Are Pack Liners Needed & Mitch Nissan on GodZone

Welcome back to another episode recap of the Take A Hike podcast! This week, hosts Blair Woodcock, Luen Warneke, and Cherry Judge tackle a common gear dilemma before diving into the extreme world of expedition racing with special guest Mitch Nissan.

Gear Talk: Are Pack Liners Needed?

If you are preparing for a multi-day hike, keeping your gear dry is a top priority. But what is the best approach? The team debated the two main methods for waterproofing your backpack contents:

• Individual Dry Bags: Using separate waterproof bags for clothes, electronics, and sleeping gear. This allows you to colour-code and quickly access items at the bottom of your pack.
• The Pack Liner: A single, large waterproof bag (or heavy-duty garbage bag) that lines the inside of your entire backpack. It is simpler, but makes accessing bottom-zipped compartments difficult.

Luen prefers the "triple dry bag" method when canyoning to ensure absolute water resistance, while Blair leans towards avoiding the creeks altogether. Ultimately, the choice comes down to the terrain and your packing style. Just remember, a good dry system often eliminates the need for those bulky external raincoat covers!

Mitch Nissan Tells Us All About GodZone

We were thrilled to welcome Mitch Nissan to the studio. Originally from Far North Queensland and now based in Townsville, Mitch grew up exploring the remote beaches and waterways of Cape York. Those early days of off-trail navigation prepared him for one of the toughest challenges on earth: the GodZone adventure race.

What is an Adventure Race?

Unlike standard multi-sport events, adventure racing requires teams to navigate purely by map and compass -- absolutely no GPS allowed! Disciplines typically include:

• Trekking and running
• Paddling (pack rafting or kayaking)
• Mountain biking

Tackling the World's Toughest Race

Held in the remote wilderness of Fiordland, New Zealand, GodZone is an expedition-level race that tests teams of four over multiple days. Mitch's team faced gruelling conditions:

• Duration: 6.5 days of near non-stop movement.
• Distance: Over 500 kilometres of brutal terrain.
• Elevation: A leg-crushing 12,000 meters of total elevation gain.
• Sleep Deprivation: Catching only 2 to 3 hours of broken sleep on the ground, often just resting against trees on steep gradients.

Despite a mechanical failure on the bike leg that dropped them to the back of the pack early on, Mitch's team used their strong North Queensland paddling background to surge back to fifth place during the water legs. Even with a tricky nighttime navigation error that cost them a few hours, they successfully finished the pure course – a massive achievement considering the 50% dropout rate!

What is Next?

Mitch and his team are already considering taking on GodZone again. Next week, we will have Mitch back on the podcast to discuss his favourite local adventures around North Queensland and share details about his very own event, the Grin and Bear Race at Lake Tinaroo.

Until then, stay safe outside, have a lot of fun, and we will catch you on the trails!