The return: A new beginning on my hero’s journey

March 29, 2024
by Jens Hevike
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After a year and a half journey across two continents and ten countries, I am returning to Germany to begin a new chapter in my hero’s journey. Hiking has proven to be a central part of my experience, covering over 5000 km on foot and overcoming more than 12000 meters of altitude. However, despite my return, I don’t see this as the end of my journey, but the beginning of a new chapter.

Dhamma Vipassana – Meditation retreat on trial

February 8, 2024
by Jens Hevike
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After everyone had arrived, there was a light dinner and then the introduction that began the seriousness of the silent retreat, absolute silence. Basically no contact was allowed, not even with gestures or eyes. Part of the program was to hand in our phones. Reading, writing, sports, everything was forbidden.

GPT section 8 and 7 – I wouldn’t hike here without carnivores

December 24, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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I’m more the lush forest type. I love variety. I love walking through a forest, with its scent of needles and leaves. On the open prairie, you are mercilessly exposed to the sun. The forest offers protection. It cools. The ground is softer. The sunlight turns into a play of shadows that penetrate the leaves and needles.

GPT section 10 and 9 – The condors are circling

December 13, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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More and more condors circle above us. Large animals with a wingspan of at least one and a half meters. Although we know that the birds are looking for carrion, we can’t help but get the impression that they are just waiting for us to become their prey. Again and again they fly just a few meters above our heads. We start to pack up with a queasy feeling.

Wanderthirst

December 6, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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Nature will remain a big part of my future life. But it can’t just be hiking. I love nature, but I also love civilization, I love contact and interaction with people. I am sociable, nature is not.

GPT section 4 – Snow flurries and river crossing

November 28, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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However, we were not spared them, as we had to fight our way through the snowfields for miles. The snow had thawed slightly. We kept sinking in a little, but only until the snow had compacted into a hard surface. Our map did not show us a clear path. As before, we were on our own in this section.

Greater Patagonian Trail – Stage 3

November 23, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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The landowner at the start of the third stage wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me. He told me straight away that this was private land and that I had no business here. He had already been annoyed by enough other hikers who had simply walked across his property without asking. That’s why he had put up a gate, which I had deliberately overlooked. I had seen it, even though I had come onto his property from a different direction, but I had decided to ignore it.

Peru and the really big adventure at the end

November 13, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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In the previous post, I described how I left Ecuador in a hurry. The reason for this was my unsuccessful search for good trails, especially those lasting several days, without having to book a tour. I finally found these long hiking routes in Peru.

Peru does not let me go – la multa

October 27, 2023
by Jens Hevike
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I fled Ecuador to get to Peru as soon as possible. I paid for my haste with a penalty when leaving the country. At the border with Bolivia, the border guard calls my attention to a number in my passport. There is a small 30 on the stamp. This refers to an interview I had with his colleague when entering Peru. Unconsciously I answered the question how long I intend to stay in Peru succinctly with 30 days.