In the early stages fo the race races are bunched together.Photo: photos4sale

Heart and soul

Features, Trail Running, Wild People

A long-time Wilderness contributor and freelance author, Kathy writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation.

By Kathy Ombler

Runners came from around the world, but it was the heart and soul of the Westport community that created magic at the tenth running of the Old Ghost Ultra.

It’s 4am in Westport. Hundreds of people are milling in the dark and, surprisingly, a coffee shop is open. This is where the day begins for the Old Ghost Ultra, a one-day run over the 85km Old Ghost Road. As runners board buses for the ride to the Seddonville start line, they thank the drivers […]

About the author

Kathy Ombler

Freelance author Kathy Ombler mostly writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation, and has contributed to Wilderness for many years. She has also written and edited for other publications and websites, most recently Federated Mountain Club’s Backcountry, Forest & Bird, and the Backcountry Trust. Books she has authored include Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, Walking Wellington and New Zealand National Parks and Other Wild Places. She is currently a trustee for Wellington’s Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.