Youth Award Grant Coastlines, Kayaks, and Shooting Stars: A Duke of Ed Gold Expedition
Eight students from Hamilton Christian School were awarded an FMC Youth Award Grant: a cash grant to go towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition.
Outdoor Skills
Training Grant Upper Clutha Outdoor First Aid
By the Upper Clutha Tramping Club On Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Upper Clutha Tramping Club held a full-day Outdoor First Aid Course in Wānaka, led by tutor Sam Worps from Peak Safety. The course was attended by twelve members, including both current and aspiring trip leaders, and was made possible through the [...]
Training Grant Keeping Students Safe in the Backcountry
As students and outdoors enthusiasts, members of the Otago University Tramping Club dedicate their free time to more studying – this time learning Outdoor First Aid to effectively manage any backcountry emergency. Through the FMC Training Grant, strapped for cash students can learn outdoors skills while still affording their university fees.
Youth Award Grant ‘Round Ruapehu
Faced with breathing difficulties, 85 kilometre per hour wind gusts and a reroute due to heavy rains, five students successfully navigate five days of challenges to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Qualifying Journey.
Outdoor Community Responsible Visitor Behaviour in Nature
New Zealand’s wildlife is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it. As kaitiaki and guardians of our land, we all have a shared responsibility to look after our place and help others to do the same. Developed during their recent Recreation Sector Hui, the Department of Conservation offers some simple things to remember when visiting our wild places.
Changes to Come Service or Solitude?
Does increased mobile coverage through SpaceX and One NZ mean the end of backcountry solitude? Or will enhanced communication result in more lives saved when lost or injured? Outdoor education student and backcountry enthusiast, Josephine Tarasiewicz, explores these challenging questions as New Zealand stands at a pivotal point of connection.
August 2019 A ‘Lazy’ Wind
In this throwback edition of Uncle Jacko's Cookery Column, Uncle Jacko examines the mechanics of backcountry pizza and aluminum fire-starters, while exploring the windy solitude offered by the Takitimu Mountains.
Training Grant Being Prepared Through Outdoor First Aid
"Everyone with an interest in any outdoor activity should go on this course – it really is tailored to outdoor emergency situations and how often do we actually practice first aid in the backcountry?" Ten members from the Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club cash in on the FMC Training Grant and enroll in an outdoor first aid course to gain competency in responding to backcountry accidents.
Search & Rescue SAR: Is it Free? Should it Be?
Have you ever wondered how search and rescue works when there is an emergency, as well as who exactly pays for their efforts? LandSAR Dunedin volunteer, Matteo Scoz, breaks down the two coordination authorities for search and rescue, how they are funded and the prevailing philosophy that guides these incredible organisations and their teams.
March 2024 Learn by Doing
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.
Team Poem Everest Base Camp
Andy Carruthers and a group of friends embark on a trek to Everest Base Camp, capturing the spirit of their climb through poetry and film.
Mt Aspiring Tititea Matterhorn of the South
With recommendations from Alastair McDowell after his record-breaking climb of Mt Aspiring Tititea, Andy Carruthers and crew plan their own summit of this incredible maunga. Four days in Mt Aspiring National Park not only offer the team breathtaking views and a birthday bubbles celebration at the summit, but also key takeaways into how they could minimise 'the scary moments' and maximise safety and comfort the next time around.
Youth Award Grant Just the Beginning
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!”
Training Grant Navigation and River Crossing
Do you feel confident with crossing a river? With New Zealand's abundance of rivers, every backcountry tramper must know how to safely cross a waterway if the situation requires. With expert teaching from Outdoor Training NZ (OTNZ), the Rotorua Tramping Club fine-tunes their navigational skills and goes deep into hands-on learning with group and solo pack-floating, entrapment and how to escape from a strainer.
Safety Backcountry Touring Access Guidelines
In an attempt to alleviate friction between members of the backcountry touring community and ski area operators, FMC created a set of backcountry touring access guidelines. With the support of NZAC and after consultation from 23 ski areas in Aotearoa, these collaborative guidelines articulate the following: how to behave when accessing backcountry terrain using ski field infrastructure, an intention to promote understanding of the real hazards present on ski areas and a fostering of courtesy and respect between tourers (including climbers and trampers) and ski area operators.
March 2021 A Decent Brew at Altitude
How do you get a decent brew at altitude? Uncle Jacko experiments with the science behind spuds for energy and a summit brew-up, along with discussing the perks of night-time tramping and reminiscing about a tramp with a dear mate who passed away.
November 2023 The Indestructible Loopies
Are loopies, by definition, indestructible and how do we create a model to better understand risk in the outdoors? Uncle Jacko poses the argument that while there are exceptions to the rule, ill-equipped trampers often seem to survive and explains the idea behind the Heine–McFarlane–McNeill risksetting model that he helped to design.
Fact or Fable What’s in a Word? Exploring Untracked Leatherwood in the Tararua Forest Park
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.
June 2022 Alpha Centuri
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.
Winter Tramping Catastrophe on Cascade Saddle
Completion of the Great Walks may lead less experienced trampers into a false sense of security, resulting in some attempting backcountry tracks beyond their skill sets. After finishing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Abel Tasman Coastal Track, a young tourist sets off on the Cascade Saddle in Mt Aspiring National Park. Under snow cover, Cascade Saddle is a serious alpine crossing that requires outdoor competence and proper equipment. Johnny Mulheron discusses the tragic details behind this solo tramper's fatal fall in winter conditions and what lessons we can take away.
June 2023 Let Your Cravings Be Your Guide
Has your compass ever steered you in the wrong direction? In this UJCC, Uncle Jacko divulges what happens when one's faithful compass becomes an agent of chaos, how much water and electrolyte intake one really needs and some handy, DIY gear hacks for the backcountry.
March 2023 ‘Swamping’ and Pain Relief in the Mountains
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.
Learning From Pros High Mis-Adventure
After 50 years of tramping, Ray Salisbury reveals how the mountains taught him lessons on humility and resilience.
Ruahine Tops Between Two Rivers
Climbing whilst capturing Aotearoa's natural beauty is second nature for adventure photographer, Peter Laurenson. In this photo essay, he traverses the Ruahine tops cradled between two rivers – Makaroro and Waipawa.
