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A few good hikers

April 15th, 2009

Two years ago I was packing and repacking before the PCT. One year ago I was sleeping outside a rose garden. Now I’m looking a buying a house and settling down. I’m also facing my first winter since September 2006. With that in mind I’ve sought out a few good hikers that will be on the PCT this year and hopefully keep me entertained as they thread their way to Canada. In no particular order they are:

Cindy and Andy are going the high-tech route with a SPOT device and the ability […]

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and then…

February 3rd, 2009

Since November I have been, and continue to be, happily employed at a scientific institute in Auckland, New Zealand as one of their software developers. It’s a world away from the daily marathons I walked across Japan, struggling to understand and be understood. No more fascinating local customs or idiosyncrasies pick up on (though our team does cover a nicely varied background), no more hunting around for a place to sleep or comparing foods by their calories to Yen ratio. But I just heard about an oppourtunity I couldn’t let pass me by. Queensland Tourism is looking for an island caretake (read: promotional agent/blogwriter etc) to live on Hamilton Island for six months. Applications are done by way of videos and this is mine. I’d appreciate you taking the time to watch it and vote. It’s only 1min long and it’d really change my life in a crazy and most welcome way.

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What next?

January 25th, 2008

   Though I got quite a few queries about what my next adventure will be I didn’t get many suggestions, so I came up with my own. In April I’ll be walking again, this time across Japan. You can find out more on my new site but here’s the basics. It’s shorter than the PCT but there is no trail, I’m making it up as I go along. I know a little Japanese and I hope to learn it all when I’m there. The blog will feature much better Google […]

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It wasn’t me

December 6th, 2007

Just a quick note to tell anyone that is looking for news on the tragic death of a hiker near Snoqualime Pass that it wasn’t me. A different Craig Stanton was killed in an avalanche on Sunday. I passed through Snoqualime Pass in September and am now safely back home in New Zealand.

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Normal service has resumed

October 8th, 2007

PhotoMovie

I think I’ve delayed my final post as long as I can. I’m settled back in New Zealand now and about to begin the mammoth task of sorting over 4000 photos and video clips I took along the way. The journey home took me via LAX. It wasn’t nearly as confusing as I thought it would be. I had plenty of time there to people watch as they went through the usual airport rituals. Hellos, goodbyes and thinking […]

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The unreal world

October 1st, 2007

San Francisco has been a blast. I’ve seen a lot of interesting things and had a lot of fun but it’s time to go home. I’ll be starting my journey home less than 12 hours from now, but it will be 36 before I’m there.

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Cruise control

September 27th, 2007

Photo

I’m becoming more and more removed from the hiking world of the last five months. From Seattle I drove to Ashland. Almost eight hours on one road gave me time to think about things but I didn’t really use it. I was busy surfing the airwaves trying to find a station that actually played music. One end of the dial is all religion all the time, and the other end is dominated […]

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2007-09-23 Sleeping in Seattle

September 23rd, 2007

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The loss of the trail still has me dazed. Luckily there haven’t been any major decisions apart from transport. Lucky Joe left us at Manning Park, preferring to hitch over the greyhound bus. I’d have preferred it too but I have a schedule and didn’t want to risk it. I didn’t get much time to really experience Canada on this trip. Potential 178 (last seen at The Saufleys’) is a local but won’t be back for a few days. I’ll find a […]

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2007-09-22 epilogue

September 22nd, 2007

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My mind is still reeling from the sudden changes but at least my body is at rest. My feet look a little puffed and I prefer it to the thin, pale and wrinkled toes I had yesterday. The scars on my hips are still with me but I know they’ll fade for today I am not hiking. I’m done and the last five months seem like a blur. Even entering Washington seems like a life time ago. The High Sierras, where I […]

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2007-09-22 …and I’m done!

September 22nd, 2007

PhotoMovie

So I’ve done it. I have actually walked all the way up the west coast of America. I’m obviously a little stunned by this all so it may take a little time for my brain to settle down and deal with it all.

The night was the worst I’ve experienced on the trail (except maybe the second night, when it snowed). The rain was going non-stop and the sudden wind gusts were really worrying. Several […]

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Google Maps