#154 - Thru-Hiking France with Thomas Bouïssaguet of Hexatrek

Text the show!The Hexatrek is a 3000 km long-distance trail across France that begins at the border of Germany, traverses the Pyrenees Mountains, and ends at the Bay of Biscay.  Thomas works for the Hexatrek organization and spent the summer and fall of 2022 hiking and documenting the trail.  Thomas is able to recognize the realities of hiking a long and share all sides of that reality.  He can describe the trail as an epic adventure that includes vineyards, castles, and mountains, but he’ll also tell you how mentally complacent you can become when one view blends into the next.If you’re dreaming of backpacking through France one day, you’re going to love this episode.Show Notes and LinksIntroduction to the HexatrekHexatrek backstoryEuropean hiking culture and trail experienceThru-hiking popularity in EuropeThe importance of having a beginning and endHiking the Hexatrek vs an American long trailDaily life and cadence of the trailMaking the hike your ownVisa considerationsCamping along the HexatrekFood along the Hexatrek Experiencing France by footThomas’s backpacking storyThe highs and lows of thru-hikingThoughts on losing reverence for an experience Life after the HexatrekFinding balance in life is actually finding contrastThe importance of gaining perspective through contrast What’s next for the HexatrekWhy “Hexatrek” How to followup with Thomas and the Hexatrekhttps://en.hexatrek.com/https://www.instagram.com/hexatrek/https://www.facebook.com/LHexatrek/https://www.instagram.com/cartapouillehttps://youtu.be/9qIlOONM8sYPodcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-a-tent-with-a-french-man-a-daily-thru-hiking-journal/id1502733870Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0P8RD04n8UX0ubqwnFOvXj?si=b502ebfdafda4793Support the showThanks for listening!  Check out the links below to learn more, connect, and support the show.www.byland.coJoin the newsletterBeginner backpacking course Support the show [email protected]