For a long time I have hoped I would one day (night) be able to catch a good display of the southern lights, the aurora australis, with one of Mont’s superb wilderness tents included in the view. More ..read more

On my recent trip to Mongolia, I expected some pretty low temperatures, temperatures that I had not experienced before so I took a range of clothing and gear with me to protect me from the elements. More ..read more

Written by Caitlin Horan Three intrepid adventurers set off from Canberra to sample a couple of the classic climbs in the Warrumbungles National Park. Nestled in the heart of Australia, the Warrumbungles National Park is a breathtaking testament to the country's natural wonders. As you enter this enchanting realm, you are immediately greeted by a landscape of awe-inspiring beauty. Towering trachyte peaks pierce the sky, their jagged contours casting striking silhouettes against the horizon. Verdant valleys, adorned with vibrant wildflowers, spread out beneath the towering giants, inviting visi ..read more

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray It’s that time of year again when Australia’s only native deciduous plant, Nothofagus Gunnii or the Deciduous Beech, affectionately known as Fagus, or less affectionately....Tanglefoot, bursts into a mass of golden colour before the cold Tasmanian winter. It’s been a year or two since I have been free to venture out for the “turn of the Fagus” and this year I explored a new area which I hadn’t previously visited. I left my car at 4.30am and walked by headlamp up into the mountains to be ready for the sunset at a good vantage point. The sky was clear, no ..read more

Written and Photography by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray Last night half of Australia would have been witness to a spectacular event in the skies above. This was one of the strongest Auroras that we have seen for a very long time ( the most powerful storm since 1989, when the Quebec power grid was taken out by the solar storm). The previous morning was great but last night was exceptional. I grabbed my camera bag, tripod and Mont Zero down jacket and headed out early to see if I could capture what was hopefully coming (you never really know until it happens) and also to try to find a place th ..read more

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray Recently Tasmania has experienced an extended period of cold weather thanks to a strong blocking high pressure system sitting off our west coast. This has resulted in Liawenee, Australia’s coldest town, recording 4 nights in a row at -10°C with a minimum recorded of -13.5°C. Pretty cold for Tasmania. The record lowest temperature at Liawenee is -14.2°C recorded in August 2020.   I thought this would be a great opportunity to give my winter sleeping bag, the Mont Helium 680, a thorough test. My bag is an XL size so it actually contains 780gms of 80 ..read more

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray Last week I walked into Tasmania’s Walls of Jerusalem. This is a fascinating area in the Central Tasmania highlands with a superb amphitheatre of mountains surrounding a collection of alpine tarns, grasslands and forests. This magical landscape, that I have experienced in all 4 seasons, has accepted my presence 26 times now. Despite seeing much heavier use than when I first discovered it in 1989, it is still a wonderful place to visit. Fortunately there is now a system to manage numbers to a sensible level within the park and this helps maintain its valu ..read more

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray I stayed at the guesthouse for 3 days then set off on the lake again. Once again conditions were cool, around -14°C but once I started walking I was quite comfortable. It’s remarkable how little clothing suffices even in such low temperatures. As mentioned before, I wore light liner socks inside waterproof plastic bags with warm outer socks outside the bags. My boots were Lowa Tibet, a standard but very high quality bushwalking boot. Because the boots were kept dry they didn’t freeze at night. I didn’t suffer from cold feet at all. Mont polartec thermal ..read more

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray  In March this year I boarded a plane in Hong Kong. The temperature was a balmy 23°C. Four and a half hours later I stepped off that plane into -14°C at Chinggis Khan Airport near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. March in Mongolia is late winter and my destination was a lake in northern Mongolia called Lake Khovsgol. This lake stretches north 135kms from the village of Khatgal to within 25kms of the Russian border. In the savage Mongolian winter, where temperatures can drop below -50°C, the surface of the whole lake freezes to a depth of approximately 1.1 met ..read more

Earth Day isn't just a day; it is a global movement that reminds us all of our responsibility to take action and preserve the environment for future generations. At Mont, we are passionate about both adventure and sustainability and celebrating Earth Day each year is a great reminder of these values. What is Earth Day? Understanding the Significance Earth Day, celebrated annually on the 22nd of April, is a time to reflect on the state of our planet and take action to protect it. First established in 1970, Earth Day has since grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 190 ..read more