Do you want to take the next step in volunteering and make conservation a lifestyle? Mary Jowett shares how the 'Adopt a Plot' scheme allows volunteers to take ownership over a plot of land and save its native vegetation without the use of spray.
Inspiring the next generation: FMC provides free mountain films for school students.
A 19-person ascent of Mt Aspiring along with poor visibility? For these experienced mountaineers, it only adds to the thrill of a backcountry trip with good mates.
Gerald Bruce-Smith reports on pest-busting in the South Island’s first national park, Arthur's Pass.
Travelling with a toddler always has its uncertainties. But travelling 300km by bike while towing a toddler is a next level adventure. For this brave family of three, the experience is even better than they imagined.
The allure of an unchartered climb is enough to entice climbers Jamie Macalister and Martin Johnson. As recipients of the FMC Youth Expedition Scholarship, they venture to scale the expansive, 300-metre-high face on Douglas Spur above the Paringa River.
After realising they need a near miracle to significantly reduce the pest population in their region, a generous donation and a team of volunteers arrive on the scene.
Chris Sommer and his new climbing mate take on Friday’s Fool – a 200 meter mixed (rock and ice) route at the heart of the Remarkables range. After their rope gets mysteriously cut, the pair face a life or death situation resulting in a Search and Rescue evacuation.
With our snowlines edging upward and helicopter access carbon adding to the problem, using an e-bike (where permitted and practical) is a good solution for access to slightly more remote ski tours. James Shoshoni and his mates have a successful go at e-bike ski touring and traverse fresh powder on Mt Stephenson.
'There always seems to be more to gain no matter how much you give.' Guided by this philosophy, Cath and her partner become active volunteers in the trapping community in Southland. After relocating to Central Otago, the pair are introduced to a new landscape, as well as the wildlife and pest diversity that comes along with it.
Well known for being one of the muddiest tramps, Brianna Loan learns firsthand the frustration (and fun) of being stuck in the mud with mates. As a recipient of the FMC Youth Award Grant, she and her team share laughs, forge friendships, and together face a crucial safety decision when the weather turns.
Ngā mihi anō ki a koutou, e whai ana te maramatanga o te reo Māori! In our te reo column from Backcountry Magazine, we explore some of the language associated with rivers and streams.
For her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition, student Veronica Amey and mates tramp, bike, and kayak the Queen Charlotte Track, where they discover the magic and beauty of exploring their own country.
What is 'applied tramping?' Esther Pothuis, from Holland, joins the Palmerston North Tramping & Mountaineering Club and discovers a new way of hiking in the Ruahine’s Pohangina River.
Simon Bell travels to Wanaka to become a full-time climber. His family recalls the special time they time spent together and Simon's mission to climb as many Great Peaks as possible.
Does your recollection of a tramp become more glamorous with the passing of time? Two members of the Kaumātua Tramping Club share their humorous take on the difference between the reality of a tramp vs. the memory once back in the comforts of home.
'How come you don't get bored out there?' When asked by a tramper about how she spends her time, a first time hut warden reflects on her experience living and working along the Old Ghost Road in Kahurangi National Park.
During a climbing trip in Fiordland, Tarsh and her mates attempt to tackle two peaks in one go, which leaves her 'wondering why she had to fall in love with such a precipitous corner of the world.'
What is your outdoor gear really made of and what toll is it taking on the environment? Sash Nukada, Programme Leader of Sustainability and Outdoor Education, decides to stop pointing the finger elsewhere and examine the potential negative impact of his outdoor gear. In an honest and thorough look at materials, brands, and new versus used gear, he offers a guide on how best to minimise your footprint and protect the outdoors we love so much.
Jamie Cole shares a cautionary tale of a tramp that nearly left a backcountry hut up in flames.
Funded by the FMC Training Grant, Sue Weller and the Christchurch Over Forties Tramping Club (OFTC) learn outdoor first aid skills to better equip themselves and save lives in the backcountry.
Nine days in the wilderness. Sylvie Admore, Helen Liley, Sam Richardson, Björn Striebing and Stephen Waite (Auckland University Tramping Club) meet Simon and invite him along on their trip to the Adams Wilderness Area not long after being introduced. Helen and Sylvie recall their memories of Simon on a trip that he described as 'spontaneous and excellent'.
What do you do when a fellow tramper gets an injury? FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Dylan Barker, heads into Kaweka Forest Park with mates and learns firsthand how to face backcountry challenges, as well as how a good crew can make for a great trip.
FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Jessica Hydes, embarks on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold qualifying expedition joined by family and friends. She reflects on her 5-day mission and how motivation and goal setting plays a key role during her tramp.
