Last year I rode my motorcycle around the eastern half of Australia, covering a bit over 10,000kms and luckily timing the ride perfectly to dodge the massive floods that hit outback NSW and surrounding areas.
This year the logical extension was to ride around the other half of Australia. I marked out a route that took me from my home state of Tassie to Geelong, Adelaide, Darwin, Broome, Port Hedland, Perth, Adelaide then back to Geelong and on the ferry back to Tasmania.
I have just completed my own attempt at this ride, starting at Devonport and finishing at Dover,a total distance of 493 kms with 9,517 metres of vertical ascent (and descent) over a period of 10 days.
I thought it would be interesting to give an insight into what the ride was like for a 67 year old who had completed only relatively little biking before beginning this challenge.
Australia has ice climbing. Yep, you better believe it. Certainly a bit more of a novelty than in other alpine areas around the world, but it’s still a great introduction to swinging around pointy tools and wearing spiky shoes.
Before you buy your axe consider your needs. Will you be using it as a general mountaineering tool, in steeper terrain when ski/split mountaineering, will you be ice climbing or a mixture of applications.
The luxury of owning multiples of similar items is not uncommon, but more than ever , I believe we should learn to live with less. So what if I could only own one tent, which would it be?
Dusting off the cobwebs with a fun little adventure to South Rams Head on the Main Range. With a fresh snowfall, finally offering sufficient coverage for touring and riding, myself and a good friend (Evan) thought we would start the season off with an easy adventure out of Dead Horse Gap.
Recently we interviewed Mont customer Roger Skirrow, mountaineer and adventurer, who embarked on an Mountaineering adventure in New Zealand. In this interview, we will delve into the details of their journey, exploring the stunning Sealy Range in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and his solo hike to Brewster Hut from Haast Pass. We'll also uncover the gear they took with them and gain valuable insights on their experiences that can help our Mont community in planning their own New Zealand adventures.
Mastering the art of layering is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable backcountry adventure. By carefully selecting and combining base layers, mid layers, and outer layers, you can effectively regulate your body temperature, manage moisture, and stay protected from the elements. While both synthetic and merino base layers have their advantages, synthetic options often provide superior moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, making them ideal for extended activities.
As a competition climber I have many requirements when it comes to the climbing shoes that I wear. I have tried many different styles, brands and sizes in order to find the optimal performance.
I’ve been on many travel journeys, across various terrain and this has led me to recognise the legendary status a piece of clothing can gain. While the term is typically reserved for legendary football players or a singer who achieves legendary status in the music industry, I have come to include the Mont Icicle Down Jacket in this esteemed category.
This year’s Turning of the Fagus in Tasmania was a little early this year. All it takes is a few cold nights and some wind and the leaves will fall before the nominal time to turn which is Anzac Day.
