@courtneyevewhite
Some might call me a storyteller, others an oversharer but you can call me Courtney! I grew up in Canberra, Australia with all the athleticism and adventurous nature of a garden snail. So when I discovered this little concept called thru-hiking and booked a permit for the Pacific Crest Trail after my first and only overnight hike, I could have never anticipated that I would become obsessed with ultra-length challenges. Whether it’s on the bike, on foot or something else entirely I am happiest in the pocket of space just between my comfort zone and death. And when I’m at my lowest; when I’ve ran out of food or water, when I’m injured, or terrified, or stuck in a storm that’s when I press record. Making films on these adventures definitely adds a layer of complexity but nothing makes me feel more creative than being covered in sweat, dirt and tears.
What's your favourite trail you've been on?
In the interest of not ranting and raving about the PCT (my favourite hobby) I’ll tell you about an equal contender. The Jagungal Wilderness area in Kosciusko National Park is fairly close to home for me and the place I return to multiple times a year. It’s alpine, a lot of vast nothingness and filled with quirky little alpine huts. Jagungal will always have a special place in my heart for the experiences it has witnessed. I have taken friends on their first hiking trips there and watched them fall in love the same way I did, I passed through on my bike whilst racing the Hunt 1000 battered and bruised and I’ve sat around the fire making mulled wine and laughing until my stomach hurts. I guess Jagungal is kind of like my favourite pair of undies, it’s nothing flash but its seen me through some amazing times and I’ll always continue to go back for it.
Which Atom Pack do you have? Why?
I have a custom 35L Atom which is compact whilst still being able to haul all my camera equipment, functional with the bottom trash pocket and a huge front pocket, and most importantly… yellow because I frickin’ love yellow! For my last trip I tried to design and make my own pack for the first time and it was not in the best shape by the time I reached the end terminus. The Atom 35 is exactly what I was trying to achieve by making my own especially being able to customise the details, so this time I thought I had better leave it up to the experts.
What's your best packing tip?
Honestly, shut out the noise! I am all about having the lightest pack possible, it prevents injuries and makes your days generally more fun but there is no one correct way to do it. For me, I will happily eat cold soaked cous cous, walk around barefoot at camp and take a single set of clothing. But you best believe I am carrying a full sized mirrorless camera and all the accessories and I am not cutting down my damn toothbrush! I think buying a pack at the volume you want to carry and prioritising your gear choices to fit within the weight and capacity it allows is a great start. Plus you might surprise yourself with what you decide to leave at home.
What are your plans for 2026?
Make cool shit! I just wrapped the Te Araroa trail at the start of the year where I documented all the gifts and challenges of the trail and it was super rewarding. 2026 for me is about really exercising my creativity throughout these experiences, whether that is on local weekend hikes, endurance challenges or something a little bigger…
What's one piece of advice that you would give someone planning an adventure?
This is probably not sound advice but quit planning, start doing! You can spend your whole life refining the perfect packing list, picking out the best short cuts and side trails and training but these are all things that take real life experience to learn. My motto is and always has been “wing-it” (with an obvious massive caveat around safety). Just today I opened a fortune cookie that read “don’t mistake motion for action” and I think that might be the perfect way to summarise what I mean here. Oh… and leave your ego at home, but that’s one I’m still working on.
