I am deeply in love with wild places.

My relationship with the outdoors started as a teenager when I fell head over heels for rock climbing, often literally. I am inspired by expedition climbers and the notion of exploring and creating a relationship with a place. I find this to be especially true when soaked to the skin and covered in mud, belting out some Taylor Swift two hours into a 12-hour day.

Tramping allows me to experience the wild places in our world and helps create a deep sense of belonging tied to those places. The feeling I get walking along a ridge playing hide and seek with the Kea is unbeatable. There is so much mana in these spaces, it is such a privilege to get to be a part of them for a short while.

This season I'm striving to explore fear and challenge with curiosity while deepening my connection with the places I study on my topo map.