The Hike Life: My 50 Favourite Hikes in Ireland

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All in all, a solid popcorn thriller that was different than the usual "is my husband secretly a killer?" books. The final showdown was ... le cringe, but again, popcorn thriller. stars. After reading and enjoying Lucy Clarke's One of the Girls earlier this year, I was excited for The Hike. I love a good destination/survival thriller, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. Now, I'm usually not one to jump at a survivalist thriller, but I'm trying to dibble dabble in a few different tropes because the plain ole domestic ones are letting me down. I need something different. And this definitely fit the bill. It's the first of its kind that I've read, and I have to say I enjoyed it. Was it a literary masterpiece? No. But was it a solid popcorn thriller? Yes (bar the ending going a lil too Charlie's Angels). Usually I’d be camped 30 min to an hour from the next hut, which I’d aim at reaching by 8am at the latest for a morning meal. Re: Montbell – Over the years I’ve found the US sizing to run fairly standard. Here’s a handy sizing chart which may help.

Wild Camping: Regular readers of ‘The Hiking Life’ knew this bit was coming. While I enjoyed eating breakfasts and lunches in the huts during my time on the AV2 (and AV1), I avoided overnight stays in the huts. The main reasons for this is were that: A. I don’t sleep well in dormitories, and; B. If I’m hiking in the mountains I prefer to sleep outside whenever possible. That being the case, I did what I almost always do – set up camp at sunset and left the following morning before sunrise.Do I have to be fit?This depends on the hike, each hike will have it’s own separate post which will give a guide on the difficulty level. All hikes however are taken at a manageable pace. Watery Trailheads: The Pyrenean Haute Route may well be – along with the GR10 and GR11 – the only long distance hike in the world where you can start with a dip in the ocean and finish with a swim in a sea. In an interview, the author shared how she had been on a hike in Norway, when she started to think about writing this novel. She said… British author Lucy Clarke gifts her audience with a brand-new wilderness thriller, set in the beautiful but dangerous surrounds of Norway. As story of friendship, secrets, adventure, thrill seeking and underhanded deeds, The Hike is an adrenaline filled tale that I absorbed from the minute I opened this book to the last word.

Do I need hiking boots?This also depends on the walk, keep an eye on each hike update for more on this.In regards to options, if you choose to go with feather down, look for something that has at least 800 fill power and doesn’t weigh more than 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg). If you would rather go with a synthetic fill, excellent lightweight quilt options can be found at Mountain Laurel Designs and Enlightened Equipment (see Bonus recommendations).

Swami: Stoveless, Toaks Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove ( Note: I tried the Toaks stove for the first time early 2016 and became an instant convert. Significant upgrade in fuel efficiency – I estimate 25% – over the homemade/Pepsi Can versions I had previously used). We’re actually contemplating doing a multi day in the Picos de Europa, then the HRP before AV2 so should have a really good level of fitness by the time we get to Italy! Snow Conditions: One of the most common gear questions regarding the HRP is, “ do I need an ice axe and traction devices for the high passes in the central part of the range?” The answer is that it depends on a few different factors: 1. When you start; 2. Snow levels; 3. Experience. Generally speaking, for folks that start early (i.e. mid to late June) in an average snow year, it is recommended to bring ice axe and microspikes or crampons. For folks that start around the middle of July in an average year, they likely won’t be necessary. Weather: As you would expect, it’s warmer at the lower, coastal ends of the Pyrenees, and colder in the higher central section of the range. During the trekking season of late June to September, once you head inland daytime temps typically get up to the mid-20’s Celsius (mid 70’s F) and drop down to single digits at night (mid 30’s to mid 40’s F). Summer thunderstorms generally roll through around 4 pm; which is obviously not the best time to be going over one of the high passes (i.e. plan ahead). I’ve never been so sure of my not being a rugged, outdoor kinda gal as I was while reading this book. I guess you could call me a glamping princess, as I’d rather have access to at least some conveniences, but after reading this book I can argue with my husband that it’s just safer overall. 😇 These women are wearing the same crusty clothes for days, eating dried/preserved foods, etc and YOU DO YOU GIRLS. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻This is a story about 4 friends who decide to take a hiking/camping trip on the Blafjell Mountain in Norway. Also, this book reinforced that sitting on your couch and reading about hiking is much better than actual hiking. The thought of wearing three-day old clothes and not showering is disturbing. I was barely surviving this weekend when the power went out for 13 hours LOL. Ain't no way I'm trekking through some unknown mountain eating dried food and shitting in the woods. I'm more of a beach gal LOL. Thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review* I want to thank the publisher "Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam Sons" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

Thank you to Lucy Clarke, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

The farther they get from the picturesque lodge, however, the less certain they all become. Between glimpses of mysterious figures and whispered stories that allude to unseen dangers, the women begin to wonder if they ever truly knew what they were getting into. And now they find themselves farther away from civilization than any of them have ever been before. Every time I dive into one of Lucy Clarke’s novels, I cross my fingers and hope that it’s going to be just as good as the last one of hers that I’d read. And yet again, I was thrilled to find that The Hike somehow managed to live up to all of my rather high expectations.