blissful hiker ❤︎ inspiring you to hike your own hike
Long-distance backpacker Alison "Blissful Hiker" Young has walked over 13,000 miles on six continents including New Zealand's Te Araroa, Europe's Pyrenean Haute Route, Africa's Drakensberg Traverse and the Pacific Crest Trail in the United States.
In a series of personal essays coupled with found sound, this podcast explores her journey of self-discovery as a middle-aged titanium-reinforced cancer thriver, sharing the sometimes unglamorous but vital truth about empowerment, inspiring others to blaze their own trails in this journey we call life.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 14 minutes
- Episodes
- 150
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Te Araroa: hitting the wall
Blissful Hiker discovers hope because repair happens simultaneously with her trailside breakdown.
In this episode:
- Blissful continues her journey of the Te Araroa, crossing the gigantic …
Te Araroa: all we have is today
Blissful Hiker learns that worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
In this episode:
- Blissful continues her journey of the Te Araroa, walking sout…
Te Araroa: letting the day unfold
Blissful Hiker is astonished when she lets the day take care of itself, miracles occur.
In this episode:
- Blissful continues her journey of the Te Araroa, walking south in the South Isla…
Te Araroa: sending out an SOS
Blissful Hiker's friend from Day 1 falls and dislocates her shoulder and another tramper needs rescuing, and she decides to take things slow so as not to fall – and to not rush to the e…
Te Araroa: these feet were made for crossing
Blissful Hiker learns a new skill crossing rivers in cold and dangerous rapids and falls in the South Island of New Zealand.
In this episode:
- Blissful is on day 89 of the Te Araroa, New…
Te Araroa: rivers run through it
Blissful Hiker finds she is like a river, following a path and forging a new way. It may be hard work, but it's in her nature
In this episode:
- Blissful walks out of Nelson Lakes National …
Te Araroa: comrades over the pass
Blissful Hiker discovers the difference between loneliness and solitude, appreciating the camaraderie crossing a difficult mountain pass.
In this episode:
- Blissful joins six determined fr…
Te Araroa: in the teeth of the gale
Blissful Hiker learns what she plans to do with her one wild and precious life by heading into the mountains when weather moves in.
In this episode:
- Blissful is told by the experts at DO…
Te Araroa: go while the going's good
Blissful Hiker discovers that if you have the energy, the daylight and the weather is good, you should always try to get some distance while the getting’s good.
In this episode:
- Blissful…
Te Araroa: ego tweaks
Blissful Hiker discovers that having her ego tweaked just a little by a braggart can be a good thing, because it helps her decide what matters and what doesn't.
In this episode:
- The day…
Te Araroa: the here and now of the sandfly
Blissful Hiker learns about the Maori legend of the sandfly, created to remind us that this Garden of Eden is something ephemeral, and one we can only pass through.
In this episode:
- Blis…
Te Araroa: stealth campsite
Blissful Hiker takes a chance stealth camping at a lookout and shares spectacular views with one cheeky weka.
In this episode:
- Blissful leaves Wellington and the North Island behind …
Te Araroa: end of an island
Blissful Hiker is snubbed by a young hiker causing her to question friendships and her solo walk as she finishes the North Island with the help from, yes, friends.
In this episode:
- Blis…
Te Araroa: new year's summit
Blissful Hiker watches the sunrise from the summit of Mount Taranaki on the first day of the year and learns that getting to the top is optional, while getting down is mandatory.
In thi…
Te Araroa: tramping buddy
The Blissful Hiker meets an English ex-pat in the Tararuas named Julian and they bond like war-buddies, but are unsure they'll connect again.
In this episode:
- Blissful bonds with an ex-…
Te Araroa: The Tararuas
The Blissful Hiker takes a calculated risk to cross the glorious, but dangerous, Tararua Range all alone, the most difficult section of the Te Araroa so far, taking advantage of a weat…
Te Araroa: hiking her own hike
On day 59 of hiking the Te Araroa, the Blissful Hiker gets in touch with her inner brave spirit and gets more comfortable hiking her own hike.
In this episode:
- Blissful leaves the Tasman …
Te Araroa: a return to the sea
The Blissful Hiker completes the "thru-canoe" section of the Te Araroa on the Whanganui River, and meets "Guardian" Trail Angels before she returns to the Tasman Sea.
In this episode:
- Bli…
Te Araroa: the 50/50 rapids
The Blissful Hiker continues the section of the Te Araroa on the Whanganui River, learning that aiming your canoe – and life – straight into the V of rapids can give you a renewed sense…
Te Araroa: I am the river, the river is me
The Blissful Hiker begins the section of the Te Araroa on the Whanganui River, a body of water precious and deeply spiritual to the Maori.
In this episode:
- Blissful begins paddling the Wh…