I’m sure that fear of losing the freedom to get into the mountains is common among many keen outdoor parents. But rather than just waiting to see if that perceived ‘fate’ became reality, I proactively decided to adapt to this new life-chapter and embrace the opportunities that it held.
A winter climb of the south face of Mount Taranaki proves challenging and leaves little room for error. Despite the need to carefully calculate each step, photographer Peter Laurenson still manages to capture spectacular images along the way.
A few keen Wellingtonians head on a windy winters walk to a lesser known corner of the proposed "Remarkables National Park"
‘Five tough wahine’ from Northland come full circle. No longer 'wee little Bronzies,' they complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award with a journey that incorporates the area they visited when they first began their DOE Adventurous Journey.
The first time I climbed a mountain covered in snow, I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing.
The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a great option for a multi-day tramping trip with a baby.
Ken MacIver relates the story and thinking behind his Back country decision-making checklist.
Only one hour from French Ridge Hut to Raspberry Creek?... Wasn't on foot, but it didn't involve any engines or motors...
What an absolute perfect winter's day in August, just after a fresh snowfall, spending time exploring the Hakatere Conservation Park.
For North Island townies like me, one of the biggest challenges in any climb in the Southern Alps is just getting there in time for a weather window. So a climb of Mount Armstrong (2,174m), a little over 700 metres above the highly accessible Brewster Hut (12 bunks), is a good option when time is the limiting factor.
Before becoming a mum, a big part of how I identified myself was as a long-distance trail runner and tramper. Not surprisingly, one of my biggest concerns about welcoming a little human into my life was not being able to get out and enjoy the backcountry as much or in the same capacity.
Thanks to New Zealand's temperate oceanic climate, the Southern Alps don't get to experience the same rigid winter temperatures as the European Alps, the American Rocky Mountains or the Himalayas.
If there’s one thing that going on an overnight tramp with an 18-month-old teaches you, it’s that success is simply a matter of perspective. Or, at least, that’s what we learned the first time we took our toddler with us to stay in a hut.
An attempt of the south ridge of Mount Travers, Nelson Lakes, fueled by cold medicine.
Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) is tipping its hat to the volunteers behind the outdoor clubs and organisations throughout New Zealand.
An April traverse of Mount Titiroa from Hope Arm to Borland in Fiordland National Park.
There is nothing quite like the the silence of the mountains in winter, the clarity of the Milky Way in the crispy cold air, or an alpenglow on a snowy ridge.
There's more to Khumbu than a slog up to overcrowded Everest Base Camp and a side trip to Gokyo
Taupo tramper Barbara Morris reveals Te U Bivouac deep in Te Urewera
A collection of photography over the years: Mount Holdsworth > Aokaparangi > Maungahuka > Cone Ridge
An overnight circuit: Neill Ridge/Mount Hector/Bull Mound
Imagine if you had a way of moving so quickly through the valleys and mountains of the Southern Alps, that you could travel unsupported for hundreds of kilometres with just a rucksack and the odd day of good weather.
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