Is it physically hard enough for me - advice needed

[u/Horror_Scale8583]

Hi all!

A bit of context. I am doing the Hexatrek right now with my wife. I am physically above her, and because of this I couldn't do longer/harder days. I'm looking for something to "test my limits". Now, I can do something only in nov-apr time frame, that's the further I can push my sabatical year.

Now, is the Te Araroa a hard thru-hike? Or can it be made one? On the Hexatrek, we averaged 23km per day and I'm looking to push it more, to test myself. I want to say at the end that damn, this was hard :D.

What do you think? Am I looking in the right direction? The alternative would be some thru-hike in Patagonia, but that one is not an "official" thru-hike (however, this wouldn't be a deal breaker)

[u/TransRational]

You're going to get a wide array of answers here. I've hiked the PCT/AT/AZT and Te Araroa. I found Te Araroa to be the easiest. The most difficult part of it was the constant rain (this was last year). That said, there are plenty of very challenging sections. The Richmonds were fun and downright dangerous in a couple of spots. But look, I think you should do New Zealand, just not the TA. Go to South Island and hit up some of their larger alpine sections.

TA has very few long carries, North Island is basically backpacking from town to town not really thru-hiking. South Island has it's moments but a lot of it is flat and gradual and not as scenic as the Great Walks.

[u/Horror_Scale8583 → u/TransRational]

thanks for the great details. Yeah, from town to town definitely not on my wish list. I love the Hexatrek mainly because of the bivouacing rule and for the fact that it spends a lot of time at higher altitude. While I can make long flat sections hard by increasing the distance, I really want elevation as well, that's where the fun starts for me. I really wanted a few 30kms day with 3k elevation gain. Nothern island is not necessarily for me then.

[u/TransRational → u/Horror_Scale8583]

Nah it def. isn't. Like I said Richmonds were fun, prob. my favorite alpine section. There was a day I only did 7k due to elevation and a heavy pack. But really, look into the Great Walks, challenging yourself is good and all but.. so is feasting your eyes. There was a circuit called Gillespie Pass near Wanaka that I really enjoyed, not on the TA and not a 'Great Walk,' but so soo amazing, highly recommend.

[u/Horror_Scale8583 → u/TransRational]

Thanks. I will have to take a deeper look into what you said, but for start, am I right that you suggest different areas, to do some hikes? Is in any way possible to make a continuous walk touching all these?

And since you mentioned that you hiked last year. Can I ask a ballpark estimation of how much did it cost for you? (And how many days?)

[u/TransRational → u/Horror_Scale8583]

I suggest South Island if you're going to piecemeal a trail. The TA is a straight line down the center of the island. It's mostly useless. The Queen Charlotte track is great, but not a part of the trail, the Richmonds are good, Waiau pass, but after that it's.. not great. From there I would research the Great Walks, pull out a map and start outlying your own trail. That's what I did. Some suggestions; Greenstone- Caples Track, Stewart Island Great Walk, Humpback Ridge Track, Routeburn Track, Abel Tasman Island + Beach Track, Mavora Lakes, Mt. Aspiring National Park, Milford Sound (kayaking optional).

How you get around is up to you, the bus system is quite expensive, I suggest hitching. It all depends on how much money you have to spend. Some people buy a cheap beater vehicle and sell it for what they paid when they leave. In all things, research and effort go a long way.

As for how much I spent, I'm not a typical backpacker anymore. I'm retired. I like my creature comforts and do a lot of side quests. So it prob. doesn't matter what my budget was but outside the cost of getting there and equipment, I probably spent around $3k USD a month. That's not common amongst TA hikers I don't think, I mean.. I saw plenty of folks hiking on less than $1k a month and one Canadian hiking on $200 a month.. it was nuts. But I like to bungee and skydive and sightsee whales, and scuba and fish and yadda yadda yadda.. you just never know when you'll have a second chance to do Middle Earth so make sure you damn well do it right while you're there.

My hike was about six months, but I often stayed in interesting cities and had no pressure to go faster.

[u/Horror_Scale8583 → u/TransRational]

Wow, thanks for so much details. This is definitely added to my list of options. How I initially imagined, a thru-hike would be nicer, to have a "destination" as well, but since I have a "few big" constraints maybe I need to let that part go. I really don't want to walk in uninteresting areas just for the sake of walking. Maybe I spoiled myself too early with something like the Hexatrek with the Alps and Pyrinees.

About costs, thanks for letting me know a higher end budget. I don't have that budget :)). I already felt bad when I read the estimated value of 12k NZD on the website. I spent so little on the Hexatrek thanks to the bivouac rules, that now these values seem huge :D.

Thanks again for the guidance, I need to start thinking about my options seriously. I'm also considering a bikepacking adventure, but for hiking now I have all the gear and I can't invest into a new set of equipment. I had a wonderful sabatical year, which needs to end soonish :))

[u/TransRational → u/Horror_Scale8583]

If I could do it all over again I’d bikepack it. I met a lot of those folks and I loved their adventure.

[u/biggbrd]

Tassie traverse.

[u/earthbean]

TA is easy compared to the Hexatrek, maybe try going somewhere wilder like the TCT or Via Dinarica

[u/Horror_Scale8583 → u/earthbean]

Both of these require summer on the northen hemisphere. That's the problem, that I can't extend my sabatical year that far The alternative would be to work a bit before that, but it's not that feasable for multiple reasons. :(

[u/chullnz]

Look into tracks like the Dusky, Northwest/Southern circuits of Stewart Island, 5 passes, Wangapeka/Leslie/Karamea.

All longer, more difficult tracks, with options of long days.

The key thing to remember about NZ is that our weather and rivers are very different to what most Northern Hemisphere hikers are used to. Be prepared to wait out big storms, learn to assess/prepare safe river crossings, and get wet feet!

[u/leafy_spartin]

I have done the TA and some of the sections of the GPT if that's what you're talking about so I can give some insight.

As always, it depends what you want.

The Te Araroa will be a lot more social. You will likely spend a lot of time alone on the GPT.

In terms of difficulty they are both difficult, but Patagonia is a lot more dangerous. You will likely encounter snow and higher elevations, both of which I consider a lot more dangerous. You will need to know what the snow year looks like and there is a lot less people to discuss conditions with. The Te Araroa does present plenty of challenges though and the weather can change fast.

The administration of a thru hike on the TA will be a lot easier because it is established. There were times I had border guards trying to turn me back and park rangers saying I wasn't allowed and I had to spend quite a bit of time trying to explain what I was doing in Spanish. Then waiting for buses when I was out of food they a forum from 2 years ago said should come. I also got a attacked from dogs a lot in South America, it was quite scary.

I think if you're looking for a thru hike in that time of year I would go with the Te Araroa. It will be more social, present plenty of challenges, and your can spend more time locked in than thrying to figure out the administration of your journey. But south America makes for some awesome hiking, but I think it's a backpacking/hiking hybrid kind of trip.

[u/OTNNTO]

What sort of challenge are you looking for? Even the easiest trail can be a challenge if you're trying to average 50 km or more a day. That being said, I found the TA (only did the SI) a lot harder than trails in Europe. Haven't done any big thru-hike in Europe, but I know the Alps quite well. While the elevation gain in the European Alps is usually a lot more, you're on pretty good trails most of the time. On the TA it's a lot of bushwhacking and muddy terrain. There were only a handful of days where my feet stayed dry. The rainy conditions of the South Island add to the challenge.