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

In May of 2024, legendary long-distance hiker Heather Anderson set a new record for an unsupported thru-hike of the 1300km Arizona Trail (AZT).

In keeping with unsupported conventions, Anderson was required to carry all of the supplies she’d need for the entire trip. She’d forgo any trail magic or town comforts, rely only on natural water sources instead of caches and hike entirely unaccompanied. Her pack, loaded with more than 88,000 calories worth of food, weighed over 27kgs at the start of the hike.

Anderson completed the astonishing feat in 24 days, smashing Art Brody’s 2021 record for unsupported Fastest Known Time. After Brody, Anderson is only the second person to complete the AZT in this style, which is considered the longest unsupported thru-hike to date.

Read her recap of the journey at Backpacker.

Rab and Lowe Alpine recognised for improving workers’ rights

Equip – owner of outdoor brands Rab and Lowe Alpine – has achieved Fair Wear ‘leader’ status for the third year running.

In a recent brand performance check, Fair Wear acknowledged Equip’s “exceptional progress” in protecting workers’ rights along its global supply chain. Equip’s score was 76, an increase of 10 points from 2023.

Rab and Lowe Alpine are distributed in New Zealand by Outfitters. Director Neil Stichbury said he was proud of Equip for leading the way.

“Equip’s commitment to improve and be transparent with their processes sets an example of what the leaders in the industry should be doing. We know that customers are expecting brands to have the best practices in place and are proud that Equip takes this matter seriously by implementing improvements year after year.” 

Fair Wear is a non-profit organisation with the goal of improving conditions for garment factory workers. Its brand performance check is a tool to examine business practices, with the leader status given to member companies showing best practices. Other outdoor companies with leader status include Deuter, Ortovox and Vaude. Read more from Wilderness.

Secrets of the kākāpo’s colours revealed

The kākāpo evolved two different colour types millions of years ago to avoid predators, genome sequencing has revealed.

The flightless parrot’s olive colouring first appeared nearly two million years ago, coinciding with the evolution of two now-extinct predatory birds, the Haast’s eagle and Eyles’ harrier.

The new research from the Department of Conservation, Ngāi Tahu and German research group Helmholtz AI – published on the website PLOS (Public Library of Science) Biology – found the colour variation survives, with the birds coming in one of two colours – green or olive – in roughly equal numbers.

The researchers analysed genome sequence data from 168 individuals, representing nearly all living kākāpō at the time of sequencing.

The study’s authors said understanding the origin of the birds’ colouring could be relevant to conservation efforts for the species today. The report showed without intervention, kākāpō colour variation could be lost within 30 generations. Read the full story from RNZ.

Laugavegur trail voted the best in Europe

An otherworldly hiking trail in Iceland that takes you past glaciers and volcanoes has been voted as one of Europe’s best. 

Iceland’s stunning Laugavegur trail situated in the country’s Southern Highlands has come out on top according to the experts at Much Better Adventures.

This incredible hike is not for the faint of heart – or leg. It takes four days and is recommended for people with good fitness, as you’ll be walking several miles every day. But if you feel you’re fit and ready, this is truly an unmissable experience. 

The 52.9km trail takes hikers past an amazing array of landscapes – from thermal pools and glaciers to the volcanic slopes carpeted by moss and interrupted by colourful rhyolite mountains. Read the full story from Express UK.

Child survives 20m cliff fall from Canterbury’s Mt Somers

Police Search and Rescue were alerted to a child who had been injured on Saturday after falling about 20m “down [a] hill and off a cliff near Pinnacles Hut, Mt Somers”.

A rescue helicopter was dispatched and airlifted the injured child from the area. The child was then flown to Christchurch Hospital with moderate injuries.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said the service was notified of the incident at 6.28pm. “One helicopter responded and transported one patient in a moderate condition to Christchurch Hospital.”

The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council wants to remind people to familiarise themselves with safety measures while hiking. Mt Somers’ Track is a remote two-day circuit around the mountain, linking the popular Pinnacles and Woolshed Creek huts.

The track to Pinnacles hut, near where the child was located, is more physically demanding and requires tramping experience. Read the full story from The NZ Herald.