OSPREY AMBASSADOR

JOSH HAMILL

G’day, I’m Josh, all-round mountain enthusiast with a focus on finding ways to improve and challenge myself. What began as hiking has slowly evolved into more vertical adventures on rock, snow, and occasionally ice - I’m drawn to new ways to explore and currently find climbing/mountaineering extremely fulfilling. This doesn’t mean I’ve forgetting about hiking! I still have plenty of varied hiking adventures and I’m keen to delve more into the world of fast-packing & trail running. Living in Northeast Victoria means I have easy access to the Victorian High Country and Australian Alps as a whole, giving me plenty of terrain to run about in.

What has been your most memorable adventure so far?

My most memorable adventure… quite tricky to say! Recency bias has me say climbing Mount Aspiring this past January. It’s been a goal of mine for a few years, and we climbing it in a mature manner, making good decisions in a very complex environment. I’ll certainly remember it for the rest of my life, it’s such a magnificent mountain that I hope to return to for more difficult climbs in the future.

What adventure pushed you the most mentally or physically?

Hard to quantify, because my aim is to always push myself into discomfort, and to grow towards new and more challenging objectives/goals. Mount Aspiring felt just as difficult as the first time I climbing Mt Feathertop (which was in winter), the difference was my overall experience. If I wasn’t continually challenging myself, I’d be doing something wrong.

If you could go back to when you first started exploring the outdoors, what advice would you give yourself?

Largely, I’d say do exactly as you’ve done. I have no regrets thus far. If anything, I’d say take social media more seriously - to try and be of more help to others. I’d also say that it’s perfectly fine to go alone; I struggled with this momentarily in the beginning, but grew to overcome it. It can be difficult when you have no circle - no family or friends with any interest in your new passion - but don’t let this discourage you. If I did, I wouldn’t be here.

We are super excited to follow along all of Josh's adventures over the year, make sure you follow him on Instagram to stay up to date with his epic trips! @betterhiking ⛰️