Log

Progress to Bluff: 7% Dates: 11/17 - 11/22 Start: Kaitaia End: Kerikeri Distance: 105 km Total distance: 220 km Day 5 was a classic zero day. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a rest day this early into a hike, but my body was feeling the effects of the hard sand and I knew the rest of the group wasn’t far behind. And indeed, Olivia and Adrian sauntered in midday and I greeted them with some ice-cold beers. [Read More]

Progress to Bluff: 4% Dates: 11/13 - 11/16 Start: Cape Reinga End: Kaitaia Distance: 115 km Total distance: 115 km My journey to Cape Reinga and the start of the Te Araroa began early Sunday morning in Auckland. The bus to Kerikeri left at 7:30 am, and from Kerikeri there was another bus to Kaitaia. The first bus was a mix of hikers and regular travelers, but once we reached Kerikeri and switched busses it was clear almost everyone was headed to the Cape. [Read More]

Dates: 08/28 - 8/31 Start: Lescun (Gité) End: Gavarnie (Hotel) Distance: 62 miles Vert: 27k+ / 25k- I was excited to leave Lescun. While it was a picturesque village in the mountains, I knew I was just at the start of the aforementioned mountains and couldn’t wait to climb higher up. After a disappointing breakfast at the Gité (weak coffee, stale bread, and a single croissant), I made my way to the ski town of Candanchu. [Read More]

Dates: 08/23 - 8/27 Start: Hendaye End: Lescun (Gite) Distance: 100 miles Vert: 35k+ / 32k- I got up early to catch the bus to the train station and make my way to the French-Spanish border via train. Thanks to the TGV, I quickly arrived in Paris, where I had to change trains and take the metro to another train station first. The stations were crowded with tourists, as expected in the middle of the summer. [Read More]