Hike with confidence, whatever the walk.
Pathfinder gives you the skills to choose the right track, pack what matters, read the land, stay safe and enjoy the day. Plain words and real stories from 35 years on Tasmanian tracks. Second edition, rewritten from start to finish.
PDF ebook, Kindle and paperback
The questions that stop people walking
Am I carrying too much?
Every shop and every video says you need something else. You do not. There is an order to buy in, and most of it can wait.
Which walk, and how long will it really take?
Track grades, distance and climb tell you most of it. There is a simple time rule that works.
What if the weather turns?
You check the right forecast, you know when to turn back, and you know what to do if you are caught out.
Could I handle a night out?
Yes, once you know how to stay warm, where to pitch and what to eat. There is a whole chapter on the first night.
Why listen to me?
My first serious walk was Frenchmans Cap in Tasmania, more than 30 years ago. I had a raincoat with a cotton lining, a pack stuffed with the wrong things, and three days of rain across knee-deep mud. On the last morning I ate raw bacon for breakfast because I had packed the wrong food. I was cold, wet and miserable, and I still wanted to go back.
I have been bushwalking for more than 35 years since then. I spent years as a senior wilderness guide at Cradle Mountain Huts, walking the Overland Track with more than 500 guests, and I have made most of the mistakes in this book myself.
Pathfinder is the book I wish someone had handed me at the start. It does not just tell you what to do. It tells you why, because once you understand the why, you can make good decisions when the plan changes.
The second edition is a full rewrite. Two new chapters, twenty new diagrams, a compass method that works with the map in your hand, and updated first-aid advice for Australia. Every page went through an editor and a first-aid review.
Read it, get out there, make a few small mistakes on easy walks, and come back to it when you are ready for more.
What is inside
- 1Why Hike?
- 2Choosing Your First Walk
- 3The Gear That Matters
- 4Finding Your Way
- 5Planning Your First Walk
- 6Food and Water
- 7Staying Safe
- 8Staying Comfortable
- 9Your First Night Out
- 10When Things Go Wrong
- 11Learning from Mistakes
- 12Building Your Confidence and Skills
- 13Leave No Trace
- 14What's Next?
Plus a trip plan you can fill in before every walk, and a readiness quiz at the end that shows you what you are ready for.
Why it works
Plain words
Short chapters, no jargon, and key takeaways at the end of each one so you can act on it.
Real stories
Every story is mine, from Tasmanian tracks. Nothing invented, nothing borrowed.
Built for the first year
Day walks first, then your first night in a tent. Multi-day walks can come later, and the last chapter shows you how.
Who it is for
This book is for you if:
✓ you walk already and second-guess your preparation
✓ you are coming back to it after years away
✓ you are planning your first night in a tent
✓ you are starting out and want to do it properly from the first walk
It is not for you if:
× you already do multi-day walks with a full pack (the follow-on book is for you, coming 2027)
Everything you get
Pathfinder: A Guide to Hiking with Confidence
The full second edition as a colour PDF with live links. 14 chapters, 20 diagrams, 96 pages.
BONUSTrail Confidence Toolkit
The habits from the book on two pages: the time rule, the ten essentials, STOP, and what to do when things change on the day. Print it and keep it in the lid of your pack.
BONUSDay Walk Checklist
Tick it off the night before, then again as it goes in the pack.
BONUSOvernight and Multi-Day Checklist
Everything on the day list, plus shelter, sleep, kitchen and food for every night.
Fillable Trip Itinerary Template
A Google Doc you copy and fill in, then leave with someone you trust.
Seven-day guarantee
If the PDF does not leave you more confident about your first walks, email me within seven days and I will refund it. No questions asked.
Guarantee applies to the PDF bought from me; Amazon handles its own returns.
Your first walk is closer than you think.
Pick an easy track, pack the ten essentials, tell someone your plan, and go. Pathfinder walks you through every step.