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