Nature

Embracing the Wilderness My Journey into Adventure Filmmaking

By Andy Carruthers|2024-11-18T12:19:53+13:00November 18th, 2024

Are you interested in adventure filmmaking? Grab your camera and start telling your story! Founder of 'Short Films Big Adventures' and outdoor enthusiast, Andy Carruthers, shares his journey from novice filmmaker to creator of a successful adventure film, Tararua S-K, featured on Apple TV and Air New Zealand's in-flight entertainment. From crafting an engaging story to filmmaking and distribution, Andy offers insider tips for aspiring adventure filmmakers.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

June 2024 Huntaneering and the Fall of Hunny Puffs

By Robin McNeill|2024-09-02T16:46:33+12:00September 2nd, 2024

Huntaneering: A sport where hunters arm themselves with an ice axe and crampons, as well as a rifle. With huntaneering on the rise and Hunny Puffs on the decline, Uncle Jacko delves into the demise of his once-favorite backcountry brekkie, the growing popularity of hunting whilst mountaineering and how a maunga can transcend cultural differences.

Trip Reports

An Alternative Approach Doing the S-K Another Way

By Guest Author|2024-08-26T14:05:20+12:00August 26th, 2024

The S-K is an epic 80 kilometre north-to-south Tararua journey, traditionally completed in 48 hours or less. For Mark Wilcox and his wife, Sarah, the S-K route looks appealing but without the restrictive timeframe. So together, they decide to achieve a tops S-K their way – totaling 41 hours of tramping over seven days without injury and whilst still remaining friends.

Trip Reports

A Dog's Tale Crossing the Bridge

By Guest Author|2024-08-19T16:30:40+12:00August 19th, 2024

What happens when a party of three suddenly becomes a party of four? A tramping weekend takes an unexpected turn for Chris and a group of trampers when a mysterious dog appears on the trail. Upon realising they’ve found someone’s missing dog, Chris bravely faces his childhood fear of dogs and the team figures out how to safely return the canine home.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

March 2024 Learn by Doing

By Robin McNeill|2024-08-19T15:12:36+12:00August 19th, 2024

Does the success society has at making life safer merely encourage us to take bigger risks? Uncle Jacko ponders how this question pertains to the backcountry, as well as explores bothy bags, hammocks and the Ngāi Tahu Cultural Mapping Project. He signs off with a friendly message to the blokes reading this column: people learn by doing, not watching.

Trip Reports

Tararua Ranges Tops Feast

By Peter Laurenson|2024-08-19T16:52:37+12:00August 19th, 2024

Beautifully captured by photographer Peter Laurenson, an extended version of the Tararua Ranges' northern crossing brings a tops feast for Peter and his mate, Simon, and just the right amount of challenge for these two keen trampers.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Just the Beginning

By Guest Author|2024-08-05T10:18:46+12:00August 5th, 2024

With an icy winter trek along the Kepler Track, five students from Otamatea High School are up for a challenge on their final DOE Gold Adventurous Journey. Embracing freezing temperatures, a cold plunge and learning techniques to escape when lost in a cave, one student declares: "This will definitely NOT be my last outdoor adventure!”

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant The Bond of Tramping

By Guest Author|2024-07-22T13:20:16+12:00July 22nd, 2024

A tight-knit group of seven students and three dedicated teachers began tramping together four years ago. With support from the FMC Youth Award Grant, Briar Higgie and Kaelyn Swanson strengthen bonds with their tramping mates, not allowing sleepless nights from hut snoring or sandflies to dampen their epic tramp along the stunning Heaphy Track.

Trip Reports

Traversing the Tararuas Wild Women on the Tops

By Guest Author|2024-07-08T12:15:48+12:00July 2nd, 2024

FMC Expedition Scholarship winners, Isla and Louise, traverse the Tararuas in a celebration of women in the backcountry. Through both film and print, they explore the limiting perceptions of wāhine outdoors, the gender disparity in gear construction and the realities of backcountry menstruation, all whilst embracing the joys of being female and their inner playfulness as wild women on the tops.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant All Weather Tramp on the Heaphy

By Guest Author|2024-04-14T18:11:47+12:00April 14th, 2024

Thunder and lightning, sunshine, rain and even hail accompanies Bella and Egor's Duke of Edinburgh Gold Qualifier, pushing Egor to persevere through his fear of thunderstorms and even declare: "I have loved my Adventurous Journey, as it has opened up many wonderful New Zealand backcountry places that we have explored." As recipients of the FMC Youth Award Grant, Bella Allen and Egor Shefer reflect on their trip of a lifetime along the Heaphy Track.

Trip Reports

Fact or Fable What’s in a Word? Exploring Untracked Leatherwood in the Tararua Forest Park

By Megan Sety|2024-04-14T12:01:30+12:00April 10th, 2024

Four hours to cover one kilometre . . . ? For Megan and a hardy group from the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club (WTMC), an escape route provided by the '1996 Tararua Footprints Guide' offered refuge away from strong winds. However, an equally challenging battle ensued between tramper, scrub and river as the group navigated untracked leatherwood in the Tararua Forest Park.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

June 2022 Alpha Centuri

By Robin McNeill|2024-03-26T12:39:31+13:00March 26th, 2024

Looking for a more affordable way to purchase gear? Uncle Jacko discusses the versatility of retired poly-cotton office shirts, the best sources for weather prediction and PLB features that can save the life of an incapacitated, solo tramper.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Four Years to Gold

By Guest Author|2024-03-26T12:40:09+13:00February 20th, 2024

From a weka invasion to endless blisters, Phoebe Squire and four classmates earn their DOE Gold on the Queen Charlotte Track in the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Exploring Diverse Vegetation and Landscapes

By Guest Author|2024-02-12T10:25:05+13:00February 12th, 2024

Time for Gold! Zander Groenewald from Otamatea High School in Northland completes his Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition around Taranaki Maunga.

Features

Botany Mission Alpine Daisy Hunting With Jane Gosden

By Masha Oliver|2024-02-20T11:40:14+13:00January 30th, 2024

“I grew up in National Parks around New Zealand,” is a statement not many of us can claim. But Jane Gosden can. As a keen ecologist with a special interest in alpine plants and years of working in and above the bush line, she recently published a field guide to alpine daisies in the genus Celmisia. Her curiosity and attraction to Celmisia took her on a nationwide mission, from the mountains to the sea. In her story for Wilderlife, she talks about her life and work in high, wild places and her love for everything that inhabits them – especially plants.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

March 2023 ‘Swamping’ and Pain Relief in the Mountains

By Robin McNeill|2024-01-21T17:47:48+13:00January 21st, 2024

Aches and pains slowing you down in the backcountry? Uncle Jacko dives into the best options for pain relief, the ever so popular 'swamping' trek and the pleasures of poetry inspired by Aotearoa's landscapes.

Lifestyle

Learning From Pros High Mis-Adventure

By Ray Salisbury|2023-12-22T18:06:10+13:00December 22nd, 2023

After 50 years of tramping, Ray Salisbury reveals how the mountains taught him lessons on humility and resilience.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

August 2023 Perpetual Sun

By Robin McNeill|2023-12-06T14:09:36+13:00December 6th, 2023

What is it like to go alpine tramping in a land of perpetual sun? Uncle Jacko responds to readers' comments and recounts his unique experience of backcountry and hut life in Tromsø, Northern Norway.

Outdoor Community blog

Youth Tramping Accessible to All

By Guest Author|2023-11-27T10:35:38+13:00November 20th, 2023

“For a group of neuro-diverse students, the biggest challenge can be getting the opportunity to take part in outdoor adventures.” After five years in the making, nine neuro-diverse students from Wellington East Girls’ College head off for their biggest adventure yet – a six-day ski and snowshoeing trip to the Cardrona Valley. Unit Leader, Leonie King, shines light on the students’ barriers to entry and the preparation required to complete their Gold DOE's Hillary Award.

Trip Reports

Mt Taranaki The Busy Lizard

By Peter Laurenson|2023-11-20T12:54:36+13:00November 16th, 2023

'Though plenty of inexperienced day walkers happily climb Taranaki, the mountain is still one of the most deadly in New Zealand. For many, the northern summer route is their surest way to safely experience climbing Taranaki.' Seasoned mountaineer, Peter Laurenson, provides foundational advice for minimising trouble and maximising fun on Mt Taranaki this summer.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Starting From Scratch

By Guest Author|2023-11-07T14:34:12+13:00November 7th, 2023

No ride, no problem. FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Tara Isaacs, organises her own DOE Gold Qualifier from the ground up. Starting without a team, a shadower or a ride, she compiles a crew and all the components necessary to cross off one of her 'bucket list tramps' – the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk.

Backcountry Accidents

Mountaineering When Perceived Safety is Misleading

By Guest Author|2023-11-01T14:50:01+13:00November 1st, 2023

“What may seem to be a safe situation is only one mis-step away from catastrophe.” In an alpine environment, even one small error can lead to a life or death situation. A false sense of security coupled with an unfortunate event results in a tragic outcome for one mountaineer on Mount Ruapehu.

Trip Reports

Youth Award Grant Stepping Into Discomfort

By Guest Author|2023-10-24T15:58:53+13:00October 24th, 2023

'No growth occurs when comfortable' becomes the guiding mantra for five Youth Award Grant recipients. Flexibility and persistence prove essential during their DOE Gold Qualifying Journey, as they respond to ill trampers and an emergency helicopter rescue along the Pinnacles.

Uncle Jacko's Cookery Corner

November 2022 Absent Friends

By Robin McNeill|2023-10-18T13:50:07+13:00October 18th, 2023

Uncle Jacko offers creative solutions for mending those pesky puffer jacket tears, shares how to calculate our carbon footprint and pays tribute to dear friends who have passed away.

1 2 3 4 5