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 A$19.95, with three bonus PDFs. Also on Kindle and in 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 35 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.
While training to be a pharmacist at university, I guided on the Overland Track in my spare time, and over the years I walked it with more than 500 guests. I have also made most of the mistakes in this book myself.
Pathfinder is the book I wish someone had handed me at the start. It tells you what to do and 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.
"It is a well written and credible resource. Well done Mowser!"
Greg, reader of Pathfinder
What is inside
- Why Hike?
- Choosing Your First Walk
- The Gear That Matters
- Finding Your Way
- Planning Your First Walk
- Food and Water
- Staying Safe
- Staying Comfortable
- Your First Night Out
- When Things Go Wrong
- Learning from Mistakes
- Building Your Confidence and Skills
- Leave No Trace
- What'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 the key points at the end of each one, so you can act on them.
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 in 2027.
Everything you get with the PDF
- Pathfinder: A Guide to Hiking with Confidence
- The full second edition as a colour PDF with live links. 14 chapters, 20 diagrams, 96 pages.
- Trail Confidence Toolkit Bonus
- 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.
- Day Walk Checklist Bonus
- Tick it off the night before, then again as it goes in the pack.
- Overnight and Multi-Day Checklist Bonus
- 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.
The 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.
Get the book