A Convincing Guide To Hiking with Mariah Hanna

I have never been inclined to go hiking.

Strava is fucking stupid, and carrying freeze dried food in a paperweight backpack seems reserved for people who can point out star constellations other than the Southern Cross. It’s an intimidating activity if it’s not something you’re doing on the reg. My reservations towards hiking shifted slightly when I got talking to Mariah Hannah, a friend of the industry who shared stories of her hike making it sound much less like a survivor race and more like an appreciative walk through this big beautiful world we live in. After seeing a couple of her photos (stunning) and her attitude towards it (good old fashioned fun) we thought we would we hit her up about some practical advice for those who are on the fence about stretching the pencils at length for the first time.

Are crocs a necessity for hiking?

Yes, or something Crocs-adjacent like Merrell Hydro Mocs. You’ll only realise their value when you need to get up in the middle of the night to pee and you’re forced to pull on your swampy hiking boots because you thought an extra set of shoes was unnecessary.

How can I choose the right hiking trail for my skill level?

Research. I’ve found All Trails is the best app, and Reddit. Pick a place you want to go and look at the rating. If it’s too high for what you’re comfortable with, there are usually other trails close by for differing skill levels.

What are some common mistakes that beginners make while hiking?

Packing too much food. I get a little obsessive about this, but there is nothing I hate more than bringing food on the walk back out of a hike. Why bother dropping hundreds of dollars on lightweight hiking gear, only fill your pack with 6kg of food that you won’t eat?

Any recipes you can share?

I don’t really have camping recipes but halloumi is my favourite camping food. It keeps well, it’s compact and delicious for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I tend to go for wraps and pre-made Dahl because of ease of cooking, or wrapped sweet potato and other veggies charred in a fire. I am a freak and love the taste of Back Country dehydrated meals, but another great brand is Strive. For any long-distance hikes that require multiple days of food. I haven’t got the patience to dehydrate my own food, but I’d highly recommend doing that for hikes longer than six days.

What are the most useful utensils cooking wise you need?

I LOVE my 360 Degrees Furno Stove. It’s cheap, tiny, and compatible with most gas canisters. It’s also handy to have a pan that can sit on an open flame so you don’t need to spend forever heating food over a camping stove.

How should I prepare for a long-distance hike?

Again, research. Really take the time to read the info that’s out there about particular hikes (and there is a lot of info out there, hiking enthusiasts love to give advice online). Download an offline map and bring a charging bank. Check to see if there are freshwater sources along the hike, pre-plan your food, and make sure you check the weather. Be sure you have enough shorter hikes under your belt before diving into a multi-day, don’t just decide to dive right into the deep end because you like the idea of getting into hiking. And finally, know your limits and take someone with you. It’s easy to get lost even on busy trails, so it’s always better to have someone with you if you’re new to multi-day or long-distance hiking.

What types of wildlife encounters should I be prepared for?

It really depends on where you go. If you get lucky in the Blue Mountains and Newness areas you might see a Lyre bird or monitor lizards. You should always be aware of snakes, but to be honest, I’ve never seen one on a trail… but they’re there.

What are your five favourite hikes?

Well there’s a few. Let me list them out.

Wog Wog Track, Morton and Budawang National Parks, NSW

A moderately challenging two-day in-and-out walk with spectacular views and beautiful caves to camp in. I’d highly recommend this if you’re dipping your toes into multi-day hikes.

Western Arthurs, TAS

By far the most challenging and rewarding walk I’ve ever done. The entire trail takes 10 days to complete, however we only did four days to Lake Oberon and back. It’s everything you’ve ever read; knee-deep mud for the entire first 10km, followed by the most knee-breaking incline and decline over and over again across the ranges. The views, though, were simply spectacular with mountain ranges peaking above the clouds and pristine alpine lakes dotted along the traverse.

8th Gorge in Nitmuluk National Park, NT

Located just outside of Katherine, this was such a quintessential Australian landscape with the most spectacular golden hour. If you can just push the fear of crocs out of your mind, it also has the most refreshing and gorgeous swimming spots along the way.

Colo River, Wollemi National Park, NSW

Although it only takes a couple of hours to hike down to the river bed, I’d highly recommend spending two nights here. The way down is pretty steep, and the way back up even more challenging, but it’s worth it for the gorgeous views of the sandstone cliffs and deliciously refreshing swimming along the river.

Doctor Dark’s Cave, Blue Mountains, NSW

This is a super easy in-and-out day walk to a gorgeous hidden cane named after a Katoomba doctor (Dr Dark) who stumbled across the cave in the 1930s and turned it into a holiday home of sorts. The family’s mementos have been left there, including some rusted posts and pans, an old pair of shoes and a backgammon board. Visitors have been respectful of the quirky history and left their belongings untouched (so please do the same!).

Next hike you want to make?

The entire ten-day Western Arthurs traverse. It might kill me, and I almost broke up with my boyfriend on the first hike, but it was truly the most awe-inspiring landscape I’ve ever seen. 

Any good links or books to read about hiking?

I’m sure there are, but I’ve found the best resources have come from All Trails and Reddit. I’ve also found that some of the most helpful information has come from researching specific trails online.

Tips on keeping relationships intact while hiking?

Don’t talk back when the other person wants to take a break.

Your essential five things for hiking?

Camping gear is frustratingly expensive, and therefore exclusive, but price does not always equal quality. Do your research online for the best value for money, but the below items are the essentials that I’d recommend investing in. For everything else, I’m a big believer in sharing gear with your friends, especially non-essential equipment like cooking gear.

1. A comfortable pack that fits properly. Particularly for people with breasts, make sure to purchase a women’s pack that has chest and waist straps in the right spots. The brand really doesn’t matter, and you can find affordable options from most outdoor stores, but I’d recommend trying one on in person before purchasing.

2. A Sawyer Squeeze water filter. These things are insanely effective and so lightweight. They make longer hikes much more bearable when you don’t need to carry 4L of water, and filter 99.99% of bacteria, which is honestly better than some tap water in major cities.

3. Comfortable shoes and clothes. It’s tempting to get decked out in gorp-core, but really, all you should be concerned with is being comfortable. Also, don’t forget to bring extra socks if you’re camping, there’s nothing that feels better on sore feet than a fresh pair.

4. A lightweight tent. On multi-day hikes, every gram counts, so it’s worth spending the extra money on something that’s as compact and light as possible.

5. I really could not recommend a good sleeping mat enough, particularly if you are doing long multi-day hikes. If there’s anything you should invest in it should be something that’s full length with proper insulation. I have a Nemo Astro, and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever bought.