TREKKING THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT (2016)
In 2015, I travelled to Nepal in the wake of a devastating earthquake, and trekked 220km through the Hymalayas, on assignment for the Sydney Morning Herald.
The resulting story was initially conceived as an investigative piece that explored the safety of trekkers in Nepal, and had been commissioned in the wake of a storm in 2014 that claimed over forty lives on the famed 'Annapurna Circuit' trekking trail.
For me, the trip was plagued by sickness, technical trouble, and the collapse of Nepal's infrastructure after the earthquake. The story itself evolved throughout my six weeks in the country, and when I returned, I reimagined it as a nine-part multimedia story featuring short video documentaries, photographs, feature stories and audio narratives produced by me.
When it was published in 2016, the story won widespread recognition and garnered a substantial audience. It was shortlisted for Walkley and PANPA Awards, and won a special mention at the PANPAs.
I conceived of the story as a navigable 3D map, with readers 'walking' around the Annapurna Circuit trail, and stopping along the way at nine towns that showcased a story each. The stories indeed covered the earthquake, and the previous year's deadly storm, but they also featured bizarre body-snatching fungi, the lives of local people, traditional medicines, and the spirit of a community fighting for survival in the aftermath of the quake.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
|  |