The Exped Lightning 60 pack proved a faithful companion for Mark on Te Araroa. Photo: Mark Watson

Every pack tells a story

Features, Wild Gear

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Mark Watson

Mark is Wilderness’s gear editor and a dedicated storyteller, documenting his adventures in both words and photos.

By Mark Watson

Where would we be without our packs? Mark Watson wouldn’t have walked Te Araroa, climbed Aoraki/Mt Cook or done any number of other trips.

I suspect I’m not alone in owning a closet full of packs; one for every type of adventure. Some of them date back a few years but are too cherished to be passed on or disposed of and, like old photographs, they each help elicit memories of specific adventures and moments in the hills. My […]

About the author

Mark Watson

Wilderness gear editor Mark Watson divides his workdays between graphic design, writing and photography. His passion for tramping, climbing, cycling and storytelling has taken him all over Aotearoa and the world in search of great trails, perfect moves and epic light. He has published four books and his photographs have featured in numerous publications. Especially motivated by long distance travel, he has tramped Te Araroa and cycled from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.