Winter can seem to drag on, can’t it? Short days and long nights, more time spent indoors …  sometimes I wonder if it will ever end.

Just in time, then, is this issue of Wilderness and our list of 75 of the best trampers’ peaks. Spread over 18 glorious pages, it’s a chance for you to fill those dreary winter months with dreams, plans and preparation for adventures to come. 

Ah, but what is a tramper’s peak, I hear you ask? With a few exceptions, it’s a peak you can walk up. A couple of the very high ones require the aid of crampons and ice axes, but for the most part the peaks our experts have identified require little more than a bit of fitness, a head for heights and (occasionally) the ability to scramble. For most, all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other and admire the view. 

When I look at the list of peaks, I see many I’ve climbed and fondly recall the adventure of each. But I’ve got a long way to go before I can lay claim to them all. Cantabrians and Wellingtonians have an advantage here, as several of the peaks are found in their back yard. 

This list both inspires and excites me: it’s a reminder that there is so much I haven’t seen or done in my 30 years of tramping. I hope it inspires you, too, and that it becomes the perfect stepping stone to greater tramping heights and adventures. 

Start planning now and you will be ready to go when spring and summer eventually roll around.