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BENEATH THE BRIM WITH
Courtney Eve White
Endurance Adventurer
Some adventures are measured in kilometres. Others are measured in everything they ask of you along the way. Courtney Eve White is an Australian adventurer, filmmaker and long-distance endurance athlete who has built a life around going further, from the Pacific Crest Trail and New Zealand’s 3,000km Te Araroa Trail to the 4,418km Tour Divide.
Through her journeys and cinematic storytelling, Courtney captures the raw reality of life on the trail: the exhaustion, uncertainty, unexpected connection and quiet moments that make going the distance worth it.
A Life In Motion
WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO LONG-DISTANCE AND ENDURANCE ADVENTURE?
I think what initially drew me to endurance adventuring and what has kept me here are quite different. My first challenge of this size was the Pacific Crest Trail. I had never even hiked overnight when I got my permit, and I had a preconception that it would be the last. A "once in a lifetime" opportunity, if you will.
What spoke to me was the idea of being self-sufficient. At 23, realising my world was far bigger than I had originally perceived. Taking on a self-sufficient hike across a country was a way to prove to myself that I can find solutions, make hard decisions and ultimately survive with little more than 8kg of gear. What I discovered once I started was a beautiful sense of community, a real sense of peace from living simply alongside nature and a desire to continue pushing the physical limits of my body.
WHAT DOES LONG-DISTANCE HIKING OR BIKEPACKING ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE DAY TO DAY?
The motions are repetitive, but the experience varies so vastly day to day and on each journey. With hiking, you are on the trail for up to four or five months, so you develop routines just as you would in regular life. I generally won't carry a stove, so I eat all my meals cold, pack away my gear and get walking.
On the bike, you can cover the same distance in under a month. To me, ultra bikepacking events feel like the epitome of survival mode. I rarely stop pedalling, carrying all my snacks in my bike bags or running vest, and can spend anywhere from 3am to 10pm moving. It takes a toll, but it also rewards you with an epic feeling of accomplishment.
Both experiences have involved magical moments: meeting unique people, wildlife encounters, internal conversations that give you more clarity than any journalling or meditation ever could, and moments of sheer appreciation for the machine that is your body.
Packing Light, Going Far
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A 4,000KM BIKEPACKING ADVENTURE?
I'm going to say something very controversial here, but not much. The most obvious difference is that you are leaving behind your established "life" for an extended period, so there are logistics with work, housing and saving money. The beauty is that you inevitably learn what you need most when you actually need it, on the trail. Similarly, the best conditioning for an adventure this long is the adventure itself.
If you're in a race environment, some training and learning about basic gear repairs and maintenance is important, especially in remote locations. My race training almost always consists of simply riding my bike anywhere that I would usually drive. No training blocks, no specific skill-development rides, just time in the saddle. Now that I'm thinking about it, I should really start training properly.
The Adventure Essentials
IF YOU COULD ONLY PACK FIVE THINGS FOR YOUR NEXT LONG-DISTANCE ADVENTURE, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Funnily, this question reversed for me, and I asked myself, "What in my pack could I probably survive without?" and whittled it back from there.
I'd need a high-quality quilt. Sleep is so important on the trail, and a quilt to keep warm when conditions change is essential.
Water treatment, preferably a filter that screws onto a bladder or plastic bottle. I am super wary of waterborne illnesses; they can completely halt your adventure.
High-quality socks. Whether I'm on the bike or hiking, socks are so important for foot health. I want socks that dry quickly, keep my feet warm and prevent blisters and hot spots.
My guilty inclusion would be my camera. Half the fun of adventuring is capturing and sharing it with the people I love.
And finally, a hat. Growing up in Australia, I am super conscious of the risks involved with extended UV exposure. Having a high-quality, durable and comfortable hat is really important to me.
On The Move
HOW DO YOU KEEP MOVING WHEN YOU’RE THOUSANDS OF KILOMETRES INTO A JOURNEY?
The simple answer... I sing... and sometimes dance. When the days get really difficult, when I'm falling asleep on the bike at 3am, when the rain hasn't stopped in ten hours and everything is drenched, or when the thoughts are getting a little too loud, I put some good music in my headphones and I sing. Out loud.
It's truly cathartic. It can get me out of my head or let me express emotions when they are getting too big to contain. It can give me a confidence boost, which sounds silly given the number of times I have run into another hiker whilst dancing down the trail and embarrassed myself.
WHAT HAVE THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL, TE ARAROA AND TOUR DIVIDE TAUGHT YOU ABOUT LONG-DISTANCE ADVENTURE?
I think each journey has its own lessons. The PCT really opened my eyes to the importance of being able to accept help, and that often when you do, you are giving something back to the person who offered it in the first place.
Te Araroa, in all its elemental glory, showed me the compounding effects of climate and human presence on the natural environment, and why we need to tread lightly and contribute to its protection.
The Tour Divide taught me to feel fear, carry it with me and use it to my advantage. Faced with grizzly bears, race-track stalkers and long stretches with no water, understanding and rationalising my fears really led to the best decision-making.
"The overarching lesson for me is the importance of feeling small, to understand how powerful the earth and the elements really are. The minute you underestimate this is when you will come unstuck. Conversely, it's important not to underestimate yourself either. It's insane the things you are capable of when faced with survival situations."
—Courtney Eve White, Endurance Adventurer
SHOP NEW ARRIVALS
FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE
New
NEXT TRAVELLER FERN
Sale price$340.00
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NEXT TRAVELLER MOOSE
Sale price$340.00
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NEXT TRAVELLER SAND
Sale price$340.00
