A different path

Almost two years ago now, I resigned from my role as Medical Director of the largest ambulance service in the world (by land area covered) - Western Australia at 2.5 million square kilometers is a big joint.

I had no particular plan for what to do next, my initial plan was to engage in a period of recovery whilst figuring out where life would lead. My thought was that I'd take on some short term roles whilst waiting for an interesting new opportunity to emerge. Those roles didn't (haven't) emerged and that of itself tells an interesting tale.

But along the way something even more interesting has taken shape - a love of exploration and an intense desire to be out in the open, experiencing all the world has to offer.

Here's some non standard hiking hot takes:

Hot take #1 - Heli-hiking rocks

Well you've never really lived until you've been flown up to 1,500m from sea level and then have to hike down, passing all those poor buggers on the way up you hit them with quips along the lines of:

• it's really worth it when you get to the top
• not far to go now
• we struggled on this bit too

The view was worth it, though. Here's the Kepler Track in NZ at about 1100m.

Hot take #2 - hungover, fat, old, unfit and car sick is a bad combination for serious hiking

This time we're in the Dolomites - lessons were learned at altitude in the harshest way.

But, once again, it was all worth it - the three of us have been mates for 35 years

Hot take #3 - Miracles happen

Ever seen a perfect double rainbow?

Hot take #4 - Hot, cold, or in between - I'm there and loving it

Hot take #5 - it all gets pretty zen out there

One foot after another until you get to the end, lots of metaphors for life.