Aussie adventurer Lucy has walked 28 million steps across 15 countries
Pro-adventurer Lucy Barnard might have covered over 20,000km and taken more than 28 million steps across 15 countries in her mission to become the first woman to walk the length of the earth.
But sometimes it's the most mundane things which have caused the Brisbane woman problems on her epic solo journey.
"One of the most frustrating mishaps was when my bank cards were due to expire, and the bank repetitively sends the new ones to an old address in Australia instead of sending them overseas as arranged," she tells 9Travel.
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Lucy Barnard, Nevado de Toluca crater in the State of Mexico, on March 30. Barnard is on a mission to walk across the world by foot. Supplied
"This is something I had prearranged months in advance and checked in on with the bank a few weeks out from the card being posted."
She eventually got it sorted, but not without multiple phone calls.
Lucy, who was named Australia's Adventurer of the Year by the Australian Geographic Society with her furry companion, blue heeler Wombat awarded Animal Adventurer of the Year, started walking at the southern most point of Argentina.
She's now completing the last 10,000km of her journey in the USA, heading for Alaska.
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Lucy Barnard and her dog Wombat, at the Nevado de Toluca crater in Mexico. Supplied
She has a live map of where she is.
Lucy was on a rock climbing tour in Argentina when she read about George Meegan, the first man who walked the length of the world.
No woman had ever done it, so she decided she wanted to be the first.
"Closing barriers is one part, but I was also seeking an experience that would not only challenge me, but offer a connection to the people and places I passed," she tells 9Travel.
She set off in 2017 and planned to finished in 2022, until COVID happened.
She has already become the first woman to walk the length of South America. It could take her another two years to actually finish, she says.
Lucy Barnard is on an epic solo trek. Supplied
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Lucy worked in Aboriginal health research and at Geoscience Australia before setting off and is funding her travels with savings, donations and sponsorship.
And her old office life is a far cry from potentially facing polar bears on her upcoming leg.
"I have a risk management plan for them and that issue is more or less ticked off," she says.
Managing the freezing weather is also going to be a threat.
Lucy Barnard with her dog in her tent. Supplied
She has Reynard's disease which means she's more susceptible to illness and conditions like frostbite. She'll have medication to help and has also been working with experts.
"The vast distances between towns in the north will also add to the difficulty of this section, as I will be hauling a sled, extra food, and safety equipment."
Lucy also carries a satellite beacon in case of an emergency.
As for her trip highlights, she has many.
"It's not so much a nation or location but general remoteness that is my favourite place to be in," she says.
El Bolson in Argentina is an arty town. Getty
"My favourite artisan town was El Bolson in Argentina, right near Bariloche which is famous for its food and views and hiking and climbing.
"The Atacama Desert was spectacular, if you can manage the heat
"The Andes in Peru were very remote, the views breathtaking, and the people in these remote areas were warm and loving - though take the warnings of altitude sickness seriously.
"Honduras was my greatest surprise because the people were so welcoming in a place that has a dark history of violent crime and political instability.
One of Lucy's highlights was the Atacama Desert, in Chilie. Getty
"Climbing Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala was a highlight - and my halfway point."
Meanwhile, Lucy has one valuable packing tip for anyone planning to hike, even if their aims are a little lower than hers.
"If minimising what you are carrying is the issue, buying a smaller bag is the most effective way to sort that out," she says.
