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Have you ever done something contrary to the majority opinion? You've done extensive preparation and research, but at the end of the day said fuck it, and went against the grain? When I searched "Te Araroa" and "Hammock" together before the trail, I recieved an overwhelmingly negative response. You won't find any trees, you're only allowed to camp in designated areas, you need a tent, and you'll never find a spot to hang at holiday parks. At first, self-doubt flooded my brain. Am I being an idiot? But after overcoming the initial fear, the negativity only fueled my desire to hammock the TA. I have nothing against a tent, but I didn't think I would be challenged or trying something new. When you dive into the unknown, you come away with rewards you previously haven't considered. How much are you truly learning about yourself or growing when you take the road that's been blogged about hundreds of times and there's a couple thousand other people doing the same thing? Maybe it's my natural tendency to tinker and experiment. For most, a thruhike is enough of a challenge on it's own. Although I knew it would be harder, I still decided to go through with it. You might be wondering why I or anyone else would do that? That can be hard to explain. You gain a certain confidence in yourself when you put yourself in unfamiliar situations without knowing how it will turn out. But are willing to work and figure it out. Because once you're FORCED to solve a situation, you do. I have no illusions that hammocking the TA on its own is special or impressive to anyone. While it has taught me to be patient under trying circumstances, I expect to reap the real benefits when I'm faced with a tough decision in the future, when I'm torn between my gut instinct and the "popular way". Because the small experiences along the way prepare you for the unforeseen ones down the road. I challenge you to buck what's popular and follow your own instinct. Photo cred goes to our expedition photographer: @sarahskyann #teararoatrail #teararoa2018 #teararoa #hikingadventures #hikingnz #hammockcamping #hammocklife #hammocking #hammock #selfconfidenceiskey #compoundinterest #selfconfident

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