Wild’s Winter Issue #192 is here, and wow, this has to be one Wild’s best issues ever. Is it ever awesome! And wintry, too. For starters, check out that cover! Pro skier Sam Smoothy has undertaken a project to ski all of NZ’s 3000m peaks, and his (beautifully photographed) story about it is not simply a progress report but instead an intimate and philosophical exploration of how meaning can be found in the mountains.   Speaking of progression—and of thoughtful and beautifully photographed stories—Adam Flower takes us on a global journey as he tells how in just five years, he went fro ..read more

In the void below me sat the West Face of Mt Aspiring/Tititea: fifty degrees at its steepest, and today in less-than-perfect conditions. Adam and Ollie had already dropped, departing with the harsh scrape of sharp edges on icy snow. On my snowboard, I am confident. I back myself to get down just about anything. But this—a classic ski-mountaineering line on a big mountain—would be the toughest test yet of that belief. If I lost control in these conditions … well, there was no margin for error. This was the moment, the peak of a winter spent getting after it in the mountains of New Zealand, clim ..read more

As I sit on the inflatable pontoon of our zodiac, layered in thermal protective clothing underneath my lifejacket, I squint my eyes to tiny slits to best avoid the freezing wind and driving snow. I look at my companions doing the same, and we all bounce in silence as our driver manoeuvres across the bay from the ship, doing her best not to let us get wet as our little boat negotiates the waves. Smiling, I think to myself, “Not many hikes start this way.” Not many indeed. In fact, there are few places you can really escape the world and seek out remote wilderness experiences like this. For star ..read more

FOR THE LAST DECADE, my remote wanderings, and epic views, have been fuelled by a mini stove and 1L pot. My love of food has combined with the ache of my muscles, and I was so easily sated by the simplest of heat and eat meals. But when the Sea to Summit Frontier Camp Kitchen found its way into my pack, I quickly realised my outdoor culinary experience had been quite deprived. The Frontier range was specifically designed for extreme adventurers. Those who have a passion for remote locations, and a hunger for trail meals worthy of MasterChef. While the truth is that my busy life means I only da ..read more

GEAR REVIEW MILO ACTION COMMUNICATOR The two-way radio reinvented, with some seriously cool tech. (This review originally featured in Wild #191, Autumn 2024)  By James McCormack ONE OF THE BEST THINGS about the great outdoors is sharing the experience with someone. Usually, however, actually being able to talk only occurs once you’ve stopped moving, when you can cluster close enough together that you can talk without shouting. The Milo action communicator changes that. It enables easy communication with your outdoors playmates (and lots of them too; up to eight can join a group ..read more

GEAR LAUNCH Frontier Camp Kitchen Range by Sea to Summit Light and strong. (This review originally featured in Wild #192, Summer 2024)  By Nell Gow For the last decade my remote wanderings, and epic views have been fueled by a mini stove and 1L pot. My love of food has combined with the ache of my muscles, and I was so easily sated by the simplest of heat and eat meals. But when the Sea to Summit Frontier Camp Kitchen found its way into my pack, I quickly realised my outdoor culinary experience had been quite deprived.   The Frontier range was specifically designed for extre ..read more

From the editor OFF TRACK Words & Image: James McCormack Image caption: The scene of the crime: Bluff Hut in the Victorian High Country (This story originally featured in Wild #190, Summer 2023) Each issue, I get to sit at my computer and write my editor’s letter. Sometimes, often in fact, I seat myself down with a sense of trepidation, knowing that I have no idea of what I should say or talk about, and wondering for how long exactly I might sit and stare at a blank screen in the vain hope some words come out. There are other times, however, when the opposite is true. I arri ..read more

GEAR REVIEW SCARPA MESCALITO TRK PLANET GTX BOOT Super tough. Environmentally conscious.  (This review originally featured in Wild #190, Summer 2023)  By Ryan Hansen. There’s a bit to unpack about Scarpa’s new offering in the bushwalking-boot department, the Mescalito TRK Planet GTX, not the least of which is the name (what a mouthful!). But don’t let this bamboozle you; there’s a lot to love about them. And what better place to start than with their most appealing feature: their ‘greenness’. With the Mescalito TRK Planet GTX, Scarpa’s gone all-out in its goal of manufacturing ..read more

 Wild #191 is on sale now I have a big call to make: I think collectively the 2023 issues of Wild had the best imagery of any year in the mag’s 43-year history. That’s right—ever! There were so many amazingly, inspirationally photographed stories that I just don’t think any other year can beat it. But 2024 is starting off similarly strong, kicking off with Wild #191, Autumn (which just went to the printers). For starters, wait ‘til you see this issue’s photo essay on the Kimberley. Photographer Ben Broady was born and bred in the area, and has over the years amassed a collection of scen ..read more

THE NORTH FACE VECTIV ENDURIS 3 Cushioned but responsive. (This review originally featured in Wild #190, Summer 2023)  By Megan Holbeck. Shoe reviews are hard: So much is subjective, from how they fit, to cushioning, to the sole. What you like depends on your feet, the type of trails you run, and where you fit on the trade-off of cushioning versus being able to feel the ground. The other hard thing about reviewing shoes is that you soon forget what others feel like: The new ones quickly feel normal, and you can no longer really compare them. So I decided to wear one old and one ne ..read more