AUSTRALIA’S HIGHLINING RECORD – BEHIND THE LENS  Adventure photographer Aidan Williams talks about what it was like to document the record-breaking project, and shares with us his favourite images from it. Words & images: Aidan Williams (This piece is an extension of an image featured in the gallery section of Wild #187, Autumn 2023) In November 2022 in NSW’s Blue Mountains,  a team of highliners pulled off an extraordinary feat: walking across a 1,290m span. It was Australia’s longest-ever highline, and Aidan Williams was there to document the momentous occasion. A ..read more

BUILDING A HOME WOODY Building a climbing wall at home is not as difficult as you might think, says Wild Earth Ambassador Nathan McNeil. Words & Images: Nathan McNeil (This is an expanded version of a story from Wild #187) Been climbing for a while and looking to up your home training game? Want the awesomeness of a bouldering gym in the convenience of your home? Sounds like it’s time you built a ‘woody’! “A woody?” you ask. Well, a woody is the eyebrow raising name climbers have given to home climbing walls as they are predominantly made of timber, therefore… woody. Fun ..read more

GEAR REVIEW YETI PANGA DUFFEL 100L Bombproof. Waterproof. Adventure-proof. (This story originally featured in Wild #186, Summer 2022)  By James McCormack   Most couples have an issue they disagree vehemently over. A really polarising one. It could be who does the most housework. Or whether it’s OK to use your phone while on the toilet. (It’s not, BTW). But for my wife and I, our polarising issue is this: duffel bags. My wife, for reasons unknown (but then again, reasons unknown are the source of many of our arguments), hates them. But I absolutely love them. I don’t think I’ve us ..read more

  TASMANIA’S FORESTS – A CLIMATE SOLUTION IN PLAIN SIGHT A recent report found that native forest logging is the highest greenhouse gas emitting sector in Tasmania. However, writes Dr Jennifer Sanger, protecting native forests would draw carbon dioxide down from the atmosphere and store it long-term, in turn offering a real climate solution. Words: Dr Jennifer Sanger Photos: Steve Pearce (This story originally featured in Wild #185) Tasmania’s forests are remarkable for many reasons. They are incredibly beautiful. They are home to iconic wildlife. And they capture a unique essenc ..read more

GEAR REVIEW ARC’TERYX BETA LT HADRON HOODY A featherweight jacket that changes everything. (This story originally featured in Wild #186, Summer 2022)  By James McCormack OK, let’s get right to the point here: 2-5-5. They’re the three little numbers that should make you sit up and take notice of Arc’teryx’s Beta LT Hadron jacket, because that’s the weight in grams of this fully waterproof, three-layer Goretex jacket. Well, the claimed weight for a men’s medium anyway, mine actually came in at 264g. Still, that’s very, very impressive; it’s easy to find waterproof jackets three, or even ..read more

Looking south across Beowa NP. Photo credit: Mick Ripon KEEP IT WILD   A new website called Keep-It-Wild.org will shine a spotlight on the numerous luxury accommodation developments being proposed within national parks across the country.   Words: Megan Holbeck   (This piece originally appeared in our Green Pages of Wild #186, Summer 2022)   Proposals for new luxury accommodation complexes in national parks are popping up across the country, from the NSW South Coast to Victoria’s Alpine National Park to the Cooloola Great Walk project in Queensland. There are many others ..read more

 Wild #186 is on sale now Get set for a WIld Summer! The warm days are here, and so too is Wild #186. It’s an awesome issue, full of summery goodness, and we thought we’d give a sneak peek of what’s coming up. There’ll be fabulous features on paddling in the Kimberley, canyoning in Wollemi, walking in the Brindabellas, climbing Tassie’s Frenchmans Cap, and highlining in WA’s Stirling Ranges. Beau Miles has a rollicking, thoughtful feature in the issue, too, on trail running Victoria’s McMillans Track, and the violent legacy of the man the track is named after. There’s also a destinati ..read more

GEAR REVIEW PATAGONIA DIRTROAMER JACKET AND STORM PANTS Featherlight MTB-ing outerwear that sets new standards in comfort. (This story originally featured in Wild #185, Spring 2022)  By James McCormack   Patagonia may not necessarily be as well known for their mountain bike apparel as they are for their other outdoor gear, but perhaps they should be. The company’s Dirt Roamer collection, which includes shorts to go with the shell jacket and pants I tried out, is some of the nicest MTB gear I’ve ever worn. It does, however, come with a problem. I guess the issue only arises if ..read more

From the editor In Praise of Outlaws Words: James McCormack Image courtesy of Bob Brown Foundation (This story originally featured in Wild #185, Spring 2022) A little while ago, Gup, my father-in-law, was visiting us. I can’t remember how the conversation came about, but he remarked to my 8yo son something along the lines of that it was never OK to break the law. I disagreed, and—with what’s happening in the Tarkine at the forefront of my mind—told my son that were the circumstances warranted, not only is it OK to break the law, there are in fact times we should break the law. T ..read more

GEAR REVIEW YETI PANGA DUFFEL 100L Bombproof. Waterproof. Adventure-proof. (This story originally featured in Wild #186, Summer 2022)  By James McCormack   Most couples have an issue they disagree vehemently over. A really polarising one. It could be who does the most housework. Or whether it’s OK to use your phone while on the toilet. (It’s not, BTW). But for my wife and I, our polarising issue is this: duffel bags. My wife, for reasons unknown (but then again, reasons unknown are the source of many of our arguments), hates them. But I absolutely love them. I don’t think I’ve us ..read more