Living out 'wildest dream' on Patagonia O-Trek

Eating blood sausage in a backyard in the suburbs of Santiago was not on Ollie Hunt’s bingo card for 2026, but it was a highlight of his South American hiking trip.

The 1st Cherrybrook Rover Scout travelled with three of his closest friends to hike the Patagonia O-Trek thanks to a grant from the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund.

He said he was reminded of the fund when on the way back from his King’s Scout Award Adventurous Journey, though he thought his chances of success were pretty low.

Find out more about the Leadership Through Adventure Fund

“Patagonia had always been one of those destinations I’d dreamed of visiting, however due to its distance, it just always seemed financially out of reach,” he said.

“That’s what I think is so great about the LTAF – it allows young people to live out their ‘wildest dreams’ when it comes to outdoor adventures; trips that otherwise would never be accessible.

“For us getting to South America, the most expensive aspect was definitely the flights – these ended up being about half of the total cost, so all the funds were going to cover them.”

The Patrol – Ollie, with friends Jimmy, Owen and Scott – also spent time in Puerto Natales and Santiago after the hike to unwind and experience the local Chilean culture, before heading home on a gruelling 42-hour set of flights.

He said the summer adventure was “infinitely better” than what he expected.

“A lot of the time you see photos of these places and expect to get there and be somewhat disappointed, but in reality, photos couldn’t remotely capture the scale of the landscapes we saw,” he said.

“It was also a really interesting mix of people walking the trail – most were in their 30s and were visiting Chile as part of bigger trips, but there were also a couple of younger groups (including us) and some retirees, which made for some really interesting conversations each night.

“The O-Trek is widely regarded as one of the best hikes in the world, routinely topping lists along with the likes of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Overland Track and the Inca Trail. Its complex history, rugged peaks, unique animals and pristine wilderness have always been a dream to experience, but an unattainable dream nonetheless due to its sheer distance from Australia.

“I’d read stories of the campsite dinner tables that stretch for dozens of metres and host conversations between 60-year-old retirees and 18-year-old backpackers alike. To me, this is what the outdoors is all about – getting up close and personal with the Earth and being able to share those experiences with people from all walks of life.”

Ollie’s favourite part of the trip ended up being the social aspects – hiking in separate groups but coming together each night in a communal dining hall to cook meals. After eight days of hiking and communal meals, the quartet came to know others on the track, making a little “family” who they would always eat with, including a couple in their 30s from the UK and a solo traveller from Israel.

“We ended up meeting up again with some of the people we’d met on the track in Puerto Natales and Santiago, which was an awesome way to end the trip,” he said.

“On our final night, we were invited to a traditional Chilean barbecue with some of the Chileans we met on the trail – they were some of the only other hikers our age, so we got along quite well with them. The open hospitality we received from both our friends and their family was amazing.

“Despite being two groups who speak different languages and grew up in completely different cultures, we were still able to fill an entire night talking about anything, from ’80s English rock to football!”

For Ollie, his favourite thing about Scouts is the amount of independence it has brought him and the amount of people he has been able to meet from all over the world. He also believes that without Scouts, he would not have half the memories and opportunities he does today.

“I think Scouts opens up so many doors for young people and teaches them to think for themselves rather than just chucking them in the deep end once they turn 18 and hoping for the best,” he said.

“Scott and Owen finished walking the length of the Australian Alps Walking Track before we went to Patagonia. I’ve been extremely lucky enough to land a job as an outdoor instructor in Maine in the US from May.

“I’ll be teaching canoeing for a few months and then also leading multi-day hikes in some of the national parks around the New England area. I’ll be there from May to September, as Maine is already pretty chilly – it will only reach highs of mid-20s when I’m there, even in summer – I can’t imagine canoeing in the snow would be much fun!

“When I come back I’d like to take up a role as a bushwalking guide so I can help the younger sections of my Group be able to have the sort of experiences I’ve been so lucky to have during my time with Scouts. When I was in Joey Scouts, I’d never have imagined that a decade later I’d be hiking in Patagonia, but here we are!

“To me, that’s what Scouts is all about, and I’m so grateful for all the people that have supported me along the way to get to this point.”