This is the You Yangs—an ancient, living place, holding stories older than the pyramids.
Close your eyes for a moment and travel back in time—long before you were born, before anyone you’ve ever known existed. Picture this land, not as it is now, but as it was tens of thousands of years ago. No roads, no fences, no farm animals. Just vast, open plains stretching endlessly, and rising from the earth, these ancient rocky peaks—the You Yangs.
In your mind’s eye, look to the horizon and see the Wadawurrung people, the Yawangi clan, moving gracefully across the land. Their bare feet know every twist and turn, every hidden path. The air is thick with the scent of eucalyptus, a wisp of smoke curls from a small fire, blending with the songs of birds and the hum of insects.
Open your eyes, and come with me.
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Phuong Quach is psyched to hike.
For the last five years of her life, she has learnt to distort time, sit with reflection and be at peace with change, all thanks to, well, rocks!
Before we follow her dreams to the Nepalese ranges, let’s turn back the clock to where this love for moving in the outdoors began.
“Growing up as a kid we were a one-car household, which meant I walked everywhere,” Phuong says.
“I had a constant and ripper tan line and was known through school as the kid who was always walking.
“Naturally, I got my license and started going on amazing day trips by myself; if I really reflect on why, I have this independent streak that needs to come out in a healthy, productive way, and hiking was my outlet for that.
“With my psychology background I know that humans don’t learn by just doing things, we learn by reflecting on them.
“While hiking I’m reflecting on my whole week, the week ahead and, beyond that, it’s about grasping the very real mental and physical challenges of “far out, there’s no one for kilometres around,” if something goes wrong, I’m the sole problem-solver, and there’s something quite exciting about that for me.”
The beauty of nature is an obvious attraction for most, but for Phuong it’s something deeper.
“This sentiment of ‘nature is beautiful’ – it’s not that I disagree, it’s just a minute expression of a much bigger idea. At the end of the day, that’s something we’ve decided.
“I look around and think “I could die, and it wouldn’t be that hard”; it’s made me realise the outdoors are so indifferent to our fragile bodies, so we’ve got to look after our surroundings and ourselves with respect and care.
“I’m not naive about how dangerous the elements are, however I do prepare quite thoroughly and, as a young woman, my personal biggest fear is, admittedly, people I don’t know. But my emotional reaction to risk has changed a lot because of hiking. There are so many things in everyday life that are not within your control, just like in a remote place.
“You can’t change the wind but you can change your sails. Honestly, a lot of it comes down to common sense. Sensible and safe is my motto.”
Hiking has also brought Phuong an escape from the bustle of her weekday life.
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“We live in such a busy, manic world, so when I’m out on the trail and it’s just me, there’s nothing I need to worry about except safety and sunlight. That’s my clock for the day.” she says.
“In that way I can slow down time and just be present and enjoy things at my own pace. As we get older as adults life seems to move as this rapid blur. My favourite way to mediate or combat that is to constantly have new, novel experiences.
“Sometimes I just pick a bug and watch it exist and it truly slows down time. Suddenly you can warp time back into your own hands.
“I love it all but the flavour of most months is rocks, they remind me that change is the only constant, even when things appear ‘rock solid’.
“When you look at something like the You Yangs you think it will be there forever and never change, but in the same vein those rocks as we know it weren’t there millions of years ago and millions of years into the future who knows what it will look like. It makes me feel grounded but also at peace with impermanence.”
Though she’s spent two summers solo travelling Tasmania and once tackled a challenging period of her life by hiking five of Australia’s tallest peaks, the You Yangs have a special place in Phuongs heart.
“I could talk for hours about Tasmania, it’s one of my favourite places in the world, but I don’t need to dream about Tas while I’m here, it’s the You Yangs through and through.
“The East to West walk takes you up, down and around; you can see the ridge you’ll soon be on from the opposite side at one point.
“That part of the trail is so gorgeous, massive granite boulders big enough for you to be a lizard on them, and the sun setting makes everything glow.
“Outside of home, my first big trip will be Nepal. There’s a few tracks I have my eye on but I just want to see mountains and be challenged.”
With a motto of ‘leave no trace’ Phuong has very few hiking traditions.
“I always pick up rubbish. I used to get annoyed seeing it, but I’ve learned not to assume the worst—most people just forget or don’t realise. It’s easier to clean up and keep moving than to let it bother me.”
“I love taking photos when I’m out there and, looking back at them, I always look my happiest. “They remind me how close my biggest joy is. I hike almost every weekend and I walk as much as possible through the week.
“I’m someone whose good at finding small joys and hiking enables me to do that. You don’t have to do something massive to be happy – you can find it in your everyday life.
“When you’re out in nature, there’s nothing to conquer. You’re getting to the summit – the mountain doesn’t care about you – you’re crawling into the lap of your mother and you’re at the mercy of nature.”
Phuong recently led a group hike and guided reflection at the You Yangs, combining her passion for psychology and hiking. To join her next adventure be sure to follow @psyched_to_hike on instagram.
