A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.

The busiest weekend for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is typically Easter Weekend, which will serve as a benchmark for the Department of Conservation’s new booking system.

Turangi Land Search and Rescue chairman Steve Signal said it was too early to tell what difference the booking system had made, but Easter would be a good indicator. “Generally, we can have up to 3000 people across on that Easter Saturday if it’s a fine day,” Signal said.

A total of 23 rescues on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing last year was an improvement on previous years, say search-and-rescue teams as they prepare for Easter Weekend crowds.

Constable Conrad Smith, a police officer in charge of coordinating search-and-rescue efforts for the Whanganui-Ruapehu district, said the Tongariro Alpine Crossing had come a long way in terms of its safety for trampers “compared to what it was seven to nine years ago”.

DOC visitor safety manager Andy Roberts said it was important to remember tramping tracks were not perfectly maintained like footpaths, and things could often go wrong. Read the full story from the NZ Herald.

“Walking 20,000 steps a day changed my life”

Walking at least 10,000 steps a day to support a healthy lifestyle has been touted as an important health goal but what impact does walking thousands of steps a day really have on your life?

A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology last year showed that walking at least 3,967 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from any cause while walking 2,337 steps a day reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Another 2019 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology found that around 8,900 steps per day appeared to slow rates of cognitive decline and brain volume loss in people who were at high risk.

Newsweek published this article last week interviewing four walkers who have found walking has changed their lives significantly for the better. Those interviewed touted the benefits of their walking routine including losing weight, gaining physical fitness and improving mental health.

If you haven’t signed up for our Walk1200km challenge now is the time!

Wānaka locals claim Coast to Coast titles

This year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast multisport race has seen two Wānaka locals claim the championship title. The gruelling event sees competitors traverse from one side of the South Island, beginning at Kumara Beach on the West Coast, to the other, New Brighton in Christchurch on the East Coast.

They race on foot, bikes and in boats with the one-day event taking them anywhere between 10-12 hours. Wānaka’s Hamish Elliot won his first men’s race this year with a time of 10 hours 48 minutes 53 seconds, while Simone Maier took her fifth title with a finishing time of 12 hours, 31 minutes, and 8 seconds. Listen to an interview with the winners on RNZ.

New Arctic climbing series featuring Alex Honnold airs on Disney+

Climber Alex Honnold is best known for his free solo ascents and was the subject of the Oscar-winning 2018 documentary Free Solo. His latest documentary Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold is now streaming on Disney+.

Honnold along with climbers Hazel Findlay and Mikey Schaefer attempt to summit Ingmikortilaq, an unclimbed Arctic seacliff that rises out of the frozen wilderness of Greenland. 

For Honnold, a long-time climate activist, this expedition is about more than just climbing. It is an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of climate change on a wilderness that is vitally important to the future of the planet. Watch the trailer on YouTube.

First solo female hiker completes the 11,000km American Discovery Trail

An 11,000km, two-year hike ended on the California coast last week when Briana DeSanctis became the first solo female hiker to complete the American Discovery Trail.

Wearing a purple sequined dress, DeSanctis, 40, arrived at the Pacific Ocean on a sunny winter day, wading into the water and celebrating with friends and family. “I cried walking down the beach,” DeSanctis said. “I don’t think it has sunk in yet. It’s just weird to be done.”

DeSanctis was propelled by a desire to inspire young women to pursue their passions and driven by her dream of tackling the longest thru-hike in the United States. The American Discovery Trail, a lesser-known, long-distance hike, winds through the centre of the country along roads, through wilderness areas and towns, across deserts, plains and mountains.

“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something that you want to do,” DeSanctis said. “You can’t live your life in fear.” Read the full story from The Mercury News.