I walked the 650km Australian Alps walking track at 19, alone. Nothing was as I expected

Ya Reeves on conquering the Australian Alps walking track alone: ‘At the finish line, I wasn’t proud of myself. All I could see was weakness.’ Photograph: Ultimo Press

I was 19 when I decided, with a fervour and fixedness, that I would walk the Australian Alps walking track: the 650km trail that follows the Great Dividing Range from Canberra in the ACT to Walhalla in Victoria. I decided that I would do it alone, I wouldn’t deviate from my timeline or route and I wouldn’t need help – and I would never admit to these decisions being beyond my control.

I told my parents, who knew better than to argue, then made a call to my on-again-off-again boyfriend-who-wasn’t-my-boyfriend. He also worked as an outdoor educator and he asked me whether I thought I was ready for such an undertaking. I told him I could handle anything on my own.