Climb 10 summits with your very best friend and knock off some kilometres while you’re at it.

As you embark on this year’s Walk1200km, will you have a four-legged companion along for the journey?

I (and the team at Further Faster) know a thing or two about heading out on adventures with your dog, and that it can sometimes be hard to find dog-friendly adventures. 

That’s why, a few years ago, I had the idea for a challenge. It started in Canterbury and has since grown to include Otago and Wellington. It’s called the ‘Mountain Dog Challenge’, and you can complete it while heading towards your Walk1200km goal. Two for the price of one, how good!

The challenge involves 10 peaks or trails through Canterbury, Wellington or Otago, and after you’ve done all 10, your dog gets a bandana to show off to their friends! My dog Badger and I have done the Canterbury peaks and trails many times, and they never get old. There’s always something new to see, new weather to complete the challenge in (I swear some people have a snow version they have done as a second time round), and then there’s the option to travel the country to do the other two regions.

There is no time limit to complete the challenge unless you want it to count towards your Walk1200km, in which case you should probably finish in the next 12 months. It’s all about giving it a good shot, so if you don’t make it to the peak but you gave it your best effort, that still counts in my books.

There is also an amazing community of dog-loving adventurers in our Facebook group who have completed the challenge, are partway through or want to do some adventures with other dogs and their humans. They also helped us so much with getting our Wellington and Otago challenges off the ground!

If this sounds like a bit of you and your dog, check out all the info at www.mountaindogchallenge.co.nz. Badger and I might catch you on the trail!

Visit Further Faster for all your human and dog walking supplies. 57A Buchan Street, Christchurch.