“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
– Neale Donald Walsch
Hiking adventures
Long-distance hiking
Thru-hiking simply means continuously hiking a long-distance trail from end to end.
Hiking a long-distance trail demands focus and determination. While it is a lot of hard work we feel that it gives us a better perspective on life in return. It is a form of active meditation, and for us, there is no better way to achieve mindfulness. You fall into a meditative rhythm where life becomes simpler. Your job is to eat, sleep, walk—repeat. For months! There is a bit more minimalistic approach to gear and more focus on distance when you are out on really long trails. Mainly because you value traveling light, but you soon realize how few things you actually need. Long-distance hiking differs from “regular” hiking in the sense that while it is still a great physical achievement, it is more a mental and logistical game.
Long-distance trails
Completed thru-hikes
Kungsleden
Sweden
Distance: 440 km
Hiking window: June–September
Thru-hike: Karma – completed 2016
Kungsleden is a beautiful 440 km trek through the Scandinavian mountain range between Hemavan in the south and Abisko in the north. Arguably Sweden’s most famous long-distance trail with National Geographic listing it among the “World’s Best Hikes“ among its claims to fame. Trailing across majestic mountains, river valleys and highland plateaus it is a truly breathtaking experience! Early in the season, you can enjoy the midnight sun and later the northern lights. Due to the weather which can be unreliable all season and the northerly location around the arctic circle, the trail has a pretty short hiking window from late June into early September.
Te Araroa
New Zealand
Distance: 3000 km
Hiking window: Sep–Dec (sobo), Nov–Jan (nobo)
Thru-hike: Karma – completed 2016-17
Te Araroa is a 3000 km trail spanning the entire amazing country of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south. A relative newcomer on the though-hike circuit the trail features a wide variety of experiences. It is true what they say about the North Island being more about the kiwi culture and people you meet along the way, while the South Island is all about the stunning alpine landscape. Te Araroa serves up an incredible variety, from tropical forests to epic mountains, stunning valleys, impressive rivers, beautiful lakes, and massive volcanoes. Te Araroa is Maori for the long pathway, and while it is long it has been worth every step! Recommended hiking window for a southbound start is late September-December to finish no later than mid- to late April. Northbound starts from November-January. These recommendations take into account the unforgiving New Zealand weather as well as seasonal closures (for lambing etc).
The Skye Trail
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Distance: 128 km
Hiking window: May–September
Thru-hike: Karma – completed 2017
The Skye Trail is an unofficial 128 km route through the whole amazing Isle of Skye in the Scottish highlands. The trail goes through some of the UK’s finest landscapes, such as the Trotternish Ridge through the Quiraing to Old Man Storr and skirting the intriguing Cuillin mountain range on its way from Rubha Hunish in the north to Broadford in the south. A fairly straightforward walk although there is a fair bit of “weather” battering this slice of heaven so expect to get wet. If you don’t like the weather, just wait 10 minutes – and it will get worse, lol. Some basic navigation skills are needed too as there are no waymarks for the route and some sections lack a formed path, but mostly it was easy going. Recommended hiking window is late spring to early fall.
Pacific Crest Trail
USA
Distance: 4265 km (2650 mi)
Hiking window: March–October
Thru-hike: Karma & Scott – completed 2018
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) stretches about 4265 km (2650 miles) from the Mexican border to the Canadian border in the western United States with a total elevation gain of 95 923 meters. The PCT goes through California, Oregon, and Washington from the desert in the south through the mighty mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades further north. Despite its popularity, arguably being one of the most famous long-distance trails in the world, only about one in five thru-hikers actually make it all the way. It takes most hikers about 5 months from start to finish with a recommended hiking window from late March to early October, depending on the year.
The Arctic Trail (Nordkalottleden)
Scandinavia
Distance: 800 km
Hiking window: Summer
Hike: Karma & Scott – completed 2019
The Arctic Trail (Nordkalottleden in Swedish) is an 800 km long trail that passes through Finland, Sweden and Norway. It starts at Kautokeino (Guovdageaidnu in Sami) in Northern Norway and ends in Sulitjelma (Sulidälbmá in Sami) in Norway alternatively I Kvikkjokk (Huhttán in Sami) in Sweden. The trail crosses these borders back and forth about 10 times. The trail is primarily Alpine to lower Apline and highlights include hiking under the midnight sun and a chance of expereincing the northen lights. We completed the trail as a part of our Green Ribbon thru-hike in 2019. The primary hiking window is from end of June through early September.
The Green Ribbon (Gröna Bandet)
Scandinavia
Distance: 1300-1500 km
Hiking window: Summer
Hike: Karma & Scott – completed 2019
The Mountaineers Green Ribbon (Fjällfararnas Gröna Band in Swedish) is a long-distance hike from Treriksröset (Three Country Cairn) to Grövelsjön mountain station through the Scandinavian mountain range in the far north. The route is not fixed, and we chose to hike primarily on the Norwegian side of the border with shorter visits into Finland and Sweden along the way. Our route measuried 1498 km by the time we reached the southern terminus. The trail is primarily Alpine to lower Apline and highlights include hiking under the midnight sun and a chance of expereincing the northen lights. The primary hiking window is from end of June through early September. The trail can also be completed on skis during the winter season, it is then referred to as the White Ribbon (Vita Bandet).
Gear
Some of our favorites
Clothing choices depend on the mission, but we do of course have a few favorite brands.
| brands | favorite products |
|---|---|
| Icebreaker | we looove merino!!! mid layers, base layers (thermals), t-shirts, shorts, socks , accessories |
| Smartwool | just can’t get enough merino gear..! |
| Patagonia | looove all this brand stands for |
| Norrøna | mid- and reinforcement layers (gore-tex jacket, pants) |
| Rab | misc (down puffy, alpine gaters etc.) |
| Mountain Equipment | mountaineering gear (winter down gear etc.) |
| La Sportiva | mountaineering and hiking boots, trailrunners, awesome gear! |
| Hoka One One | trailrunners for going light (running) |
| Dirty Girl | gaiters for trailrunners (= sanity) |
| brand | size | grams |
|---|---|---|
| backpack: Osprey Aura AG 65* | 62L | 1900g |
| backpack: Osprey Atmos AG 65* | 65L | 2190g |
| rain cover: Osprey Ultralight L | 90g |
|
| waterproof pack bags: Sea to Summit/ Osprey | Misc | |
| compression dry sacks: Sea to Summit UltraSil eVent (sleeping bags) | 90g | |
| * Without the top lid |
| brand | size | grams |
|---|---|---|
| tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL (w/footprint) | 2 person, 3-season | 1362g |
| tent: Hilleberg Niak | solo, 3-season | 1700g |
| tent: Hilleberg Allak2 | 2-pers, all-season | 3300g |
| summer sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Summerlite | mummy, 0°C | 540g |
| winter sleeping bag: Marmot Lithium | mummy, -12°C | 1176g |
| summer mat: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite | regular, wide | 430g |
| winter mat: Therm-a-Rest Neoair XTherm | large, max | 652g |
| pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight | regular | 60g |
| brand | size | grams |
|---|---|---|
| Primus Express | gas | 82g |
| MSR Whisperlite Universal Combo | multi fuel | 276g |
| MSR Ceramic Solo Pot | 1.3L | 210g |
| MSR fuel bottle | liquid fuel, 591ml | 134g |
| Cup: Wildo vikkåsa | 0.6L | 46g |
| Spork: Light my fire | titanium | 20g |
| brand | size | grams |
|---|---|---|
| Sawyer Squeeze filter | 77g | |
| Platypus Hoser Reservoir | 2L | 100g |
| Platypus Hoser w/cap (dirty water filter bag) | 3L | 120g |
| Klean Kanteen Classic (stainless bottle) | 0.8L | 174g |
| brand | size/type | grams |
|---|---|---|
| Black Diamond Trail Pro | trekking poles | 490g |
| Leatherman Style CS | multi-tool | 41g |
| Leatherman Skeletool KB | knife | 37g |
| Therm-a-Rest Z-seat | 42g | |
| headlamp: Petzl Bindi | 200ln | 35g |
| First aid kit | varies | |
| The Deuce of Spades | potty trowel | 17g |
| brand | size/type | grams |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 | 148g | |
| Lifeproof | waterproof case | 42g |
| Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 | emergency beacon | 116g |
| Apple 12W USB power adapter | optional travel kit | 74g |
| Anker PowerCore battery bank | 13000 mAh | 240g |
| Anker Dual USB Solar Charger | 15W | 354g |
| brand | use | |
|---|---|---|
| Gaia GPS premium | navigation | |
| Guthook Guides* | *Te Araroa Hiker, *PCT guide | |
| DayOne Journal | journalling | |
| Spotify | music/podcasts | |
| iMovie | movie editing | |
| Social media | misc | |
| Weather/tidal apps | local | |
| Messenger | communication |
Latest from the hiking blog
TE ARAROA THRU-HIKE 2020-21: Wellington to Hacket Hut in the Richmond Range (E 07)
By Reboot Life|2021-02-24T21:49:20+13:00January 31st, 2021|* TRAIL LIFE, Te Araroa|
WHERE: Te Araroa "the long pathway" – New Zealand, North Island WHEN: November 6, 2020 - January 10, 2021 WHO: Karma & Scott OBJECTIVE: Te Araroa thru-hike (North Island) DISTANCE: 1846 km WELLINGTON TO HACKET [...]