Breakfasts– In general, brekky at the huts was a mixed bag. The good ones included a buffet of cereals, bread, cheeses, meats, multiple cups of coffee, and cost around €9 or €10. The not-so-great ones were of the continental variety consisting of bread, butter, jam, a coffee, and that’s about it. These cost €7 or €8 and I invariably left hungry………not really, as in these cases I’d buy something extra to go. What a brilliant book, I've read most of Lucy Clarke's books now and they just keep getting better! Upon finishing university in 1993, I moved to Mexico. No, I was not on the run from the law, although not long after I arrived, I distinctly recall being told that only two kinds of people move to Mexico, “those that are wanted and those that are not wanted.” My intention was to spend a couple of years working, travelling, and learning another language before heading home to Australia. I ended up doing all of those things; however, two years have somehow metamorphosed into two decades………and counting.

During the 12 Long Walks trip, I completed the swiftest ever calendar year Triple Crown (Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide Trails – 236 days) and covered more distance in a calendar year than anyone before me (10,244 miles / 16,486 km). During the summers of 1975 (Irun-salardú) and 1977 (Salardú-port Bou), a group of members of the Center Excursionista de Catalunya made the Pyrenean crossing, from modifications of the 1st edition (May 1975) d’haute randonnée pyrénéenne by Georges Veron • The Hike is a fast-paced nail biter of a thriller that twists and turns much like the setting it takes place in. Wild Camping: Regular readers of ‘The Hiking Life’ knew this bit was coming. While I enjoyed eating breakfasts and lunches in the huts during my time on the AV2 (and AV1), I avoided overnight stays in the huts. The main reasons for this is were that: A. I don’t sleep well in dormitories, and; B. If I’m hiking in the mountains I prefer to sleep outside whenever possible. That being the case, I did what I almost always do – set up camp at sunset and left the following morning before sunrise. All in all, a solid popcorn thriller that was different than the usual "is my husband secretly a killer?" books. The final showdown was ... le cringe, but again, popcorn thriller.Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a resource that documented the gear choices of a diverse, yet very experienced group of thru-hikers. And when I say “very experienced”, I am understating. The six people that have contributed to this post are amongst the most accomplished and knowledgable long distance hikers in the United States. The Pyrenean Haute Route is bookended by the pretty seaside towns of Hendaye and Banyuls. In between lies 800 km worth of jagged granite peaks, sapphire blue lakes, flower-laden alpine meadows, and sweeping glacial cirques. Almost two decades after I hiked the HRP, it remains one of my all-time favourite trails:

Timing Your Days: As is the case pretty much all over the Alps, most of the hikers you will encounter seem to begin their hiking day around 8 – 9 am, and finish sometime between 2 and 4 pm, when they arrive at their pre-reserved hut. This means that the trails are often hiker-free during what I consider to be the best times of the day (i.e. early morning and late afternoon). From my perspective, herein lies the greatest benefit of carrying your own shelter – freedom. The freedom to arise at dawn when the birds are singing, and walk in solitude under an infinite ceiling of emerging blue. The same applies to sunset, when the temps are cooler, wildlife reemerging and the sky is turning fifty shades of crimson. These are the times when I most want to be out on the trail. Not necessarily to cover more miles, but instead because it makes me feel like I’m more a part of the daily miracle that is unfolding all around me. If I had to name my absolute favorite part of this book, however, it would have to be the relationships at the center of the plot. A tale of reconnecting friends and life’s unexpected turns, it was heartwarming but also filled with true-to-life problems that occur when you put more than two people together in a friendship. And, ultimately, this led to plenty of plot charging drama that put the thrills in thriller. NeoAir bonus feature – you can use it to paddle across lakes and slow moving watercourses | Southwest Tasmania Traverse, 2016.Thank you to Lucy Clarke, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. I’ve never been so sure of my not being a rugged, outdoor kinda gal as I was while reading this book. I guess you could call me a glamping princess, as I’d rather have access to at least some conveniences, but after reading this book I can argue with my husband that it’s just safer overall. 😇 These women are wearing the same crusty clothes for days, eating dried/preserved foods, etc and YOU DO YOU GIRLS. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 My AV2 Strategy: FWIW, here’s a rough breakdown of my daily schedule during my six days on the AV2: Can I come alone?Yes of course, loads of people come solo. The whole point of these hikes is to have a group when you want to get out walking but none of your friends will go with you or perhaps you’ve just moved here and you want to meet people with similar interests.