This is all really good advice. I'd add to it that managing your food, liquids, and temperature is vital to your mental focus. If your sugar is low or if you're a bit dehydrated or you're feeling too cold a tight spot in the bush will seem a lot more daunting than it is. Don't put yourself in the position of having to mentally "push through" a situation that can be mitigated with an extra layer, a muesli bar, or a decent drink.
Absolutely! Taking care of your basic needs is crucial for maintaining focus and staying calm in challenging situations. Thanks for adding that perspective!
Terrific video! My secret weapon is the ability to be cold, tired, hungry, sore, wet, thirsty, dirty, and lost (sometimes all at the same time), and to convince myself that I’m having fun. 🤠
Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like you have an impressive ability to embrace the challenges and find joy in the chaos. I have been known to do a similar thing! Keep it up!
Enjoyed the video! Just finished my first, solo, multi-day hike with tent etc. Have always loved hiking (Norway), but never did a multi-day one. At age 61 I finally did it! And I seem to have used ALL your tips, despite seeing them afterwards. I agree that they work. Despite some challenging moments I feel very, very satisfied to have been out in the beautiful nature and reaching my goal!
Oh that's awesome! I've been backpack camping for the last couple of years, I'm going to attempt my first solo this weekend. I'm actually nervous. Congratulations!
37 km is a considerable haul Mowser, with a full pack, especially in warm weather. This is a very important topic for discussion that you have identified and discussed that everybody can gain from. Personally, I enjoy the preparation pouring over gear (like most gear freaks) studying maps etc. before a walk or climb. Physical preparation adds to necessary self- confidence but it is definitely a mental game in respect to undertaking difficult or endurance walks. Knowing when to push past reasonable levels of discomfort or mild pain versus knowing when to listen to your body is critical. Maintaining your situational awareness so that you can make good sound judgements whilst fatigued or injured and/or knowing when to make camp or even turning back in the face of extreme conditions is an acquired skill. Like any skill it is perishable as it slowly fades if not being used and can significantly affected by fatigue. Not knowing when to stop and take stock of a situation or turning back can have dire consequences and has been the ultimate downfall of many, particularly (alpine) climbers. I always feel uncomfortable during the first 20 minutes of any walk. Awkward. Fidgeting with gear, adjusting clothing and pack straps., second guessing what I may have left behind. An experienced bushwalker once told me that this is ‘normal’ so now I always expect it and accept this discomfort until I find my rhythm and momentum. Just my take on it. Great video. Great topic as always. MB.
Thanks for sharing your insights, MB! You’ve touched on some key points about preparation and mental resilience that are crucial for any walk or climb. It’s all about finding that balance and knowing your limits - I should have reiterated that in the video! Cheers
I need to hear this. I'm embarking on a 4N5D hike overseas in the first week of September and I haven't been on the trail for almost a year. I do hit the gym on a daily basis and enjoy watching youtube and reading blogs on the trails I'm going to to prepare myself mentally. Thanks again for reminding me the importance of mind over matter.
Bang on Mowser. Like "chunking" strategy of breaking treks into sections and planning hydration/electrolytes/fuel up/rests - not cutting into the next day's energy levels. All the pre-planning and training helps with confidence. And taking time to look around and enjoy... is so overlooked. Amazing how a super challenging trip once achieved looks so much easier the next time around. Thanks
I don't know if this qualifies as a mental thing, but I think you have to realize what age does to you. When I was young, I didn't have to prepare much for a big trek. I could practically exhaust myself on day one, kinda recover overnight, and do it again, and I'd get stronger every day. I never even looked at a gym. Much older now, and I either have to be in the gym regularly, or pace myself and take recovery days. I really took a certain level of fitness for granted when I was young. 😂
Speaking of breaking the day into smaller sections and setting mini goals, a few years ago, I randomly got a Chinese cheapo Fitbit copy for Kris Kringle at the family Xmas party. I was going on a hike a few days after that Xmas, so I decided to take the new watch and paired it to its companion app on my phone. When set to monitor an exercise period, which a hike qualified as that, the companion app by default would report in a female AI voice whenever each kilometre is passed. I've had my Garmin watch buzz on my wrist when certain milestones are passed, but having that female, Chinese accented English AI voice tell me "you have walked x kilometre in x time, the last kilometre took you x time to walk" served as a weird motivational focus-inducing mental mechanism. I no longer use that Fitbit but I still keep the app and still track my hikes on it, and I look forward to the AI voice encouraging me.
In case you need video ideas, have you considered doing one on The Overland in winter? What are the extra considerations over doing the track in warmer times? What are the gear you'd take in a winter overland hike?
Kinda did a vid like that a couple of months a go when I went through a gear loadout for Overland Winter trip. Reckon I'll do another next year as hopefully there'll be more snow justifying snow shoes, ice axe etc!
If I'd seen this video three weeks ago I may have got to the start and done a winter Overland South to North. Instead the day before turned to s#$t and I ended up pulling out the night before.
I'm sorry to hear that! But sometimes its for the best. And better to turn back than any potential mishap. Have cancelled at the last minute myself. Timing can be everything in adventure planning. Hopefully, you'll get another chance to hit again soon.
This is all really good advice. I'd add to it that managing your food, liquids, and temperature is vital to your mental focus. If your sugar is low or if you're a bit dehydrated or you're feeling too cold a tight spot in the bush will seem a lot more daunting than it is. Don't put yourself in the position of having to mentally "push through" a situation that can be mitigated with an extra layer, a muesli bar, or a decent drink.
Absolutely! Taking care of your basic needs is crucial for maintaining focus and staying calm in challenging situations. Thanks for adding that perspective!
Terrific video! My secret weapon is the ability to be cold, tired, hungry, sore, wet, thirsty, dirty, and lost (sometimes all at the same time), and to convince myself that I’m having fun. 🤠
Thanks for the feedback! It sounds like you have an impressive ability to embrace the challenges and find joy in the chaos. I have been known to do a similar thing! Keep it up!
We do love an ordeal! Which is a bit crazy 😂
Enjoyed the video! Just finished my first, solo, multi-day hike with tent etc. Have always loved hiking (Norway), but never did a multi-day one. At age 61 I finally did it! And I seem to have used ALL your tips, despite seeing them afterwards. I agree that they work. Despite some challenging moments I feel very, very satisfied to have been out in the beautiful nature and reaching my goal!
That’s awesome! Huge congrats on your hike! Sounds like you nailed it. I love Norway and can't wait to return there to do some multi-day hikes myself!
Oh that's awesome! I've been backpack camping for the last couple of years, I'm going to attempt my first solo this weekend. I'm actually nervous. Congratulations!
“You’ve got this” is great self-talk on a tough climb or when the terrain is particularly challenging.
I always find myself saying it!
"yes I can and yes I will" (originally heard about this from Richard Grannon)
Great tips! I especially need to try the micro goals.
Using the Arthur range as an example was very fitting 😆
Absolutely!
Chur bro. Nice videos. Good to get an Aussie/Kiwi perspective on all things hiking/ tramping. Thanks bro
Thanks!
Always love watching your videos. This is so good to watch even to listen while i am doing my walk . Thank you so much .
You are so welcome! Someone actually mentioned the other day that they listen to them too!
37 km is a considerable haul Mowser, with a full pack, especially in warm weather.
This is a very important topic for discussion that you have identified and discussed that everybody can gain from.
Personally, I enjoy the preparation pouring over gear (like most gear freaks) studying maps etc. before a walk or climb. Physical preparation adds to necessary self- confidence but it is definitely a mental game in respect to undertaking difficult or endurance walks.
Knowing when to push past reasonable levels of discomfort or mild pain versus knowing when to listen to your body is critical.
Maintaining your situational awareness so that you can make good sound judgements whilst fatigued or injured and/or knowing when to make camp or even turning back in the face of extreme conditions is an acquired skill. Like any skill it is perishable as it slowly fades if not being used and can significantly affected by fatigue. Not knowing when to stop and take stock of a situation or turning back can have dire consequences and has been the ultimate downfall of many, particularly (alpine) climbers.
I always feel uncomfortable during the first 20 minutes of any walk. Awkward. Fidgeting with gear, adjusting clothing and pack straps., second guessing what I may have left behind. An experienced bushwalker once told me that this is ‘normal’ so now I always expect it and accept this discomfort until I find my rhythm and momentum.
Just my take on it. Great video. Great topic as always.
MB.
Thanks for sharing your insights, MB! You’ve touched on some key points about preparation and mental resilience that are crucial for any walk or climb. It’s all about finding that balance and knowing your limits - I should have reiterated that in the video! Cheers
Thanks Mowser. You are doing great work with your channel.
In climbing we call it type-2-fun, the worse the better
Good to know your limits.
Absolutely!
This is really a great video.
Thanks! 🙏
I need to hear this. I'm embarking on a 4N5D hike overseas in the first week of September and I haven't been on the trail for almost a year. I do hit the gym on a daily basis and enjoy watching youtube and reading blogs on the trails I'm going to to prepare myself mentally. Thanks again for reminding me the importance of mind over matter.
That’s awesome! Sounds like you're well prepared and ready! Go get it!
Bang on Mowser. Like "chunking" strategy of breaking treks into sections and planning hydration/electrolytes/fuel up/rests - not cutting into the next day's energy levels. All the pre-planning and training helps with confidence. And taking time to look around and enjoy... is so overlooked. Amazing how a super challenging trip once achieved looks so much easier the next time around. Thanks
Totally get what you mean! Planning makes everything feel way easier. Plus, who doesn’t love a good snack break while soaking in those views?
I don't know if this qualifies as a mental thing, but I think you have to realize what age does to you. When I was young, I didn't have to prepare much for a big trek. I could practically exhaust myself on day one, kinda recover overnight, and do it again, and I'd get stronger every day. I never even looked at a gym. Much older now, and I either have to be in the gym regularly, or pace myself and take recovery days. I really took a certain level of fitness for granted when I was young. 😂
Absolutely true. I have really noticed the same over the past couple of years!
Speaking of breaking the day into smaller sections and setting mini goals, a few years ago, I randomly got a Chinese cheapo Fitbit copy for Kris Kringle at the family Xmas party. I was going on a hike a few days after that Xmas, so I decided to take the new watch and paired it to its companion app on my phone. When set to monitor an exercise period, which a hike qualified as that, the companion app by default would report in a female AI voice whenever each kilometre is passed. I've had my Garmin watch buzz on my wrist when certain milestones are passed, but having that female, Chinese accented English AI voice tell me "you have walked x kilometre in x time, the last kilometre took you x time to walk" served as a weird motivational focus-inducing mental mechanism.
I no longer use that Fitbit but I still keep the app and still track my hikes on it, and I look forward to the AI voice encouraging me.
Can definately see how that little voice could help!
W mentality
I always think this time next week when I’m stuck inside at work I would rather be out here regardless 😂
In case you need video ideas, have you considered doing one on The Overland in winter? What are the extra considerations over doing the track in warmer times? What are the gear you'd take in a winter overland hike?
Kinda did a vid like that a couple of months a go when I went through a gear loadout for Overland Winter trip. Reckon I'll do another next year as hopefully there'll be more snow justifying snow shoes, ice axe etc!
9:40 Most people don't have an internal monologue. Crazy right
If I'd seen this video three weeks ago I may have got to the start and done a winter Overland South to North. Instead the day before turned to s#$t and I ended up pulling out the night before.
I'm sorry to hear that! But sometimes its for the best. And better to turn back than any potential mishap. Have cancelled at the last minute myself. Timing can be everything in adventure planning. Hopefully, you'll get another chance to hit again soon.
I have never liked the hike. For me it is all about reaching the location and setting up camp.
Definately know that feeling!