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Sam Judd

@samjjudd

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Hiking Te Araroa - 3000km from top to bottom of NZ
Fundraising for @waveprojectuk and @aktcharity
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Hi, I’m Sam!

I’m originally from the UK, spent most of the past five years on Canada’s west coast, and recently relocated to New Zealand. I’m always searching for mountains and waves.

I grew up on a farm in rural England, so nature was always part of my life. Family hiking trips to the Lake District introduced me to the mountains, but in my early twenties I moved to London and threw myself into the big gay city life.

Eventually, I realized it wasn’t making me happy.

At 26, I quit my job, left London, moved to Canada, and completely changed my lifestyle. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. My life in British Columbia revolved around skiing, hiking, surfing, and mountain biking.

Being queer has complicated that journey. For a long time, I felt like I had to choose between queer community and the adventurous life I wanted, especially because the mountain and surf towns I love often have tiny LGBTQ+ communities.

I used to think those parts of me didn’t fit together. The more immersed I became outdoors, though, the more queer adventurers I met. I realized the community is out there, just spread farther apart.

I’m also learning to stop changing myself to fit the people around me. Seeing other queer people show up authentically outdoors has pushed me to do the same.

The photos I’m sharing represent pure joy: standing on a mountain, crawling into my tent, or sitting out in the waves. These are the places where I feel calm, alive, and most like myself.

If I could offer any advice, it would be to build your life around what you genuinely love. Living in a city full of queer people doesn’t automatically mean you’ll find your people. Fill your life with what makes you feel alive and let connection grow from there.

We also have to keep showing up visibly as queer people outdoors and making space for ourselves and each other.

I recently finished my first long-distance thru-hike, Te Araroa across New Zealand. Now I’m dreaming about the next trail, but first I’m ready to get back in the waves. 🏳️‍🌈🏔️🌊

Relationship Status: Single (as of this post)

#QueerOutdoors #GayHikers #ThruHiking #GaysOfNationalParks #ExploreMore

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☀️🌞😎

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POV: You joined a gay run club

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Pretty cute Wednesday with this lot ❤️

Are we keen for another Sweat & Sauna this winter?

😘

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BTS at Global Running Day ⚡️⚡️⚡️

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POV: You joined a gay run club 💅🏻

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GLOBAL RUNNING DAY 2026
INCREDIBLE EFFORT TEAM!!!🫰🏻🔥⚡️

We had 4x teams compete in 300m and 600m relays around Te Kaha Stadium!

Congrats to our athletes and a shoutout to our loyal supporters for braving the cold to cheer us on.

Lez Be Havin It ✂️
@belindabetts33 @lilyfrances95 @samio16 @pauljohnpaddy

The Baton Swallowers 👅
@zayyyne @benclark224 @matt.mcpherson__ @mackay7746

ZEST 🍋
@zakuhatah @ezraschwartfeger @samjjudd @stevensont53

Last Minute Elites 🔥
@lanzbish @samio16 @ezraschwartfeger @jack_fraser_nz

Massive thanks to @jonty_challiesgibb @lululemonausnz @theloftbarnz @athletesfootatl @nonrunnersrunclub @runclubmomentum @6_thirty_sundays @fendaltonflyersrc @sixfifty.03 @socialstriders_nz ❤️❤️❤️

What a beautiful running community we have here in Ōtautahi Christchurch!

Xx

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Not me having teary eyes as I edit this video on my couch … 🥹🥰✨

Can’t even explain what I’m feeling as I’m looking back at this footage 🥹

Distance : 12.29km
Elevation gain : 310m
Moving time : 2:39

#newzealand #teararoa #aotearoa

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The Three Musketeers 🤠

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Well girls, we did it—we traversed New Zealand from top to bottom! We did this through a combination of (mostly) self-powered modes of transport: over 1000 miles of bikepacking 🚲, ~660 miles of backpacking 🥾, 56 miles of canoe-packing 🛶, plus a handful of hitchhikes and friendly rides 🚙 Soooo grateful for this privilege, especially to share it with the love of my life @colbycrispeno ❤️‍🔥

This journey took us across a vast array of NZ’s landscapes, from idyllic farmland, to rugged mountaintops, moss covered forest, rolling tussockland, winding river valleys, and scenic coastline. We also met some fantastic people along the way 🥰 it would have been a totally different experience had we not shared it with these new friends. Special shoutout @samjjudd WE 🫶 U GIRL

This trek of course came with its challenges—it honestly made the PCT feel like a walk in the park. Along the way we encountered some ridiculous amounts of mud, steep and slippery or nonexistent sections of trail, endless river crossings, torrential rains, hordes of blood sucking sandflies, trench foot, powerful winds, and long days. It was exhausting. But when the going got tough—I repeated my mantra: “just suffer.” I think some people call that acceptance? We came here looking for a challenge and by god did we get a challenge 😅 Being on the other side of it now, we’re stoked for more in the future and we’ll keep looking for new ways to experience the world and push the limits of our bodies. We’re hooked 🤪 That being said, we’re looking forward to some time to chill and get back to our other hobbies.

It feels like we’ve lived an entire lifetime out here, so it’s strange to think we’ll soon be leaving. Back to the dumpster fire that is the US—home to our families and friends, some of the very best folks we know in the whole wide world. And while things may not be going the best back home, we don’t want to run away—we need good people there to keep protesting, building an alternative way of life that will outlive all this bullshit. Love yall, see you soon 😘

#teararoa #thruhike #bikepacking #gaytravel #gaycouple

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TRULY experiencing the beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand on the evening of Day 31 hiking Te Araroa

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honey, I’m homeeeee

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