During one magical Easter, Lorraine Johns and Simon Bell visit Kahurangi National Park in NW Nelson. Lorraine vividly recalls their journey through a bewitching landscape and shares how it became a trip to remember.
What exactly is wind chill and how does it relate to hypothermia? Bob McDavitt reveals how hypothermia is responsible for more deaths than avalanches and skiing in New Zealand, as well as explains its warning signs and what actions to take if someone is experiencing symptoms.
28 hours of hiking in two days? Andy embarks on his first two-night fastpacking trip -- the Kaimanawa Kaweka traverse -- and documents his journey through video and GPX navigation.
As an outdoor enthusiast, Italian-born tramper Barbara Zennaro comes to New Zealand ready to embrace a new style of tramping, one that is different from the more 'catered' hikes with which she grew up. With her partner and little one in tow, she experiences true Kiwi hospitality and how tramping brings families closer together.
The only true recourse for sandfly bites? According to Uncle Jacko, it's stoicism. In this edition of UJCC, he considers sandfly bites, why he doesn't enjoy solo tramping, and an alternative floor plan to the traditional snowcave.
With support from the FMC Training Grant, once self-proclaimed 'fair-weather paddler,' Sheralee MacDonald, advances her skills and graduates to the role of 'mentor' after completing the PRANZ's intermediate packraft course.
After over three decades in New Zealand, two expats return home to their native Scotland to cycle the Outer Hebrides. Their journey offers a chance to travel back in time -- taking them through both preserved and picturesque villages, as well as harsh, unforgiving lands that residents once cleverly used to yield crops. Met with hospitality by locals along the way, it's a lovely homecoming for these two Scots.
Torrential downpours, breastfeeding breaks, and promises of pizza ... all part of the adventure for this family of four trekking the Old Ghost Road. In Part II of their five-day mission, they meet fellow trampers and improvise in the midst of temper tantrums and changing weather conditions -- creating a family memory that has their daughter already asking to go back!
85km – 5 days – 4 nights – a 4 year old – and an 11 week old?! Sonia Barrish and partner take on family tramping like pros. They embark on a multi-day tramp with their new baby and toddler in tow, sharing many practical tips they learned along the way.
What is the Capstan Equation and how does it apply to rock climbing? In this edition of UJCC, Uncle Jacko gets technical, offering insight into why knots and belay devices work. He also discusses cheap gear and reveals how he decides between buying in-store versus online.
Chris Tuffley envisions ‘the bear’s reply' in an eloquent reimagining of the children’s poem ‘The Bear Went Over the Mountain,’ which forgets to mention all the wondrous sights, smells and experiences above and beyond the mere ‘other side of the mountain.' He invites readers to explore their senses and captures breathtaking moments from his many trips over the mountain.
With trusty Wellington commuter e-bike turned tough, off-road vehicle, Gunilla Jensen embarks on her first bikepacking adventure. Rather than starting small, she undertakes quite the feat -- cycling once round New Zealand's South Island.
To run the rapid or to portage? In part of FMC's Outdoor Community campaign, Dan Clearwater shares key concepts for safe entry into pack-rafting such as proper gear, potential hazards, and what to do when you flip.
'In Māori history, forests are the domain of the atua Tane, who separated the sky father Rangi and the earth mother Papatuanuku in the Māori creation narrative.' In this republication of 'Backcountry te reo,' Ben Douglas delves into the language of the forest and offers pronunciation tips for learners.
A lost booking, new washout, and a summer sleeping bag in alpine conditions...? Despite a very cold night and some unexpected terrain, Penzy Dinsdale completes her first and much anticipated mountaineering trip with the NZ Alpine Club.
With the threat of being cancelled just hours before departure, a trip to Tarawera Falls started out rocky for these FMC Youth Award Grant recipients. But after three days in the backcountry, they learned that “a trip is worth a little bit of chaos.”
How do you measure the height of a bridge when alone in the backcountry? Uncle Jacko explains how nature provides what we need for mathematics and how according to one calculation, 1.4 kg of chocolate might just be an acceptable amount during a long tramp.
What is the significance of 'stewardship land' and in what ways is this classification lacking? DOC Manager in Planning Permissions and Land, Karl Beckert, outlines the history of stewardship land and the process by which DOC is striving to reclassify lands to reflect the conservation and cultural values of the whenua.
In Part II of a 10-day traverse, two friends hike and kayak their way to the finish line. Offering Dennis a second shot to finish the Coast to Coast Race and Stefan the chance to complete a trip of a lifetime, the loss of a few toenails proved more than worth it.
After becoming good friends 10 years ago while training for the Kathmandu Coast to Coast Race, Stefan and Dennis embark on their own wilderness traverse -- a 10-day, 250 km west-east crossing of the South Island. In Part I of their epic, they trek through difficult conditions and reassess the future of their trip.
In this edition of UJCC, Uncle Jacko advises on stove safety, as well as discusses his view on the 'profitless pursuit of pointless pastimes' and being 'too goal-driven.' He also reminisces on the hallucinations that come when sleep deprived during a backcountry ultra-marathon.
On his first bike packing adventure, Andy Vause decides to circumnavigate Lake Hāwea. He learns firsthand the perils of cycling along the Dingle Burn and offers advice for those planning their next bike packing adventure.
"Few things make you reconsider your life decisions more than sprinting 400m up a mountain half naked, straight out of bed, after getting 4 hrs of sleep - because all your food is gone." For Jason Rosinger and partner Laura Jacks, their plan to climb the North Island's sixth highest peak in a weekend took a slight detour...
Is your family dinner night getting a bit stale? Sonia Barrish gets creative by hosting family dinner at a backcountry hut. Travelling with five adults and a baby, this crew has an overnight adventure at Pinchgut Hut.
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