Travel Play Live Issue #10

Travel Play Live

AU $12.95

ISSUE #10 2018

The Women’s Adventure Lifestyle Magazine

AU $12.95 ISSUE 10 ISSN 2206 - 4117

ADVENTURE

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EMPOWER

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CHANGE

The Travel Play Live Women's Adventure Summit - Immerse yourself in weekend of Adventure held in the stunning Great Lakes on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

30TH AUGUST - 2ND SEPTEMBER 2018

CONNECT UNLEASH EQUIP and Surprise Yourself Tickets Include: All Activites & Workshops Speakers & Coaches All Meals & Accomodation Newcastle Airport Transfer Glamping Upgrade Available

TIX ON SALE

www.travelplaylive.com.au/womens-adventure-summit

ISSUE#10

Letter from the Editor Well Hello 2018!

A world of possibilities lay before us. Months, weeks, weekends, days, hours, minutes all ripe with opportunity to explore, seek and ask. I’ve never been one to make resolutions, but I am one for seeking out a revelation for the season I’m walking through. To check in with my values, principals, dreams and hopes for the year ahead. Shaking off the dust of the year behind me, celebrating the wins, lifting my gaze and stepping into new things.

Here at Travel Play Live headquarters, the year is already busting with plans, adventures, travel, partnerships, grants and lots of goodness and if we are not careful, it can seem overwhelming sitting here behind my laptop.

By the end of 2017, I was smashed and not in a good way. So I have begun to make a conscious effort to pause – often - and breath. To look out the window and allow my gaze and mind to drift into the glistening crystal water that I am blessed to

look at every day and be grateful. It does wonders for my stress levels.

Have you heard about shinrin-yoku, otherwise known as forest bathing?

It is the Japanese practice of taking a short leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits. I think I have just found my ideal activity, perfect for my overall health and wellbeing, so I have dedicated 2018 to incorporating shinrin-yoku into my life.

Both Kerryann and I have committed ourselves to spend way more of 2018 outside instead of locked in behind our desks. So, if you email us and we don’t get back to you straight away, its because we are outside, living, laughing and valuing the adventure of life so that it doesn’t slip away so fast that we wonder where the year went.

Make sure you do the same. There is nothing selfish about prioritising outdoor adventures, I for one will be embracing forest bathing.

CONNECT WITH US

www.travelplaylive.com.au @travelplaylivemagazine FOUNDER + CHIEF EDITOR.

Amy Heague amy@travelplaylive.com.au FOUNDER + DIRECTOR OF ADVENTURE.

Kerryann Hayes kez@travelplaylive.com.au NEW COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVERTISING.

Lindsay Reed lindsay@themediahut.com.au + 61 431 956 645 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS.

Lucy Stone, Alice King CREATIVE.

Joey Dable Two Minds Creative TPL PHOTOGRAPHY

Ben Cirulis www.fotografija.com.au SUSBSCRIPTIONS.

subscriptions@travelplaylive.com.au +61 2 8227 6486 THANKS TO THE TPL TEAM.

Copyright TPL Publishing PTY LTD 2015. No part of this publication may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publishers. DISCLAIMER: A large portion of original material is created by TPL Publishing and its contributors, including text, fonts, photography, and art work - content used from public domain like social media sites we agree are not the property of TPL Publishing, and in all cases media permission has been sought via electronic or verbal agreement.

The content and views expressed in this magazine by individuals and TPL Publishing are provided in good faith as information only.

No guarantee is made of the accuracy of the information provided. We have done our best to credit all photographers. In some instances photos have been provided to us by those who appear editorially and we have their permission to use the images. We apologise if anything appears incorrectly. It will be a genuine mistake, let us know and we will ensure to mention it in the next issue.

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Monique Bortoli, Sue Goodison, Kristie Stark

This Issues

CONTRIBUTORS. Head to our website to meet our growing list of contributors pioneering Australian Women's Adventure.

Leah Gilbert

Hanny Allston

Michelle Lawford

Alice King

Lucy Stone

Fuchsia Claire Sims

Caro Ryan

Sputnik

Ben Cirulis

Jane Grover

Caroline Pemberton

Karla Gilbert

www.travelplaylive.com.au/contributors Would you like to write for Travel Play Live? Perhaps you have a story to share?

We are looking to partner with writers and bloggers across a variety of adventure and travel disciplines. Maybe you are a brand looking to get your product or destination reviewed? Contact us with your details and a sample of your work (or wares) and we will get back to you if we feel there is a good fit. hello@travelplaylive.com.au

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SUBSCRIBE &

JOIN THE BECOME A ADVENTURE PIONEERING ADVENTURESS

There is no telling what kind of misadventures you might get up to while trying to get your hands on future copies of Travel Play Live Magazine, so let us take the worry out of your adventure by offering you this yearly subscription deal! Subscribe and go in the draw to win some great prizes. Details on page 85.

SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN THE ADVENTURE For just $48 + P&H That’s four beautifully inspiring, empowering and adventurous copies of our magazine delivered to your door full of great seasonal ideas to inspire you to travel, play, live! Digital subscription now available - details on the website.

Head to our website www.travelplaylive.com.au/subscribe or call our subscription team on

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+61 2 82276486 *International Options Available

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15 THE WOMEN'S ADVENTURE GRANT

DEFYING THE "NO"

FINDING THE JONESYS

If anyone knows the sick, sinking feeling of being told she cannot do something, that it’s physically impossible, it’s Ky Furneaux.

The epic adventures of the Jones Family

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LOVE MERCY

OVERCOMING THE OBLIGATION MYTHS

THE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD OF COMPETITION

The power of change

Supporting Epic Women & their Adventures

“So, did you win?”

My friend politely turned to ask..."

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THE TEAM BEYOND THE TEAM

SEVEN LESSONS IN FAILURE

YOUR FIRST OCEAN SWIM

Being just one of the many cogs in the wheel

learnt on one of the seven summits

Top tips and tricks

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THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING

59 O' CANADA... with glowing hearts we see thee rise.

Canada's Great Trail

If you pictured the edge of the world, it would probably look something like this.

My first sighting of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was utterly shocking.

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WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

SEXISM & RACISM

JANE GROVER RECIPE'S

“Wasn’t our trail running group already inclusive of all people?”, I wondered.

Through the eyes of the younger generation

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TPL MARKETPLACE

SOCIAL SCENE

MUST DO EVENTS

The latest products & offerings from our partners

Discover your wilder side

READ MORE Head over to our website to for bonus content, competitions and previous articles www.travelplaylive.com.au

STAY CONNECTED We love to hear from you, so be sure to tell us all about your travels and adventures.

Contact us at hello@travelplaylive.com.au Share your photos with us on Instagram by using #travelplaylive for your chance to feature.

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WRITTEN BY LUCY STONE

But looking at her life and career now – Hollywood stuntwoman, wilderness survivor, outdoor adventurer – those far-distant ‘no’s seem almost impossible to correlate with Furneaux’s lived experience.

As a 19-year-old used to being outdoors barefoot and in nature, Furneaux was involved in a car accident that left her with serious injuries. Faced with a doctor telling her she would have limited mobility for the rest of her life, her response was characteristic. She picked herself up and got moving.

"It was really challenging, but I had a few things on my side. I had an amazing mum and dad; they were very much into a lot of alternative therapies way back before it became popular,” Furneaux said.

“I learnt skills I didn’t have to move for, and they encouraged me to get moving.

My whole life they’ve been the ones to teach me, you can do whatever you believe you can do.”

For Furneaux, her persistence took her away from a grim-looking future of limited mobility to one of unending movement. Rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, canoeing, hiking as an outdoor guide – you name it, Furneaux held fast to her “earthy” roots and refused to be bound by limitations.

“One would say I was a little bit stubborn, and perhaps not being very good at being told no,” she said.

“Every time someone says ‘no’ now, I’m thinking ‘please don’t say that … I’ll show you!’”

A ‘no’ is a challenge, something to pick apart and make into a yes – however long it takes. It’s indicative of Furneaux’s persistence – which she dubs stubbornness – that now she has a remarkable, diverse career, and the ability to switch between requirements. Whether it’s doubling for actor Jaimie Alexander on Thor or writing her books on women's survival and proactivity, Furneaux is not afraid of facing the ‘no'. She’ll dive in and make it happen.

That hunger for a challenge saw Furneaux pack up her life in Australia and move to Canada to pursue stunt work – just another opportunity to do something different. She didn’t have a clear idea of what would be expected, or even

that she would be facing physical injury daily. It took the first couple of punches to the face to realise it was real, and what she’d signed up for.

determined in the face of so many doors closing in your face? Is it even worth persisting in the slow grind toward the fulfilment of your dreams?

"I remember the first time I got punched in the face for real, and I said ‘hang on a minute', went to the bathroom and bawled my eyes out," Furneaux laughed.

“People don’t realise for some reason in this generation that goals take hard work,” Furneaux said.

Her experience as a teenager fighting to overcome a physical injury was invaluable as she got stuck into her new role doubling for actresses on films and television shows.

“I learnt the difference between good pain and bad pain, which was invaluable in stunts, you could say ‘alright, that one I should stop with, but this one I can go through’.

"I learnt my limitations rather than listening to what other people would say were my limitations."

Having pushed so hard to get where she is, it would be easy for Furneaux to rest on her laurels and enjoy what she has made for herself. But that’s exactly what she isn’t doing – instead she’s using her own experiences to help the next generation, the girls still kindling their own flame of adventure.

Furneaux is a mentor and speaker for FUEL: Girl Shaped Flames, an initiative that brings together Years 7-12 girls with mentors, women at the top of their fields. FUEL uses one-on-one mentoring and camps, round-tables and more to build the kind of connections between young girls and women who have carved their own path – the kind of connections that can see real change into the future.

FUEL’s brand is a refreshing take on the power and energy of young women – there are no pastels pinks, no glitter, but instead the burning orange of fire and passion, the motifs of energy more often assigned to masculine worlds than feminine. That acquisition helps set FUEL aside, breaking away from expected requirements for ‘girl’ things and setting up a practical, hands-on approach.

Rather than relying on glib advice and shiny quotes, Furneaux is determined to ensure the girls she mentors have the practical skills to be stubborn, to be determined, and not sidetracked by catch-phrases. What does it actually mean to be positive? How can you be Travel Play Live 010

“You have to learn how to deal with ‘no’s.”

Resilience, self-awareness and courage to face rejection and keep going – things everyone needs to learn, but modern society seems less keen to laud. A culture that praises participation rather than success – perhaps, Furneaux worries that means young women are leaving the protective school culture into a world without ever having dealt with a big ‘no’.

"I had a thousand no's – every day, it took me three years to get my first stunt job, and I'm auditioning, meeting people, talking to people every day, 90 percent of what you hear is ‘no'.

“That’s what I really want to work on with these girls, how do you work with the ‘no’s?”

There are plenty of easy words to tell young girls, but those words are far harder to shape into practical advice relevant to the riotous chaos of the world young girls face. Furneaux sees it as the responsibility of her generations, the women who have already fought through the thicket of sexism and misogyny, distrust and ‘women don’t do that’, to give all they can back to the girls following in their footsteps.

As a FUEL mentor, Furneaux seeks to give young girls the practical steps toward overcoming challenges – how to develop a positive attitude, how to reframe a ‘no’ to prepare for the next ‘yes’. Her advice comes from the heart, and from the knowledge that she too was once a young girl facing endless challenges to build a life she wanted.

From a 19-year-old facing the biggest ‘no’, Furneaux is living the life she has chosen, and giving back along the way.

“I’m forever grateful for that accident, I wouldn’t be on the path I am now, I wouldn’t have had the journey I’ve had now,” Furneaux said.

"There are no regrets looking back at what happened, and I'm grateful it did in the end."

defying the 'no'

If anyone knows the sick, sinking feeling of being told she cannot do something, that it’s physically impossible, it’s Ky Furneaux.

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F I N D I N G

JONESYS.

Th e e p i c a dve nt u re s o f t h e Jo n e s Fa m i ly

I have been following the epic adventures of Justin Jones for almost a decade. Starting from when he and his best friend jumped in a kayak and paddled across the Tasman Sea to then shaking off their sea legs by completing the longest unsupported polar expedition in history walking from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back!

WRITTEN BY FUCHSIA CLAIRE SIMS - WW.ADVENTUREJUNKY.COM

However, it is Justin’s latest adventure that will go down as his greatest - getting married to the love of his life Lauren and together raising their daughter Morgan. For Justin, there were never any plans to stop exploring, and with Lauren being an expert in sustainable business, these two weren’t going to let having a family get in the way of a great adventure.

After months of preparation and persistence Justin, Lauren and Morgan set out on a path less travelled. They would attempt to walk half-way across Australia, from Kaltukatjara (Docker River) in the Northern Territory to the coast at Port Augusta in South Australia. A journey of roughly 1,800km that was expected to take over three months to complete.

It all started when Justin was mid-way through planning his next solo expedition to cross Australia on foot - and they discovered Morgan was on the way. Naturally, Justin did not want to spend six months away from home and miss Morgan’s first words or steps.

Lauren, born and raised in the USA, who had always wanted to experience the outback, saw an opportunity.

Fast forward to day sixty-four with 900km behind them, the Jonesys were on the Oodnadatta Track, one of the longest and loneliest stretches they had tackled. The previous two days had been over 40 degrees, a shady tree almost impossible to find unlike the swarms of flies. It is safe to say morale was not at its height.

With a little encouragement, the perfect compromise was reached. Not only would they embark on the outback adventure as a family with the one-year-old Morgan in tow, literally (hold that thought if you had reservations).

They would also do everything in their power to make it a zero-waste adventure and break with the tradition of all of Justin’s previous unassisted expeditions.

The entire adventure was planned with a focus on safety and sustainability. I saw this first-hand in the chaos of their small Bondi apartment, filled with freeze-dried food containers, emergency plans, bio-degradable nappies and Justin’s carbon neutral technology. It was there I got to meet Morgan, not yet walking or talking and agreed to deliver their fifth and most critical food drop, eight weeks into their journey.

I’d left Sydney three days before to with the goal to deliver their food supplies, meeting them somewhere just west of Kati Thandi-Lake Eyre. It was a 3,000km road-trip into the beautiful nothingness of the Australia outback. While I didn’t know exactly where to find them, the sheer thought of them running out of food, thanks to me, was a tremendous motivating force to find the Jonesys.

I’ll never forget the moment when I finally saw two distant shapes appear through the heat haze of the dusty red road. I’m not sure for which the jubilation was greater - actually finding them in the middle of nowhere or achieving my mission of delivering their food.

As I sat in camp that night with the Jonesys, I remember vividly the transformation Morgan had made since I had last seen her in Bondi.

Now dancing around in the dirt and sand, interacting with nature and readily adapting

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to her situation. Hearing her first words ‘moon’, ‘sky’, ‘sun’, ‘stars’ and best of all the sound an Emu makes - she was not only surviving out here but thriving!

It was in this moment I realised that with our environment under such threat, more than ever we need our children to be connected to nature. To raise a child with a connection like this is the best gift we can give to our planet.

What happened during the 102 days of their heartwarming adventure is a story for the Jonesys to tell. I can say it didn’t break any Guinness World Record for speed or first ascent, but it did pioneer more sustainable expeditions - a topic with relevance for every adventurer - so I urge you to spend some time reading their early field updates.

The trail that has been blazed by this adventure for me is motherhood. You can still have adventures and be a parent - and should because it builds curiosity and resilience in not only yourself but your child. I have no doubt Morgan is going to change the world with Lauren and Justin by her side. Keep chasing life Jonesys, and I’ll keep following.

Follow the Jonesys at www.thejonesys.com Support their Charity partner The Purple House in providing dialysis in the most remote parts of Australia at www.westerndesertdialysis.com/ The writer of this article, Fuchsia Claire Sims is a co-founder of Adventure Junky, a new social network for sustainable adventure travel. www.adventurejunky.com

The Travel Play Live

ADVENTURE G R A N T. Supporting Epic Women and their Adventures Not only do we share the stories of Australia’s amazing women, Travel Play Live actively supports Australian women of all ages within the adventure and travel space, helping turn their dreams with a passion for adventure, change, exploration and expedition into a reality.

Grant submissions open until 28th February 2018 with recipients announced in April What are we looking for?

ENTRIES OPEN

Ambassador & Mentor

HANNY ALLSTON. Hanny is Tasmanian born and has achieved at the elite level in a range of running sports including orienteering, marathon, mountain, road and distance track running. Hanny is the only athlete outside of Europe to have won a World Orienteering Title, completing a double Junior World Championship and Senior World Championship in the same year. Hanny is the founder of Find Your Feet. She has qualifications in Medical Science, Education, Life Coaching, Business and Sports Coaching. In 2015, Hanny also won the Telstra Young Business Award for Tasmania and was a finalist in the national business awards.

We are after applicants pursuing a wide range of active outdoor pursuits, primarily with the purpose of creating change locally, nationally or globally via their adventure.

We’re not only looking for elite athletes, we are looking for women from all walks of life, making a difference and promoting the benefits of adventure for others. The grant is designed to assist female adventure enthusiasts to make their adventure aspirations a reality and create awareness of the causes passionate to them.

How to apply for the grant?

You will be required to answer all relevant information specific to your applications on the application form.

You will also be required to provide a short 90 second video introducing yourself, your adventure dreams and why it’s important to you to see it realised. Be as creative and inspire us to get behind your initiative.

Once the submission period closes, the grant will be awarded by a panel of Travel Play Lives’ chosen experts.

Grant Categories 1. EXPEDITIONS FOR CHANGE We are after applicants whose primary goal of their adventure is to create change locally, nationally or globally via their project or expedition. This category is open to: Scientists and conservationists who may be conducting fieldwork in intrepid, extreme or remote locations.

Explorers and adventurers who are using their expedition to raise awareness on social or environmental causes.

Women forging new ground in the adventure arena and challenging boundaries 2. ADVENTURE FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY We are after female photographers, documentary makers or filmmakers who are capturing the heartbeat of adventure across the globe. This category is open to creative women who are equally as adventurous as the subjects or locations whose story they are telling.

3. YOUNG ADVENTURERS We are on the lookout for young women adventurers under 18 years of age who are pioneering the way for their generation to embrace the heartbeat of adventure.

Within this category, the funding may also be used to participate in skills training or competing at a national or international level in outdoor pursuits.

ADVENTURE G R A N T. Receipients within each category will receive: $5,000.00 cash PLUS Technical gear specific to their particular adventure from Jack Wolfskin & our partners.

PLUS Mentoring and ongoing support from Ambassador Hanny Alston and the Travel Play Live team.

PLUS Media coverage via Travel Play Live Magazine and online channels, plus exposure via our partners

4. WOMEN ADVENTURERS OVER 50 We are seeking women 50 and over pushing the boundaries of expectations when it comes to adventure.

Shortlisted recipients will be invited to be a part of the mentoring process and introduced to our partners to support them in reaching their goals.

They will also receive media coverage via Travel Play Live Magazine and online channels.

For details: www.travelplaylive.com.au/womens-adventure-grant Please do not contact us via email or social media with enquiries about applying for the grant as it may jeopardise your eligibility. Head to our website for details and the application information.

M AJOR PARTNER

M AJOR SU PPO R T ER S

FO U N DI N G PA R T N ER S

MEDI A SU PPO R T ER

PION EERIN G SUPPORT ERS OF OUR POZIBLE C ROWDFUNDING C AM PAIGN

Shredding Betties, Es Una, Jane Grover, She Went Wild, LotsaFreshAir, Awesome Adventure Chick, The North Face, The Trail Beyond, M. Hollingsworth, F. Claire Sims, M. Tycehurst, S. Hunt, R. Marshallsay, S. Clements, K. Duncan, J. Holth, H. Porter, J. Robinson, Monique, L. Mercanti, L. Antill, H. Bryan, K.Jackson, N. Drake-Brockman, H. Talbot, K. Merkel, M.t Sky, J. Breault-Hood, C. Pemberton, K. Burgin, S. Clench, T. Roam, A. Mullarky, R. Coffey, C. Fisher, M. Sengers, L.Murphy, K. Bortoli-Frerk, S. Mizrahi. Thanks also to our anonymous supporters.

THINGS WE ARE LOVING

THIS SEASON We are not all mud and sand and wind in our hair here at Travel Play Live, and most of us like the rest of us enjoy a little indulgence once in a while. So, we decided to share with you some of our favourite things we enjoy when not out on the trails (mind you some of these join us out there).

Native Glow COLLECTION Native Glow is a collection inspired by the wonderful rejuvenating properties of our native Australian plants. This skincare range is infused with some of our most powerful Australian botanicals, wild harvested from the Australian Outback.The ingredients include Quandong (Native Peach), Kakadu Plum, Lilli Pilli, Lemon Aspen (Rainforest Lemon), Lemon Myrtle and Desert Lime. These ingredients are well known for moisturising, rejuvenating skin, helping elasticity and improving circulation. Native Glow is Cruelty Free and Vegan as well. Founder Liz Mitchell started the range when she had children because she firmly believes that “being healthy first is the most important thing and that your makeup should not be harmful to your body or your daughter's or your baby's." www.shekinahglow.com/native-glow

IKOU AROMATHERAPY

Roll On

Arbonne Rescue & Renew Detox Body Scrub This divine body scrub will change your life! Well it will certainly help wash away the days stress. It’s not just what Arbonne put in their products that makes them superior. It’s what they choose to formulate without. Arbonne integrate the most beneficial botanical ingredients from nature with the principles of green chemistry — crafting products with integrity, expertise and innovation, responsibly, taking care of our earth at the same time. Now available to purchase from Travel Play Live. Links on our website or go to bit.ly/2xsXiMM

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On a recent adventure to Leura, we stumbled upon the beautiful flagship store for iKOU – an Aussie company with humble beginnings making products in a Blue Mountains kitchen and converted garage, which now has company owned retail stores and supplies hundreds of businesses throughout Australia and overseas. This little aromatherapy roll on now accompanies me everywhere I go.

It really does calm and quieten the mind with Lavender & Geranium layered with the uplifting freshness of Lemon & Clementine to replenish energy. Base notes of Patchouli ground and balance to leave you feeling relaxed and destressed. ikou.com.au

Travel Play Live

Summer is in full swing and here at Rays we can’t help but get excited by the prospect of amazing adventures with a whole range of new gear to get you ‘out there’. raysoutdoors.com.au

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Salomon Speedcross 4 Trail Shoes Conquer the world in comfort! Featuring an exceptional grip thanks to the historic Speedcross lug pattern, these shoes are the ultimate companion when exploring the outdoors. $199.99

Sorrento 2 Immerse Stripe Rashie &

Immerse Mid Bikini Brief Stay protected from the hot Aussie summer sun in style with swimwear that is soft and luxurious – available all summer long.

Rashie $69.99 Brief $39.99 Alexa SUP Board 3 Molokai It’s time to try the hottest sport on water

and get SUP-ing! The Alexa is super stable for all-round SUP conditions so you can paddle, ride waves and even set up your yoga session on the water. At 10’4”, this board also small enough to carry around. $1099

Spartan Sport 4 Suunto Wrist HR Watch The

Sport HR is the best training partner you could have. Features include a colour touch screen with beautifully designed graphical menus, heart rate monitor, GPS and a compass plus it is water resistant up to 100m. $699

5 Patagonia Women’s Logo

Cotton Crew & Away From Home Shorts In a tee made from super soft ringspun organic cotton and quick dry shorts that offer 50+ UPF sun protection, you will conquer the outdoors in no time.

Tee $59.95 Shorts $99.95

Air Lite 26L 6 Deuter Day Pack Ideal

for hiking and travelling, this comfortable pack features AirMesh lining to help stop the sweat on those hot days in the great outdoors. The backpack is hydration compatible and has a detachable rain cover for when the weather is unpredictable! $179

*Range, styles & colours vary store to store. While stocks last. Not all products available in all stores.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN WELLINGS & LUCY PERRY

What do Australian Olympian Eloise Wellings, an ex-child soldier and a Rare Bird who rocks a pink Mohawk have to do with inspiring an adventure of a lifetime for an Aussie teen? More that you could possible know.

Readers of Travel Play Live will be familiar with the Perry Family and the Eight Adventure: a concept where the kids go on an adventure of a lifetime after they turn eight. This genius idea was invented by their adventurous mum, Lucy who wanted to teach her kids to be independent, to see the world with new eyes and to gather stamps in passports rather than stuff.

In issue 1 we read about Harlow Perry’s Eight Adventure on a 300km horse trek through Rajasthan in India. Then in issue 8 her sister Sheba was featured in far northern Finland on a husky trek. These trips were with their mum and have changed them forever in all the right ways. The Perry kids’ older brother Hudson went fishing and surfing in Madagascar when he was eight, but while his little sisters were planning their eight adventures, Hudson suggested the family go around again with a 14 adventure. Smart kid.

women farmers are loaned a 30-kilo bag of seeds. The women plant their crop, harvest about 300 kilos of food and return their 30-kilo bag to loan to the next woman. Love Mercy is entirely funded by generous Aussies and aims to raise $1.2M in the next year to reach 20,000 women in the program.

“The ripple effects that are created when women have the reigns of the family purse are profound,” says Love Mercy CEO, Caitlin Barrett. “The program has generated school fees for 35,000 kids and helped these mums afford the basics we take for granted like seeing a doctor, building a basic kitchen, food on the table. Just a simple seed loan is the trigger for success.”

A bag of seeds costs $AUD30.

When he was eleven, Julius had been abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army as a child soldier and spent three months living the jungle in terror.

He eventually escaped and spent the rest of his childhood living the daily grind of abject poverty

“For Christmas last year, Mum gave me a book called The Boy Who Runs, which is the life story of Julius Achon,” says Hudson. “I was impressed by the determination of Julius in the face of so many terrible obstacles. After his horrific time as a child soldier, he went on become an Olympian and represented Uganda in the Sydney games. Then this year, the opportunity to meet him in Uganda came up. We travelled with Eloise Wellings as well, and I was pretty stoked to hang out with two Olympians.”

Hudson’s adventure took him on safari in northern Uganda where he and his mum travelled with Australian-based charity Love Mercy Foundation and its founder, Aussie Olympian, Eloise Wellings.

As legend has it, it all began in 2008 when Eloise was in America training for the Bejing Olympics, and she met Ugandan athlete Julius Achon at a training camp. This meeting would change both their lives forever. While Eloise was frustrated by a foot injury, Julius told her his life story. “When you hear my story, your problems will not bother you anymore,” said Julius.

When he was eleven, Julius was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army as a child soldier and spent three months living the jungle in terror. He eventually escaped and spent the rest of his childhood living the daily grind of abject poverty in a poor village, continually terrorised by the war, and where his mother Kristina was eventually shot and killed.

After Julius met Eloise, he called her to ask for help. Eleven people had died of starvation in his village north of Lira, and he needed rice for the acutely malnourished and a plan for the future. That plan became Love Mercy and the Cents for Seeds program where

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When asked why he chose Uganda for his 14 Adventure, Hudson hints at his mum planting a seed.

Hudson’s adventure included spending time with the Cents for Seeds ladies in the villages and overseeing an impact study on the program. There were some epic dance-offs after village meetings and long drives between mud hut villages in remote Uganda to a soundtrack of ABBA and Michael Jackson as preferred by the local drivers. There were roadside pit stops for water, fruit and a local snack called Rolex – chapatti and egg in a tasty roll. The Love Mercy team hiked a mountain at sunset one evening, and Hudson had his first burn on a motorcycle.

The team also volunteered at an athletics carnival run in the remote countryside where thousands of locals came for the spectacle and a free lunch. More than 3000 kids entered the cross country, and all ran barefoot. The winners took home a mattress, and the top thirty scored a free T-shirt.

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It was at a carnival like this that Julius won his first ever race when he was 14, but in legendary style, he ran 72km to that race meet before competing and winning all three races.

Right at the end of the journey, there were two days of safari where Hudson and Lucy glamped on the banks of the River Nile.

“The safari days were an unforgettable end to our trip with one sighting that looked like the opening scene of the Lion King,” says Lucy. “We had a fang up the river in a speedboat to see elephants, crocodiles and so many giraffes. At night we could hear the hippos in the river just below our tent.

“I was impressed by the determination of Julius in the face of so many terrible obstacles. After his horrific time as a child soldier, he went on become an Olympian and represented Uganda in the Sydney games"

“But to be honest, anyone who can afford it can go on safari. This trip offered experiences money can’t buy. To sit with women leaders under a mango tree and learn from their experiences is priceless. It was a privilege to spend time with a guy like Julius and hear him say to my son, ‘If we hold on to the troubles of the past, it will make us bitter Hudson. It is love that keeps me going.

Love for my village and my people. Love and persistence is everything Hudson.’ We will remember this trip for the rest of our lives.”

So what did Hudson take from his 14 Adventure?

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“While I am at home complaining that the WiFi is slow, I will always remember that there are kids my age in Uganda carrying water all day,” said Hudson. “This trip really gave me perspective on my life. It was clear that the money I raised was doing good work. I also learned a lot from Julius and his unwavering discipline.

I will be cheering Eloise on in the Commonwealth Games, and I will be making a documentary about everything I saw in Uganda. Please come to my screening!”

Eloise kept up her rigorous training schedule throughout the trip, taking long runs and hitting the gym when everyone else had a nap. Eloise told stories of running in the national park and coming across water buffalo and giraffe. She runs with Julius whenever she is in Uganda, and the two look pretty cool together – the tall blonde Aussie chick and the short, lean Ugandan guy, running faster than most of us can sprint the 100 metres.

For further details about Love Mercy or to register your interest for the 2018 adventure, visit lovemercyfoundation.org To contribute to Hudson’s fundraising efforts and be first in line for tickets to his documentary screening, visit lovemercyfoundation.org/689

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new adventures for women

MAIN & PERU IMAGES: Mark Tipple; LARAPINTA : Latonia Crockett

[ to travel, play & live ]

WINNER ECOTOURISM

australia > larapinta trail | 7 days

patagonia | 8 days

canada > yukon | 11 days

Enjoy our spectacular, award-winning campsites on one of Australia's top five walks || 15 MAY & 2 AUG 2018

Multi-activity adventure in one of the world's most iconic and pristine landscapes || 23 MAR 2019

Paddle, trek and explore the vast Yukon wilderness in Kluane National Park || 4 AUG 2018; 3 AUG 2019

iceland | 11 days

peru | 14 days

nepal | 14 days

Enjoy geothermal baths, trek glaciers, snorkel between continental plates, explore a lava cave || 2 SEPT 2018

Cook with the villagers and take a four day trek in the heart of the Andes || 8 SEPT 2018; 17 MAY 2019

Change your altitude: trek the trails for stunning views of Annapurna & Dhaulagiri || 3 NOV 2018; 30 MAR 2019

travel experiences for the adventurous woman

World Expeditions has joined with Travel Play Live to offer destinations and experiences with the female traveller in mind – from multi-activity adventures to tours immersed in food and culture that also get you off the tourist trails. Join a Travel Play Live magazine team member on a journey with authentic cultural exchange, real exploration and plenty of fun !

speak to our adventure experts > start planning the trip of a lifetime

worldexpeditions.com/travelplaylive

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ATAS No.: A10684

OVERCOMING THE

OBLIGATION

MYTHS

Many of us who belong to Generation X and beyond didn’t grow up in the landscape of filters, hashtags, selfies and live feeds. When we experienced life, we talked with our friends or wrote it down in our diaries. We spoke and wrote freely, being guided purely by the emotions and thoughts that we experienced as we experienced them.

WRITTEN BY LEAH GILBERT

Sometimes our stories had happy endings, some were sad, and some had no ending at all. Between those pages lay a sacred space, and in those closed conversations we didn’t need to edit, refresh, or filter anything.

Social media has brought us a lot of different and new layers to our life experiences.

Many of us enjoy sharing our journeys and experiences on our social media streams.

We appreciate the knowledge that we may be inspiring others, creating awareness to an issue or topic close to us, or simply enjoy documenting our experiences in a public forum. But the game has changed, and we are now suddenly telling our stories in new, public mediums, and the significance of this is not being lost on us.

Suddenly our Dear Diary entries have been taken up a notch. We have now had to develop our skills as the storytellers of our own experiences. We no longer just document what we felt, thought or saw, we now have added ingredients found in structured storytelling, with one significant element I see time and time again: overcoming.

We all love a story of overcoming, defying the odds, toughing it out. But I am trying to put my finger on the exact time where we suddenly had to overcome something every time we went on an adventure, competed in an event, or completed merely a training session. And I find it fascinating. When my social media profile was at its peak, my obligation to tell a story of overcoming for every training session was impossible to ignore - because that's what people responded to. A year or so later, and day after day my Instagram feed is filled with similar if not identical stories: posts like “it was hot, tough and despite my body crying out for me to stop I kept going and got the job

done.”

I get it. Australians don’t like people who do things easily. You can just feel the magnitude of eye-rolling that would occur if someone posted this caption along with a post-training selfie: "that set was so easy, I'm so happy with my fitness and don't think I will feel any impact on my body whatsoever after that set #gratitude #happy #iamawesome.

But there has to be some happy medium between documenting and receiving ease and hardship because our obligation to continually overcome is making us tread a hazardous line when it comes to situations where it may actually be in our best interests to quit, retreat, or not start at all.

Recently while I was doing a professional development course on building resilience, we got to reflect on actual real-life stories of survival. Interestingly enough, in these tales of resilience, the key reflections were not on the individual's ability to overcome - in some instances, it was their ability know when it was in their best interest to surrender, with these decisions saving their lives.

For some people, this obligation to tell tales of overcoming doesn’t exist. But for others, it is a silent, pervasive factor which has the potential to become a key driver of shame in times where we do in fact need to retreat, surrender, or not start at all. It is so pervasive in fact that many of us don't even see it impacting our decisions until we consider a scenario like this: I head out on a planned hike to climb a decent mountain in my area. I’ve talked about my preparation on social media, I’ve taken the pictures of my pack and gear (‘flat Leah’), and I’ve uploaded a dawn selfie before I head out. Everything is going swimmingly until I am about two-thirds of the way up and I have realised I left some of my hydration

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in the car and am now out. It's a balmy 35 degree day and I know I've been losing fluids rapidly. Logic tells me that if I keep going, the dehydration will reach a point where I run the risk of needing a medivac out. BUT, I have documented this WHOLE journey on social media, and everyone knows I'm on this bloody mountain today - how can I not get to the top? What is the worth of me getting to the top and back down and being able to talk about the hardship I overcame to achieve my goal versus having to admit that I didn't make it? What story do I want to tell my followers one of achievement or one of failure?

Oh, hello Shame, nice to have you here.

Whether we like it or not, we are now documenting our experiences of life in very public ways. Our lives and journeys have become mini-documentary series' that many of us enjoy following, but not all of us are skilled in constructing. Not all of us have gone to film school, drama school or have journalism degrees. So for many of us, this new art of storytelling has suddenly added layers to our experiences, forcing us to go beyond what we saw, felt, and thought.

The obligation to tell a good story is now so pervasive that it has the potential to impact decisions in situations where the only thing we should be considering is our health and wellbeing - but only if we allow it to.

It is amazing what a small amount of selfawareness can do when you awaken to the obligation to overcome. Knowing that you and your experience are enough in their rawest form is liberating. That stopping the curation, filters and hashtags can bring you back to authentic and powerful connections with your life experiences, and with that, comes the real freedom of storytelling.

Dear Diary, ...

Dear Diary,

Love Me.

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sword

The double-edged

of competition

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WRITTEN BY KARLA GILBERT

“So, did you win?” My friend politely turned to ask after noticing I had returned from my 5-day hike through remote Tasmania. “Err…. No, that wasn’t the purpose of this event” I replied a little taken aback. “Oh, really? Wow, well that must’ve been something totally different for you then”, they remarked. And in a way, they were right.

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etiring from professional Ironwoman racing over fifteen years ago has been an interesting learning curve. Admittedly to an extent, I have kept the competitive flame alive with an Australian short course adventure racing title, and a few Australian standup paddling titles since having children.

Do I substantiate these successes by referring to these sports as ‘different’, a hobby, a way to keep fit by way of goals and that I’m not really returning to my ‘self’? Maybe… But I think there is another reason behind all this.

Coming from a sport that was largely based on individual performance, meant a lot of long lonely hours doing the extra 1%. The strive to grab any golden opportunity to improve my strength, endurance, nutrition, speed, skills or mental state was always high on the agenda. If I knew I’d dotted all my i’s and crossed all my t’s, then this gave me the confidence to stand on the start line knowing I could win.

Ironwoman racing was my profession and job. Not only was there training involved, but there were also physio, Pilates, media, sponsor and charity commitments. Others work 9-5pm, I trained three sessions a day, six hours a day, six days a week with the beach being my office – rain, hail or shine.

My will to win in the sport was very much internally driven. But one also of solidarity. I didn’t care to know what my competitors where doing, how much they were training, or what they were doing after we raced that day (socially that is.

This was before the days of Instagram or Facebook!). I was there to do my job, and that was to be the best Ironwoman I could be… And then to return to the privacy of home.

Sure, this led to me being called ‘aloof’ or anti-social on the professional circuit by media and fellow competitors - but something I chose not to let worry me. My thoughts were if I was doing something different to my competitors then this was mentally giving me an edge. In some ways, this rang true.

Requesting rooms on my own if we were interstate or abroad, avoiding breakfast at the hotel buffet and going out to dinner with my coach and tight-knit group of training friends was common. What if someone saw a weakness, my nerves or emulated the way I mentally prepared for races? I didn’t need to fuel rumours or my ‘left field’ intricacies, so it was best to remain to myself.

At the time of retiring (age 28), I was still at the top of my game – but my heart wasn’t in the right place. There was a strong pull to jump off the elite athlete merry go round and experience life without pressures. Finding motivation was never a problem – but the energies required to lift me for each event was an empty bucket.

Retiring from the sport has been a process. A process of allowing others to enter my life. I now don’t view everyone as a competitor, or someone that is going to judge my every step that comes with being in the spotlight. There has been a shift towards feeling enriched in my life through friendship, inspiration and conversation, plus helping others through my experiences and learnt knowledge as a Nutrition and Health Coach.

The feelings of enjoyment and being in the ‘moment’ that I once felt when I first began competing as a 15-year-old have returned through new experiences, self-discovery and adventure (without the devotion to be the best). I have come to understand the reason I have remained active is through chasing new challenges

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– not competition – just committing myself to things that make me feel uncomfortable and going through the necessary steps to complete the goal. Whether it’s travelling to Bora Bora for a Water Woman's event or Fiji for the World stand-up paddleboard titles, or simply planning a two week motorhome holiday around New Zealand with my family, it’s the allure of adventure that’s the draw card.

Foes have become friends and competition has new meaning. The tide has turned with a desire to support others achieving their dreams now bringing fulfilment to my life. Watching my children participate in sport because it brings joy and self-fulfilment without the need to win is something I get. I really do.

When life slows down, magic happens.

This comes with an enjoyment to bask in the small things that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. This enjoyment was evident recently as I joined a group of amazing humans in Tasmania to complete five days on the South Coast Track. Our purpose was to support and raise funds for the LifeChanger foundation as it launches in April 2018 with the massive vision for every young Australian to have the opportunity to develop a healthy personal identity, empowering them to live their best life. Yes, I was out of my comfort zone, and yes, it felt foreign, but I also knew that this is what life’s all about.

Stepping outside the “well-known” comfort zone, sharing experiences with others and learning and growing from new challenges. Simply put, there is more to life than judging yourself on your successes in sport.

Life is too short to live in repeat. Discover the most wonderful pockets of the planet you didn’t know existed and live a purposeful life without limitations. Chase your ‘other’ dreams because once they become realities life is so much sweeter.

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ALPINE TASMANIA LAKE ST CLAIR * WILD WEST * C R A D L E M O U N TA I N 2 5 - 29 AP R I L 2018 www.findyourfeettours.com.au

HIGHLIGHTS OF TASMANIA FREYCINET * CRADLE M O U N TA I N 1 4 - 18 MA R C H 2018 www.findyourfeettours.com.au

Wild Japan

with Hanny Allston

2 3 SEP TEMB E R - 1 OC TOB E R 2018 Travel Play Live 030 www.findyourfeettours.com.au

to race or not to race THAT IS THE QUESTION.

A red orb sun rises over the expansive, glass-like ocean. Red shoes grip vast slabs of granite whose prominence rise into a sky speckled with clouds. The landscape painted with the hue of dawn. Right now, right here, I am ticking off a meaningful mission.

WRITTEN BY HANNY ALLSTON

A skyline traverse of Freycinet’s Hazards Traverse. Out here on my own, carrying the lessons from my elite running career in my vest pack, lessons which fuel me with the knowledge that I can keep myself safe and content in this rugged terrain.

Balancing on the edge of a sheer drop into the ocean below, I feel poised. Poised between the lifecycle of the competitive athlete and the adventurous free spirit with whom I am beginning to identify. To get here I had to navigate my own race, a warren of emotions, nagging internal chatter and external opportunities. This race has lasted years. A race where I would readily grab chances to compete, and with it, the ensuing sponsorships and media engagements. At first, this seemed to quiet my fear who whispered, ‘This might be your last chance’".

Opening doors I have begun to realise that the more we love something and give it the attention it needs to grow, the more doors will open. When we start to master our craft, not only do we subconsciously begin to stretch towards further and more allusive opportunities, we also join the extended family of our craft. We meet friends, we chat, share stories, and fuel on one another's excitement. We race and receive brochures for the next great racing opportunity.

Racing has become a global industry, and with the internet at our fingertips, it is becoming easier to find open doors beautifully carved with the announcement, ‘Opportunity!’

Despite these fantastic opportunities, I began to realise that they were starting to bring a surmounting internal pressure and were clipping my wings. The races and focus of preparation they required were stealing me away from wilder adventures, family time, Tasmanian hibernation and my creativity, all of which allows me to foster my most authentic self. Rather than being outside for the simple reason of loving the outdoors, training became intimately tied to racing.

Over time I began to feel a dilution of my energy, a feeling of never fulfilling endeavours to my maximum potential, and a sensation of being constantly on the run… literally. I began to miss the quieter version of Hanny, the one who likes to snuggle up on the couch with a fascinating book and a massive mug of tea, and the adventurous free spirit that I find today on these rough granite slabs of Freycinet at day-break.

Closing doors Today I am awakening to a realisation that perhaps it is time to close a few doors . Can I confront my F.O.M.O (Fear of Missing Out), and in doing so, look at blazing my trail along a ridgeline less travelled?

lines, I still want to view myself as an athlete exploring my version of excellence. I aim to live each day in a way that allows me to strive for my highest potential, training in a way that fuels my ambitions but also live with a gentleness that enriches my soul. I want to strive when I can and rest before I must. I want to discover what nourishes me and to uncover my guiding values so that my truest dreams can evolve.

From here I can look at the doorways left ajar.

I can choose to toe a start line, scale peaks, traverse a skyline, shrug off the scratches, and bathe in the icy ocean at the conclusion.

Closing doors have been exceptionally difficult for me as it evokes fear and anxiety that I may miss that golden opportunity. We have been educated to seize the day, and I get the beauty of this, really I do. However, I am coming to the understanding that this doesn't necessarily mean filling my life with every event or opportunity to the detriment of my self-growth, creativity, values and freedom of spirit.

HANNY’S TOP 7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING RACES

As I have begun to close doors and learn the art of saying, ‘not now’, strength has boomed into other aspects of my life.

• Train consistently, not just for your race goals, but because you love the sensations and experiences being out there, every day brings you.

Leaving doors ajar For me, I want to quietly caution that the open doorways to racing will always exist. But just because they are open, doesn' mean I need to walk through them, especially if I am suffering from a bout of F.O.M.O. For sure, races can be a joyful way of exploring some of our awesome potential, and partake in journeys alongside other brightly attired individuals, feeding off one another to thrive. However, too many 'yeses' and we can fall into the trap of focusing all our energy on a race, and neglecting our creative spirit, valuable relationships and dreams just to play runner-up.

Today I am learning to leave doorways ajar and boldly say ‘not now’. When it comes to racing, while I am currently not toeing any start

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• Only choose an event that makes your toes tingle. Try never to catch F.O.M.O Syndrome • Allow a minimum of 5 months between your primary goals. That is, race less to race more. Ensure optimal preparation time between each event.

• Never race injured • Set goals for each race based on process, not the outcome. Aim to come away enriched by the experience, not merely crossing a finish line.

• For every 10km you race at near maximal effort, allow one week for recovery.

Or… • Ask yourself, ‘could there be an alternative adventure in this idea?’

Sometimes the concept of a race can plant a seed for an even wilder adventure! Be brave. Find your feet.

Find your start line!

The Team Beyond

THE TEAM W R I T T E N BY K E R RYA N N H AY E S

If I think back to my first long distance team event, the Sydney Oxfam Trailwalker (100km) over 12 years ago, there was one overriding element that I found to be alluring, and that was that this was an event that was made up of a sum of parts. I, as an individual, was merely just one of the many cogs in the wheel if we were to make it through the 100km’s unscathed, in one piece, still friends and still married due to the long hours needed to prepare our bodies for what was to come.

Having come from a sport where my results were determined by the hours of lonely and focused training sessions I was prepared to put in, the thought of not only having teammates to train with but also my family and friends as support crew on the event day sounded enticing. And a whole lot more fun and in fact, it was.

Every weekend training session became a unique adventure for my team, and our families, who often met us out there on the trails with a hot cuppa or picnic lunch. Those long hours of training didn't leave us feeling like we are missing out on the important things, like family time and social engagements because we found ways to incorporate our key team players.

Don’t get me wrong I am well aware that those who commit to the pursuit of excellence and put in the work day after day solo are the same athletes who you see on the steps of the podium. The longer I have been involved in endurance events, however, the more I realise that being part of a team helps you to reach a new level of joyous and shared success that you do not get when training solo.

Over the years there have many people on my team who have all been invaluable in helping me achieve my goals, with many of these relationships positively affecting my life to this day.

Who Are Your Team: Family The environment that you live in, day-to-day, affects your energy levels, emotions, and stress levels, so it’s necessary to maintain a high level of communication, life balance and if possible find ways to share your journey with those you love as they will be your the major support network.

Coach and Mentors Having a coach or mentor is one of the single most significant investments that you can make. When we 'live and breathe’ our team event it can be hard at times to

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see life's big picture. By working with a coach, you can objectively bounce ideas, questions and much more off them, with the goal of working together to achieve a set list of goals while maintaining the other areas of life in balance.

Team Mates Having a group of like-minded people all set on achieving a similar goal is a hugely influential force.

Training with others can help to lift you to a new level on the good days and help push you through on the tough days, making the whole finish line experience even more rewarding.

Work Colleagues and Friends For me, one of the best things was to get my work colleagues emotionally invested in our team journey.

Having their support with fundraising, support crewing and presence on days where I just needed a boost at work, played an integral part of lifting my performances.

Therapists Massage therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists and sports doctors all form part of a well-structured team, which means regular visits and keeping them up to date with any potential issues, and getting their advice when appropriate. Having experts in the field of sports therapy can go a long way in making sure you stay healthy, uninjured, happy and confident about the upcoming event.

So remember having a strong team around you who share your achievements, as well as working to assist you during hard times, can make everyone's journey a much more rewarding one.

When we build a strong team around us, we not only inspire and motivate but we also role model behaviours that show others an alternative path to exercising solo, one where the success and celebration are magnified by having shared the journey.

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Over the years there have many people on my team who have all been invaluable in helping me achieve my goals, with many of these relationships positively affecting my life to this day.

Photos supplied by Oxfam Trailwalker Australia

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SEVEN LESSONS IN

failure

LEARNT ON ONE OF THE SEVEN SUMMITS

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The tears sting as they roll down my sunburnt face, my lips are swollen and cracking from the UV reflecting violently off the glacier. The skin underneath my nose is completely raw. I've been continuously wiping snot away since 2 am. My diaphragm heaves in guttural sobs. It's a perfect bluebird day, not a breath of wind and I sit alone, crumpled in the snow watching the rest of my climbing team walk away.

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WRITTEN BY CAROLINE PEMBERTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANATOLIY SAVEJKO, MIKE HAMILL,

T

CAROLINE PEMBERTON, PAUL POTTINGER

hey are on the last pitch of our summit push on of the famed Seven Summits, Mt. Elbrus in Russia.

I feel ridiculous. I feel ashamed. I'm heartbroken and weak. I have just pulled out of the climb, knowing that continuing would pose a severe risk. Logic, however, is a scarce comfort when you are experiencing failure with every fibre of your being.

Let me rewind a little; I am an A-type personality - ambitious, competitive and driven. The youngest sister of two brothers, one who held the record as the youngest Aussie to climb Everest for ten years, and the other, a highly specialised adventure photographer and survivalist. I'm the daughter of a world champion rower and a mum who was skydiving the original round parachutes in the early 70s! Needless to say, adventure is in the blood. I've made my career out of being a traveller and earned the nickname MissAdventure, one I wholeheartedly embrace. I'm not a natural athlete, I'm unaccustomed to failure, and my deepest fear in the outdoors is to be the slowest link in a team, So much so that I've often avoided saying yes to adventures out of fear I couldn't keep up.

A few months ago, my very new husband, Mike who is a worldclass mountain guide (like he's climbed Everest six times and owns a guiding service called Climbing the Seven Summits) asked me if I wanted to climb a mountain with him and some of his clients.

I'd never done any technical mountaineering, but I was excited.

Mike assured me that it was a perfect entry into mountaineering.

I had lived at Everest base camp for six weeks with my brother, so I assumed I'd be totally fine with the altitude. Climbing was in my DNA and now in my relationship too.

I had shiny new Black Diamond crampons, a beautiful blue ice axe and the most expensive pair of shoes I've ever owned - a $1000 pair of La Sportiva double boots. I had all the gear and no idea.

Fast forward to find me deep in the Caucasus mountains on the border of Georgia, in Russia lying in what is known as The Saddle.

We had woken up at 1 am, gathered our gear, forced a carb-heavy breakfast into our still sleeping bodies and set out into the cold starry night. Almost immediately, I found myself out of my element and floundering. The team formed a chain gang line, moving consistently forward in each other's footprints, but all I could think about was how much I already needed to pee. Rookie error. I kept trying to spy a place that offered a skerrick of privacy to no avail. My husband's offsider and right-hand woman, Russian guide Sasha had warned us ladies that seeking dignity when nature calls could kill us.

Her best friend, an experienced climber, slipped down an icy slope and fell to her death trying to pee behind a wind roll because she was too embarrassed to go in front of her male teammates.

I get to a point where I just step to the side and pull my climbing pants and harness down, bare butt to the wind and try to go. I can't.

The cold on my backside or the stage fright wins and frustrated I hastily pull my pants back up, bladder still full, arse now frozen. My climbing team don't even give me a second look.

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We march on, straight up the mountain in what is known as the ‘duck walk'. I'm unaccustomed to my crampons and push them deep into the icy slope. Forgetting they are on, I pull my foot up as if I were walking normally, but my crampon stays lodged, and I twist my ankle badly inside my boot. I feel something give, like a snapped elastic band - my tendon seems to be travelling back and forward across my ankle bone in the most unnatural way. Each weightbearing step becomes agony, but I'm too embarrassed to speak up.

My husband is in his element, his team responding well right behind him, and they're pulling away steadily. Meanwhile I'm a total mess with my pants half hitched into my climbing harness, still needing to pee, snot pouring from my nose in the cold air and now my ankle feels loose in its socket. I sense the first pang of failure rise in my stomach and nausea overwhelms me. Hands on my knees I hurl a mix of half-eaten muesli and bile all over the snow narrowly missing those expensive boots! My head is pounding. I look up, and I'm now a league behind the team. Sasha, our Russian guide slows down beside me. She can see the fear of failure written on my face.

She takes my heavy pack, swapping it out for her lighter one, and very calmly asks me to look at her. Looking into my eyes she asks me to think of nothing else but stepping as she steps, I do as she says, but nausea keeps coming, and the distance between the rest of the team grows.

Every time I vomit, which is every few minutes, Sasha hands me a flask of warm, sickly sweet cherry juice and insists I drink it. It is the last thing I want to consume, but I trust her and sip away. I am now suffering the effects of acute mountain sickness, and the cherry juice has turned my vomit fluro pink. Every few steps I leave another pink stain like some grotesque version of Hansel and Gretel in the virgin white snow. Bouncing in time with the pounding headache, vicious thoughts assail me: I'm a failure. I suck. I'm embarrassing. I'm too slow. I'm embarrassing him in front of his work clients, how can he love me if I can't do this?

To add to the thoughts, the demoralising position of exhaustedly reaching a rest stop just as everyone is preparing to go again.

Eventually, we make it to The Saddle, a distinct point between the East and West summits of Elbrus where most people who turn back do. I need to make the right call. Mike is in charge of six other climbers who are all going strong. We'd already previously agreed that he wouldn't baby me or coddle me and I decide that this is where I have to stop. To go any further risks putting my entire team in a rescue situation and I now know, that I am suffering from altitude sickness; the persistent vomiting and unbearable headaches a sign of cerebral oedema. Going any further would be plain stupid despite it being only another 200 odd vertical meters to the summit.

I hug Mike who gives me a radio and collapse against Sasha, my hugest ally on this climb. I bid the others good luck. They move on, and I sit alone in my grief with an abundance of time to do some reflection.

Sitting in the snow and over the coming days this is what I have learnt from my 'failure' on Elbrus:

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Ben Morin, Parks Canada

LARAPINTA x PATAGONIA x CANADA ICELAND x PERU x NEPAL

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SEVEN LESSONS IN

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failure

Eventually, we make it to The Saddle, a distinct point between the East and West summits of Elbrus where most people who turn back do. I need to make the right call. Mike is in charge of six other climbers who are all going strong.

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SEVEN LESSONS IN

1 Blame or Shame?

When we're experiencing failure, mentally two things will be most likely to happen to us, we either go into a state of blame or shame.

Blame sounds like this: I didn't have the right gear. I got altitude sickness. The people in the tent snored, and I didn't sleep, so I wasn't in my best form. Blah, blah, blah.

It's much easier justifying something we can't accept with blame and externalise the situation.

Even worse and a far smoother skid down the slippery slope into is shame.

Shame is humiliating, debilitating and self-sabotaging. With shame, we point the criticism inward. Shame rises in you and attacks the core of your being, not the situation, but you, bouncing beyond the scenario and into your self-worth like one of those bullets that mushroom on impact to inflict as much damage as possible. A hero of mine, Brene Brown, a shame researcher, calls these thoughts ‘Shame Gremlins'.

Ask yourself, when you fail, do you blame or do you go into shame? And how can you move past it without doing either? That day I learnt that the only way to pass through failure is in gracious acceptance of yourself and self-love.

I can already hear you asking "BUT how do we reach that?"

The answer is through vulnerability.

To be vulnerable, we have to be ok with who

failure

we are and where we are at. To do that, we have to be brave as hell, which leads me to my second lesson that day.

2 True Bravery is Vulnerability So what do I mean by being brave? I've been an outdoorsy girl all my life, but bravery is not what I learnt throwing myself off cliffs in the face of my fears or cave diving through tiny holes with no margin for error. Bravery was what I discovered surrounded by fluro vomit on Elbrus.

Bravery is not how well you can hide your fear or pushing through physical limits irrationally and getting into more dire situations.

Bravery is being completely vulnerable to the possibility of failure and being ok with whatever happens. It knows that you're still you, and you are good enough, worthy of love, and still just as valuable.

Being courageous enough to show up, being willing to face your limits and turn back, admitting that sometimes you can't, and still wake up the next day and say ‘I'm enough, I'm worthy'.

That's bravery.

“Vulnerability is our most accurate measure of courage. Tell me how vulnerable someone is willing to be, and I’ll tell you how brave they’re willing to be.” Brene Brown 3 Success is not always guaranteed My third learning high on that mountain was that in adventure, success is not always guaranteed.

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Sometimes, despite your training, despite your attitude, despite your spiffy gear, your previous experience, your mountain climbing husband guide, the perfect weather, or your sweet Russian buddy handing you cherry juice, sh*t happens, and you might not make it.

That day everyone else scooted back down the mountain like they'd gone for a pleasant afternoon hike. They didn't even look tired as they bore grins like Cheshire cats. For me, I felt like my adventure no longer counted because I was the only one who had failed.

I've been goal orientated for as long as I can remember and only recently realised how cruel I am to myself when I don't achieve what I set out to and how damaging it can be to have an attitude that says "there is no room for failure". To allow those Shame Gremlins full reign is as dangerous as running through a crevasse field. It can completely corrupt your ability to experience joy. It also makes you a sucky adventure companion.

I became a victim of my making. Brooding, morose and sad. Before I could move on, I had to process my shame and find joy in the journey, not the completion or the accomplishment.

Part of our Elbrus journey had been a ski descent, and while I may not have made it all the way to the top, I came damn close, and I still clipped into my skis and carved some powder turns with my team on the way down.

In the weeks to come, flipping back through

photos, I can look at that daggy, surfer girl standing tough on her touring skis on a mountain in Russia and think to myself ‘that doesn't look like failure to me, that looks like a rad adventure.'

Success is not always guaranteed, but adventure isn't about success. It sounds naff but it has to be about the journey and the little moments you can scrape off and savour despite the challenges.

4 My fourth learning stems from the above: Adventure is an attitude Adventure is not how hardcore you are, or how crazy your feat is, or whether you have goals to break world records or set them.

Adventure is an attitude, a state of mind that is as simple as moving outside of your comfort zone. You might be into bushwalking, or base jumping, but under my definition of adventure, that's all equal. Stop discounting where your adventure begins or ends.

Adventure is relative. The only benchmarks that should matter are your own. Was I challenged? Yes. Was I brave? Yes. Did I do something I am proud of? Yes. Did I summit?

No. Should it still count as an achievement?

Absolutely, Yes.

Beware the pressure you self-inflict.

We live our lives very publically these days.

Social media is ingrained in culture and way of life, as enjoyable as it can be, there is a flip side. One of the challenges we face is the breeding of unrealistic expectations in a culture of comparison.

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We don't necessarily think of the pressure we are amounting as we boast about setting off on our exciting trips. "Look! Here I am in Moscow about to go climb a mountain".

"Here I am in the foothills training for my climb". "Here I am climbing with all my cool gear". Before we know it, we've set ourselves up as this badass mountaineering chick. The next logical post then has to be - "Here I am on the summit, look at me!"

What happens when we can't measure up?

When unexpectedly we've defined ourselves by our posts or goals, and been validated by the number of likes we've received? We become accountable not only to ourselves but thousands of other strangers too. Our admission of failure becomes public property, our shame broadcast to the world. It makes it near impossible to swallow and feels a hundred fold worse.

So remember to be kind to yourself, don't compare your behind the scenes (sitting in a puddle of pink slurpee vomit) to everyone else's highlight reel (picture perfect elite athlete models summiting effortlessly with

flawless hair and ice axe aloft) Our achievements do not define us. We should not be characterized by what we do, but rather by who we are.

Cue learning number six.

6 The Double-Edged Sword of Inspiration is Intimidation.

It's easy to find inspiration in other people's feats, but buyer beware, it is also just as easy to be intimidated into not trying or giving up when we fail and sneaking off into the darkness with our tails between our legs. In the world of adventure, it's easy to compare ourselves to others. On Elbrus, I compared myself to my man (who arguably is a born mountain goat who has spent over 4000 nights in a tent and undertaken over 120 mountaineering expeditions, many above 8,000m) and to my fellow climbers, who had all climbed before and lived at altitude in Colorado. I expected to be like my heroes, those who have inspired me like my mountaineering brother or Alyssa Azar who now holds the title of the Youngest Australian to Climb Everest. I was disappointed when I didn't measure up.

I had to accept that I am merely on another part of the spectrum to those people. They didn't wake up one day and just climb Everest, they took steps, earnt their stripes and achieved their goals. Failing doesn't mean you aren't capable or that those adventurers who inspired you are a different breed. They too failed. Ask any one of them.

Seek to find inspiration and moments you can relate to in your heroes rather than allow intimidation to run rampant and put you off.

Inspiration in place, I have already set some new goals; I'm off to climb a volcano in Mexico in a few weeks and a mountain in New Zealand the following month. My failure on Elbrus isn't going to stop me.

Finally, 7 The secret to it all is gratitude.

My mum, a psychotherapist, once addressed my anxiety with the simple statement "The cure, Caroline, is going into gratitude."

I know it sounds corny, but if you can find gratitude, you will find joy in every adventure and even in every failure. If I brewed only on what I didn't do, I would still be stuck in shame and failure, but by clearly focusing on what I did achieve, and the experiences I did get to have, everything changed.

I got to ski down Mt. Elbrus! How sick Is that?

I got to climb with my husband, how cool. I got to spew cherry juice, which was at least as yummy on the way down as it was on the way back up. Gratitude changes everything.

I was recently chatting to Australian Adventurer of the Year, Sandy Robson, who remarkably spent five years paddling a sea kayak from Germany to Australia. I asked her, her most valuable learning and she said whenever she hit an impossible obstacle, like pulling her kayak through knee-deep, thick mud, she would just put three words after it, e.g. "MUD. My favourite thing" and then laugh‌ Cherry Spew. My favourite thing Adventure; it's an excellent learning ground in life. Use it wisely.

GEAR essentials 7 BITS OF GEAR I LOVED FOR MOUNTAINEERING.

1. ICE AXE Alpine Mountaineering Ice axe – You want something long enough to walk with comfortably, strong but lightweight. Make sure it's an alpine axe, not a vertical climbing axe. I like the Black Diamond Swift, which has a one-piece hot-forged stainless steel head with an ergonomic shaft.

3. HEAVYWEIGHT DOWN JACKET I wore the Mountain Designs Pro Elite Cho La Gore crafted from recycled bamboo and ethically sourced goose down to keep you warm and protected from the elements.

Pair with a good hooded mid layer. Get from: www.mountaindesigns.com

5. CLIMBING PACK Whether you plan to ski or just to climb, a good pack is essential. It should fit comfortably, be durable and well balanced. I loved my Black Diamond Mission Pack which has specialised front crampon pouch, ice tool Pick pockets, a tuck-away rope strap, drawcord skirt and plenty of storage at 55L

6. CRAMPONS 4. MERINO BASE LAYERS

2. MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS Unlike hiking boots, they need to be double boots to be warm enough with two layers of insulation and have stiff soles to be compatible with your crampons.

Women can buy men’s boots, but get onto these early in your planning as small sizes are harder to come across.

I like La Sportiva’s G2 SMs, which are super lightweight and toasty warm, with an inbuilt gaiter and a special closure system, which makes them easy to adjust with gloves on. Get them from Bogong Equipment: www.bogong.com.au

I wore Mountain Designs merino base layers, they are affordable, perform well are pure merino and soft, comfortable and regulate temperature well.

Get from: www.mountaindesigns.com

For mountaineering, you are looking for a 12 point crampon made of steel, so they don't rust. I chose Black Diamond Sabretooth as the best all-round crampon with a clip and strap version to be able to ratchet down tightly across your boots and ensure a perfect fit.

7. LULULEMON ENLITE SPORTS BRA I loved this sports bra because it had no underwire and yet was supportive enough to hike and ski in and comfortable enough to sleep in while giving you a great shape. When you are on an expedition and can't shower or change easily from day to night so the enlite is a fantastic option.

Buy from: www.lululemon.com.au

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TOURING MARCH 2018 27 CITIES AROUND AUSTRALIA

BRINGING YOU THE WORLD’S MOST AMAZING OCEAN FILMS FROM ABOVE AND BELOW THE SURFACE. VIEW TRAILER & BOOK TICKETS oceanfilmfestival.com.au

Your First TIPS TO

WORDS BY ANDRE SLADE - OCEANSWIM.COM.AU

It’s the new year, so it’s time to lock in one or two of those goals we’ve been talking about over the holiday festivities. While goal setting in January isn’t a new thing, the types of goals we’re setting have changed.

Out are the weight loss, tone up, “I’m not drinking for a month” goals, and in are the active challenges! If you’re looking for a challenge this new year where you won’t need your shoes, that will take you out of your comfort zone, and that reward you with a fresh summer lifestyle, then make your 2018 challenge an ocean swim.

What’s the challenge?

GETTING STARTED.

There’s a myth floating around Australia that says we’re all excellent swimmers, but this is far from the truth.

It’s time to get swimming, so spoil yourself with a new swimsuit, a pair of goggles and a swim cap - it’s a relatively cheap activity to get into, so splash out and get something fantastic!

While we love to cheer on the Australian Dolphins swim team at the Olympics every four years, that’s about as close to the sport most people get.

Find a friend to join you on your journey; you can motivate each other and enjoy the up’s and down’s along the way.

Swimming is a learned activity, it’s not something that comes natural, and so it requires instruction, practice and time to get proficient at it. If you had swimming lessons as a child, you would find getting back into swimming a lot easier than someone starting up later in life.

Hit the pool for a stroke correction lesson to make sure you’re swimming efficiently, and then follow a structured swim training plan that will increase your fitness week by week towards your challenge swim distance. OceanFit has training programs available online, or join a swim squad at your local pool.

Leaving the pool and entering the ocean takes swimming to the next level. Gone is the comfort of consistency; warm water, shallow depths, an edge to hold and a black line to follow. The ocean is a natural, ever-changing environment, where you’ll need to call on more than just your swimming ability to truly master it.

As you’re working on your swimming fitness in the pool, you’ll also want to become acquainted with the ocean environment. Ocean swimming lessons will teach you how to approach the ocean through the eyes of an ocean swimmer, and you’ll learn swimming techniques that will make you feel in control, and have you swimming efficiently in the waves and open water.

Taking on an ocean swim will require you to fight back any anxieties and fears you’ve been harbouring just to get on the start line, then you’ll need to trust in your ability to take on the elements out in the open water, and believe in your fitness to make the distance.

Finally, get in the water as much as possible, both in the pool and in the ocean. Every stroke will get you closer to peak fitness, and every wave will increase your surf sense, and grow your confidence.

There’s no greater feeling than the freedom you feel swimming in the ocean, and once you’ve completed your first ocean swim you’ll be hooked for life.

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Tips and Techniques OceanFit’s top three tips for new ocean swimmers taking on their first ocean swim event:

EVENTS

1. Position yourself for a relaxed start Let the speedster’s rush off the line first, while you ease into the water from the back of the pack. This way you won’t feel rushed, and no one will be swimming over the top of you.

Get into your rhythm, think happy thoughts and enjoy the moment.

You Can Target

2. Stay wide and avoid the madness It can be tempting to head directly for the swim buoys to swim the shortest possible distance. The problem with this is that everyone else has the same idea, and so it can get busy and congested along the route and at the buoy turns.

To avoid this, keep to the outside of the course and aim to round the buoys a few metres clear, this will ensure you have calmer water to swim in, and you won’t get knocked around.

3. Learn to sight to stay on course To locate the course buoys without having to stop, you’ll need to lift your head during your breathing action. To do this, lift your head and look forward as your breathing side arm is completing its pull phase, then roll your head to the side as this arm is recovering. Maintain your stroke rate, tighten your core and kick harder to keep your body on the surface of the water and reduce drag.

MORE INFO.

With over 200 events to choose from throughout Australia, there’s no shortage of swims to choose for your first.

Decide when you’ll start training, and then look ahead for an event that’s about 4-8 weeks away. This will give you plenty of time to train, and for you to maintain your energy and enthusiasm. If you’d prefer to ease yourself into ocean swimming and avoid the surf for your first swim, choose an event located in a sheltered bay, harbour or lake. Some people like to choose their event and enter it early, so they’re locked in, others prefer not to have the added anxiety during their training, worrying about what the conditions might be like on the day, so they wait until the event day to assess the conditions and register there and then. Check out OceanSwim's online event calendar that lists 300+ open water and ocean swims throughout Australia and New Zealand: oceanfit.com.au/oceanswims

TRAIN FOR AN OCEAN SWIM THIS SUMMER, WITH OCEANFIT'S FREE OCEAN SWIM CHALLENGES! Your training includes swim plans, dozens of video lessons & weekly prize challenges.

By participating, you can WIN a trip for two to compete in the 2018 Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim, as part of the Hamilton Island Endurance Series! Visit the Challenge website: www.challenges.oceanfit.com.au

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OCEANFIT Australia’s #1 ocean swim school has free training resources online and delivers ocean swimming clinics at beaches along the east coast.

Visit www.oceanfit.com.au

www.facebook.com/OceanFit @oceanfit

MOOLOOLABA BEACH FESTIVAL Date: Sat, 17 Feb - Sun, 18 Feb 2018 Locations: Mooloolaba QLD The Mooloolaba Mile (1.6km) is part of the Mooloolaba Beach Festival, a celebration of sand, surf and beach culture on the Sunshine Coast. 300m, 800m, 2.5km, 5.0km also available.

Bondi Bluewater Challenge ocean swim Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2018 Locations: Bondi Beach NSW The Bondi Bluewater Challenge harbours one of the suburb’s best kept secrets, but one that ocean swimmers have been privy to for years: the best time to swim is towards the end of summer. 1km & 2.1km swim, 4km beach run.

BRIGHTON BATHING BOX CLASSIC

Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2018 Locations: Dendy Beach. Brighton Victoria The Brighton Bathing Box Classic is an ocean swim at Dendy Beach in Brighton, VIC. There are 1.2km & 2.5km swim distances available.

Port Elliot Swim

Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2018 Locations: Horseshoe Bay. Port Elliot South Australia The Port Elliot Swim is an ocean swim at Horseshoe Bay in Port Elliot, SA. There are 900m & 1.8km swim distances available.

LEIGHTON SWIM THRU Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2018 Locations: Leighton Beach, Fremantle WA The Leighton Swim Thru at Leighton Beach, Fremantle WA, is organised by Fremantle SLSC and offers 1.6km & 3.2km ocean swims in point to point course formats. The event is a part of the SLSWA Ocean Swim Series.

Boat Harbour Beach swim Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2018 Locations: Boat Harbour BeachBoat Harbour Beach TAS The Boat Harbour Beach swim is an ocean swim at Boat Harbour Beach, TAS. There are 500m & 1.5km swim distances available.

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“Love Mercy seeks to empower communities in northern Uganda to overcome poverty after decades of civil war�

Olympians Julius Achon and Eloise Wellings running together in Uganda. Read more on page 18. For more information head to their website: lovemercyfoundation.org

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Photo credit: meystphoto.com

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NOW PLACES ARE LIMITED

HERE AT TRAVEL PLAY LIVE WE LOVE TO EXPLORE ALL THE GREAT OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER.

TPL TRAVEL.

Immerse yourself in local cultures, experiences and discover the joy of adventure in these carefully crafted ‘women only’ group tours you will remember for a lifetime. Don’t let your age, size, fitness level or skill stop you from discovering the power of travel. We aim to bring you unique travelling experiences with a touch of Travel Play Live sparkle.

Head to our website and discover you next adventure: www.travelplaylive.com.au/travel

Travel Play Live magazine www.travelplaylive.com.au

2018-2019

CALENDAR {Travel Play Live}

M A Y

&

A U G U S T

S E P T E M B E R

PERU

HOSTED BY OUR EDITOR AMY HEAGUE. 8TH SEP – 22ND SEP 2018 ( & 1 7 T H M AY - 3 1 M AY 2 0 1 9 )

Larapinta, Australia.

1 5 T H M AY – 2 1 S T M AY 2 0 1 8 & 2 N D A U G - 8 T H A U G 2 0 1 8

Activity: Trekking Grade: Moderate (Active Walker) Price: $2890.00* AUD Duration: 7 Days The Larapinta Trail is one of the top 5 walks in Australia. Walking the high ridgelines of the West MacDonnell Ranges gain a rare perspective of vast flood plains, the razorback rocky outcrops and sheer scale of this ancient land. This itinerary will appeal to the active walker. The diversity of trail stages is impressive: at times the trail descends from the ridge line into narrow canyons where sheltered pockets of delicate fern and twisted gum trees grow from the dry rivers of sand. We walk to the impressive Simpsons Gap and Stanley Chasm or climb Mt Sonder (1,380m) a perfect vantage point from where we can trace the entire West MacDonnell Range.

Activity: Trekking & Adventure Touring Grade: Introductory Price: $4890.00 *AUD Duration: 14 Days Join our Chief Editor Amy Heague on this amazing journey through Peru. This trip has been on Amy's bucket list since she was a kid and she can't wait to uncover the wonder of Peru with you. This comprehensive journey through Peru immerses us in rich Andean culture and landscapes. We’ll meet, shop and prepare traditional dishes with the local women in the Sacred Valley, learn the art of chocolate making, spend a night with the women of Huilloq and Marcacocha and do some traditional hands on weaving and take a thrilling zipline and via ferrata to get the heart pumping and the adrenaline going! We’ll then undertake the best short trek alternative to the classic Inca Trail. Our Salcantay Trek follows an ancient Inca trail located in the same region as the Inca Trail where dramatic mountain scenery is complemented with lush sub tropical jungle. We’ll then discover the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco. Our final days see us traverse the high altiplano to Puno where we’ll explore the floating islands on Lake Titicaca and spend a night with a local family.

* Trips are subject to change without notice. Please confirm start and finish times BEFORE you book your flights. See our website for details, itineraries and to book.

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A U G U S T

S E P T E M B E R

Yukon, Canada.

ICELAND.

4TH AUG – 14TH AUG 2018, & 3RD AUG - 13TH AUG 2019

2ND SEP –13TH SEP 2018

Activity: Canoeing, Day walking Grade: Introductory Price: $4990.00* AUD Duration: 11 Days On this once in a lifetime trip to the iconic Canadian wilderness, you’ll paddle the Yukon River, as well as undertake some incredible day hikes in the majestic Kluane National Park. All sorts of wildlife may be spotted along the way including the iconic Canadian beaver, otters, muskrats, and arctic grayling as well as wolves, moose, and bears. In the sky we can look out for bald eagles, falcons, and hawks. We’ll camp on the banks of the river each night and experience a true Canadian adventure. Following our hike we head to Canada’s Yukon Kluane National Park which houses the largest non‐arctic icefield in the world with the glacial valleys crowned by Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. From our base in Haine’s Junction, we’ll undertake day walks and experience the beauty of Kluane’s breathtaking mountain world

Activity: Trekking & Adventure Touring Grade: Introductory Price: $8990.00 *AUD Duration: 11 Days On this extraordinary adventure to Iceland you will hike through one of the most breathtaking volcanic landscapes on planet earth, traverse vibrant yellow rhyolite mountains, and walk over black sand deserts and past majestic canyons to lush green valleys.

You’ll bathe in geothermal baths, ice trek on glaciers, snorkel between two continental plates, explore a lava cave, meet the locals and learn about Iceland’s unique history. With a chance to explore Reykjavik, Europe’s northern most capital, as well as have an opportunity to soak in the famous geothermal pools at the Blue Lagoon, this trip is not to be missed.

N O V E M B E R / M A R C H

Nepal.

3RD NOV - 17TH NOV 2018 & 30TH MAR - 13TH APR 2019

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Activity: Trekking Grade: Moderate Price: $3490.00* AUD Duration: 14 Days This fantastic trek in the Annapurna region offers incredible views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Gain a sense of serenity as we make our way through small settlements, dense forests and incredible views of the surrounding peaks. Opportunities for sunrise wake ups to see the glow of the rising sun catching the impressive peaks of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna is sure to be a highlight. Our route really does offer a broad experience of the Annapurnas today, as we pass through small yet prosperous villages, traverse grassy ridges, pass through old growth Rhododendron forests and camp underneath some of the most awe-inspiring mountain scenery on earth. We hope you can join us on this exciting journey.

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New Year . d l r o W e h t e g n a Ch ME LB OU RN E BR IS BA NE SY DN EY PE RT H

100KM AND 50KM | 23–25 MAR 2018 THE DAND ENON GS AND YARR A RANG ES

100KM AND 55KM | 22–24 JUNE 2018 MOUN T GLORI OUS TO MOUN T COOT- THA

100KM AND 50KM | 24–26 AUG 2018 HAWK ESBU RY TO THE HARB OUR

100KM AND 50KM | 21–23 SEPT THE PERTH HILLS

Photo: Keith Parsons/OxfamAUS

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Canada WITH GLOWING HEARTS WE SEE THEE RISE. S T ORY BY C A RO RYA N - L O T SA F R E S H A I R

Photo Credit Andrew Penner

C A N A D A ' S

Moving forward, the heavy silence was broken by unfamiliar sounds. A high pitched natural jackhammer startled me. Eyebrows raised, my figurehead spun around to the guide.

“Woodpecker”.

I turn back to silence and the rhythm of the paddle pulling us across towards the island.

I haven’t been in a canoe since primary school, when games of ‘Pirates’ on school camp, were more about stealing people from other boats, than stealing away to silence. More about scoring points, than scoring a great campsite under the spruce, cypress and maple trees.

I feel eyes drilling into my back, and it's not of my guide. Around the shoreline, graceful deer watch us gliding along, as they've done for centuries.

They're safe tonight from a hunter's sights, even though they're not alone. With the eyes of a calm watcher, I can make out the hides nuzzled down

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amongst the pines. These shelters, however, are not designed to hide weapons of the hunt but hide Canadians from the stressors of life. Another long-held tradition of North American life, the Lake House.

In New Zealand they're a bach or a crib; to Aussies, the beach house is a long-held sand-stuck-in-thecossie childhood memory; but out here in the Canadian Provinces, the Lake House retains the scent of winters burning through the precious deposits from the wood bank. But rather than retreating into hibernation, snowshoeing, skiing and sledding, alongside summers of jetty jumping, paddling, mountain biking and hiking, mark these as active escapes.

With arms more used to sea kayaking and the smooth, swaying balance that two blades bring, my shoulders are starting to ache as I finally get the hang of the single paddle not scraping the side. But I'm comforted by the knowledge that I'm moving

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Photo Credit Andrew Penner

forward in an ancient way, via a form that runs deep within the veins of Canadians. If football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars were translated to Canuk, it would be, ‘hockey, poutine, deer and canoes.'

If the humble canoe ties Canadians together in a traditional way, then the route that I'm taking joins them across 24,000 km. It's a thru-hike like no other and is known as The Great Trail.

On presentation, the concept of being able to create a single trail, to link Canada from coast to coast, to coast; linking the three oceans of The Pacific, The Atlantic and the Beaufort (Arctic), seems not only an impossible dream but an improbable reality.

The sheer vastness of the trail begs the question if anyone has actually completed the full length. That honour goes to 24-year-old Sarah Jackson. Inspired by

her Uncle's journey on the Camino de Santiago, she took two years to complete the challenge.

Her journey is a testament to the growing interest all around the world for long, pilgrimage style journeys.

"Knowing you only have to put one foot in front of the other puts things into perspective," says Sarah.

Apart from traversing landforms as wild and dramatic as Canada can throw at us, like The Rocky Mountains, the 1,660 km long MacKenzie River, the windswept prairies of Manitoba, remote outposts of Saskatchewan, countless lakes and waterways of Ontario, urban landscapes and cities, backcountry ski and snowmobile routes and along the best railtrails the country has to offer, it's the immense trail of planning, permissions, partnerships, politics and determination that have seen this 1992 dream, finally

Photo Credit Cedric and Magee

Photo Credit Brian Wagner

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become a reality in 2017.

Given the task of creating events to celebrate Canada's 125th Anniversary in 1992, Bill Pratt and Pierre Cameaux, sparked an idea that would take 25 years to realise and instead, celebrate the country's 150th. Their plan was to stitch together the patchwork of existing hiking trails, bike trails and canoe routes to rediscover Canada at a slow pace, in one continuous route. It was designed to be a campaign that all Canadians could get behind.

"The idea was captivating in the heart of Canadians," enthuses Caleigh Christie, from the South Whiteshell Trail Association. "As soon as we heard about it, we took the ball and ran with it. Across the country, there were pockets of people like me, my mum and other people in our community who said, ‘Yeah! We want to be a part of this project'."

"I love trails. I love hiking them, and I love biking them. So to be a part of a Trail Association and be involved with building and promoting them feels natural."

From Caleigh's remote outpost in southeast Manitoba, where she runs her family's tiny ski slopes and lake cabins on Falcon Lake, she was able to be a part of something that connected not only the trails of Canada but connected her to other volunteers just like her all across the country.

“Ultimately, it was built by all those small communities, connecting the dots, all across the country. That’s what made it what it is today.”

leaf is that Canadians are nice. Really nice. In many ways, some not so great (like our treatment of First Nations Peoples), there are many similarities between Australians and Canadians that have nothing to do with the Queen.

As local after local smothers me in nice, I start to wonder if it has something to do with what they see out their windows. From the unwordable Rockies to the west, jagged and dramatic knives of rocks, pushing skyward, to the bedrock of hiking and climbing adventures, pointing to the Yukon in the north.

Or to sweep east across the prairies, to big sky country - the heart of Canada - where the harsh seasonal contrasts in temperature from 26c in summer to -20c in winter melt and form the landscape and the people.

There are a resilience and humour born of constant change and humility and strength from living subject to the seasons.

Geographically expansive, we share a diversity of landscape, vast tracts of seemingly uninhabitable land and a colourful colonial history with its ups and downs. Yet it is who we are as people - our qualities - sense of humour, adaptability, volunteer and community spirit and our ‘no worries' mentality, that standout.

Without these qualities, I don’t believe The Great Trail (Le Grand Sentier) would be what it is today.

In many ways, it’s a trail of the people.

If you need any insight into understanding how Canada has achieved this epic feat, you need to understand who they are.

Caleigh continues, “You really get to know a place by walking on the trails there. Meeting people in the towns as you walk through, that’s really what connects people.”

The common take away from spending time in the land of the maple

The sheer genius of the not-for-profit organisation behind it (The Trans-

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C A N A D A ' S

Photo Credit Caro Ryan

G R E A T

T R A I L

Photo Credit Brian Wagner

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Photo Credit Al Skucas

In building The Great Trail, they’ve not only created a way to traverse Canada, learning about its history, geography, politics and First Nations Peoples, but they’ve created community. A community as diverse as the means for travelling through it.

Photo Credit Laval Poulin

Canada Trail Association) is that it has facilitated 477 volunteer community trail organisations (like the one Caleigh belongs to), to embrace the big vision of joining their separate networks together.

Although receiving generous funding from both the Canadian government, sponsors and private donors, The Trail doesn't rely on government organisations or parks authorities to do the

work. It is a grass-roots inspired cooperative of individuals, passionate about helping people connect with nature and the outdoors in their local area.

"There are so many skill sets that make it flourish.

Some people in our group focus on the building aspect and want to physically pick up the dirt and move it around actually making the trail, and others are focussed on connecting with the

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audience and promoting it, and for others, it's the admin, which is huge."

In building The Great Trail, they’ve not only created a way to traverse Canada, learning about its history, geography, politics and First Nations Peoples, but they’ve created community.A community as diverse as the means for travelling through it.

"I'm comforted by the knowledge that I'm moving forward in an ancient way, via a form that runs deep within the veins of Canadians".

Photo Credit Cedric and Magee

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TOURING APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2018

PRESENTED BY

A PROGRAM OF

A film festival that captures the spirit of mountain adventure featuring a collection of films from around the globe.

Larry Shiu, Cascade Mountain, Banff National Park © John Price

VIEW TRAILER & BOOK TICKETS www.banffaustralia.com.au TOUR PARTNERS

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And while today, I find myself paddling across a section of the Whiteshell Provincial Park by canoe, in a few days time I will be cycling the part of The Trail on Prince Edward Island (PEI), called The Confederation Trail. No longer contained within a boat, the wind will once again be in my face as I pedal (not paddle) along the bed of the former Prince Edward Island railway and the first section of The Great Trail project to be completed.

Photo Credit@peter.f.k

With the extreme contrast of seasons in Canada, timing is paramount. Although a t-shirt in August is a perfect choice, this section of the Trail is handed over to the sole domain of snowmobiles in winter. The low-lying and relatively flat terrain of PEI also makes this section of the trail ideal for wheelchairs and others with mobility issues.

As the southern hemisphere is flying headlong into summer, spare a thought for Melanie Vogel, a 42-year-old German woman, who is currently attempting the full trail. She kicked off from Newfoundland in May 2017 and isn't planning on finishing at Vancouver Island until 2019. Not a traditional hiker, just a lover of travel and all the experiences that brings, she says, "I just wanted to be. To take my love of the road to the next level. I feel a lot of people have disconnected from nature and I want to encourage them to get outdoors."

As I crane my neck to enquire again about an unfamiliar song, reverberating across the water, my guide responds, “Lune”.

I return to the gentle, nudging rhythm of paddle and canoe and for a moment, I imagine pulling myself across Canada, held within the Great Trail’s embrace.

FACTS ABOUT THE GREAT TRAIL 24,000 km long Connecting 15,000 communities 25 years in the making

Photo Credit Caro Ryan

Links three oceans (The Atlantic, The Pacific and The Arctic) 75% on land 25% on water Approx 8,500 km is beside roads or shoulders The Trail is within 30 minutes of 80% of Canadians Connects 15,055 communities and all Canadians from coast to coast to coast Owned and maintained by 477 volunteer Trail groups over 432 individual trail sections.

Modes of access: hiking, cycling, paddling, horse riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Funding C$225m, 46% government and 64% private donations and sponsorship The first person to have completed the whole Trail was Sarah Jackson in 2017.

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The of the

W O R L D

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I cast my pebble onto the shore of Eternity.

To be washed by the Ocean of time.

It has shape, form, and substance.

It is me.

One day I will be no more.

But my pebble will remain here.

On the shore of eternity.

Mute witness from the aeons.

That today I came and stood At the edge of the world.

BRIAN INDER

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The of the

W O R L D WRITTEN BY ALICE KING PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN CIRULIS

If you pictured the edge of the world, it would probably look something like this. Wind lashed brown waves, crashing over the rocky shore. The coastline littered with debris, tangled tree trunks and layers of yellowy sea foam, cast up like the corpses of broken-hearted mermaids.

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As I watch, the foam breaks under the wind's gaze clumps racing wildly down the beach until they form new piles, or dissipate altogether. We are, in fact, at The Edge of The World…aka Arthur River, Tasmania. It’s the start of our long-anticipated adventure holiday, and I’m so tired I could vomit.

I

want to FEEL this wild landscape, my heart pounding to the crashing of the waves, veins thrilling with the dance of the wind, skin prickling and lungs filling. Instead, I am numb, head still filled with undone work, eyes screen-glazed and limbs sluggish.

It starts to rain, heavy, freezing drops quickly picking up momentum. We climb back into the warmth of the van, and head to the campsite to set up in the last light of the day.

It’s all I can manage to eat and brush my teeth, before sleep swallows me whole.

I can hear hail outside. Then the alarm goes, far too early. I try to dress without leaving my sleeping bag, but eventually, the game is up.

Outside, the world is soaked in golden syrup light, with that particular intensity which only comes after a storm. The campsite itself is a delight, gnarled coastal trees and mossy grass, with spring flowers peeking through.

The brief moment of serenity is soon over, and we’re rattling along the one road out of town.

I hurriedly send a final few messages in the last gasp of phone reception.

We have the taciturn Nigel with us, a local man who will drop us off 50km upriver, then drive our van back while we paddle down the river,

an overnight trip. Our mountain bikes spark a brief conversation – he used to be a bicycle mechanic – but that soon lapses, leaving us to the jostling of the van and our thoughts.

by jerking and wriggling the raft until I slide off it…and into the maelstrom once more.

Several more panicked shrieks later, and I’m through, heart beating wildly.

Nigel watches silently as we pump up our packrafts, stuff our dry bags, and check and double check our gear. As soon he disappears into our van, the rain starts again.

It's just us and the river now.

My breathing calms as the river flattens, and I start to find something of a rhythm. Walls of dense bush surround us on either side, tree ferns mingling with beech and eucalyptus in myriad shades of green.

As I stand on the riverside holding an armful of blow-up plastic and looking at the rain-swollen rapids, I feel less than enthused. The fact that I haven't been paddling for at least a year suddenly looms large. I'm not ready for this.

But finally, there's no putting it off any longer.

I clamber into my raft, seal the waterproofing skirt, and – after a deep breath - release my death grip on the bank. There's no chance to get a feel for the boat before I'm in the thick of it, picking up more and more speed, and then bobbing down the rapids like a wine cork.

It’s so peaceful, and yet my mind is like a monkey, bouncing around from side to side and rattling the bars on its cage. Fed on a diet of daily distractions and busy, busy, busy, it doesn’t know what to do with a day of nothing but paddling stretching out ahead.

My breath is frantic, and I feel entirely out of control. All I can see is froth and fury, river raging around me. When I jolt to a halt on a rock, my lungs open in a scream of full-blown, primal terror.

I’m still stuck, so I take a few deep breaths.

There’s only one way off the rock, and that’s

"Hey! You! So this is it, you're on holiday.

Are you having fun yet? You should be having fun, should be enjoying every moment.

Otherwise, you're wasting it, you know.

Oh hey, did you remember to email Cheryl about that thing? Wait, why are you thinking about work? Stop thinking about it. STOP THINKING”.

I try to relax, to count my paddle strokes instead. I know there’s always a transition to go through before I can let go of the hectic pace of city life and settle into the quieter rhythms of the outdoors.

I’m still stuck, so I take a few deep breaths. There’s only one way off the rock, and that’s by jerking and wriggling the raft until I slide off it…and into the maelstrom once more. Several more panicked shrieks later, and I’m through, heart beating wildly.

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Hours or possibly years pass, before I start to hear the ocean as a distant roar, and see pacific gulls wheel overhead. The river gradually widens to a brackish plain; forest giving way to tea tree and waterlogged reeds. It seems we will never be there until suddenly we are.

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The of the

W O R L D

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Slowly the mental chatter starts to dim, and I begin to notice the sound of water rushing beneath me, the play of light and shadow from clouds passing overhead. Yellow laden wattle sway on the riverbank and the cries of cockatoos echo in the distance.

By the time we set off again after lunch, my thoughts have stilled, content to be carried by the river. A muddy patch of riverbank is our home for the night. Without a shred of dry ground in sight, we carefully shuffle piles of dry, dampish and wet gear, trying to resist everything becoming unavoidably soaked for as long as possible.

Adventure camping elevates the humblest of foods - a Cup of Soup has never tasted so good! Sans shoes for exploring (we're travelling light) and starting to shiver, we crawl into bed at 5 pm and huddle for warmth, listening to the river burbling by.

Come morning the tent is bowed with beads of water, hovering inches menacingly from my face. I wrap my hands around a Jetboil of earl grey tea made with river water and milk powder – luxury. Breakfast is muesli out of a snaplock bag, and I quip “If this muesli told me a joke, I would call it a-muesli”, to Ben’s groans.

Camp packed down, I climb into my raft on the reedy bank and push off, sliding neatly down into the water - a far cry from yesterday's shaky start. The current sweeps me up, and I am moving down the river once more.

As the Franklin joins the Arthur, the river swells, becoming full bellied and sluggish. And the landscape takes my breath away. The forest is layered lushness, full of mysterious shadows.

White, bare twisted branches rise out of verdant tree ferns; yellow wattle bursts with blossom; the banks beckon with hidden nooks and crannies. A wedgetail eagle glowers majestically from his tree-top perch, supremely unphased by our presence.

It’s a heart-hurting intensity of beauty some part of me has been craving without knowing. I wonder if it’s the landscape that has changed so much since yesterday, or my mind that has finally stilled enough to feel it.

Unfortunately, I soon discover I know about two lines of any one song, relying on ‘la la la la dum dee’ for the rest.

My arms are limp noodles now, flopping back and forth across the raft.

I paddle ten strokes, rest for ten, repeat. Am I even moving? Even my singing has puttered to a halt.

Hours or possibly years pass, before I start to hear the ocean as a distant roar, and see pacific gulls wheel overhead. The river gradually widens to a brackish plain; forest giving way to tea tree and waterlogged reeds.

It seems we will never be there until suddenly we are. Rafts scraped up on shore, wobbly-kneed, stripping off our wetsuits in a weak patch of sunshine.

Dry clothes, hot coffee and a freshly cooked omelette, are almost overwhelmingly luxurious after the last two days.

As I lick my plate, I remember that we’re back in phone reception now.

But funnily enough, it doesn't seem to matter anymore. We scramble to pack up as it starts to rain again. The ‘real world' can wait.

Hours or possibly years pass, before I start to hear the ocean as a distant roar, and see pacific gulls wheel overhead. The river gradually widens to a brackish plain; forest giving way to tea tree and waterlogged reeds. It seems we will never be there until suddenly we are. Rafts scraped up on shore, wobblykneed, stripping off our wetsuits in a weak patch of sunshine.

The forest is layered lushness, full of mysterious shadows. White, bare twisted branches rise out of verdant tree ferns; yellow wattle bursts with blossom; the banks beckon with hidden nooks and crannies.

Some of this land is protected, but some is logging approved. It’s impossible to comprehend that anyone could look at this and see profit instead of something worth protecting at all costs.

We pass a tiny sandy cove with a rickety wooden table. Perfect timing for a tea break. When we go to push on again, Ben's raft is missing, quietly slipped free while we weren't looking - along with most of our gear.

Heart pounding, I jump into my boat on an urgent rescue mission.

Luckily the runaway raft has fetched up not too far along the bank, amazingly with the paddle still resting in it. I prod it back upstream like a dolphin herding its young, light headed with relief.

The paddling is slower going now that the river is broader and more exposed. As I battle into the wind, I sing at the top of my lungs, utterly unselfconscious here in the middle of nowhere. It's a primal experience, just us making our way against the elements.

I think of Vikings rowing their way across the ocean and the songs they would have chanted to mark the rhythm - how essential they would have been to keep from going crazy.

Dry clothes, hot coffee and a freshly cooked omelette, are almost overwhelmingly luxurious after the last two days.

As I lick my plate, I remember that we’re back in phone reception now. But funnily enough, it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

We scramble to pack up as it starts to rain again. The ‘real world' can wait.

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U G A N D A

GORILLA Trekking My first sighting of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was utterly shocking. It was gone. There was nothing but denuded carved out mountains being used for agriculture. I wanted to cry. Then I felt guilty because the agriculture here is not for multinational consortiums; it’s just for the local people who barely grow enough to sustain themselves.

A

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE LAWFORD

s my heart grappled with this dilemma, we came to the next ridge and suddenly, there was the forest. It was as if someone had drawn a vertical line straight up the mountain and said “ here and no further”.

That is how I hope it will stay and the gorilla trekking program is the best way to ensure this.

When you arrive at the meeting point, you are allocated to a trekking group of 6-8 people. Then each group is assigned to a particular gorilla family. The guides are in constant radio contact with the trackers who are up at dawn and head for the gorilla’s nest from the previous night and then follow the droppings and broken foliage to locate the family group. There are four family groups in this forest, each with about 10-14 members.

During the briefing, we were told that all the money raised through trekking permits goes to national parks throughout Uganda but twenty percent stays here in Bwindi to help the local community. The more we support the local people, the less they need to clear the land for subsistence agriculture. Tourism also gives them a captive audience for village cultural tours and local art. Our guide also encouraged us to hire porters from the local village, even if we didn’t really need them. Looking over at the very large group of hopeful young men waiting to see how many porters would be needed today, it was hard to say no. I agreed to hire a porter and at some point he must have decided to hire another on my behalf. I ended up with an entourage of two smiling boys, both eager to take my hand and help me over the smallest mound. I kept telling them I was fine and they kept looking rejected.

The first day. After three hours of gruelling vertical climbing, we were still in the village! I was relatively fit for a woman my age, post-surgery but it was getting mighty hard and the altitude and pace kept me breathless the whole day. Also, I had been warned it can get very cold on the mountain, and had dressed accordingly, but it was actually boiling hot and within minutes I was drenched in sweat and heat fatigue became the main challenge. Finally we entered the forest and what a relief it was to be in this glorious, dark maze of trees, vines and moss. It is hard to describe how intensely green the forest is. The canopy reaches up and obliterates the sky. You are surrounded, engulfed and bombarded by endless green. I couldn’t help thinking “ what a wonderful place for a gorilla to live ”. True to its name, after an hour walking on a thin track, the forest became impenetrable and our guides started hacking through with a machete as we negotiated giant thorns and strangler vines. It

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seemed as soon as an opening was created for us to pass through, the forest came to life and swiftly closed the gap by draping a new network of vines and branches across the aperture. Luckily I had brought my thickest gardening gloves! My friends had brought fingerless kayaking gloves (not recommended).

Hiking straight up for hours is always strenuous and when you’re very short, it seems even steeper. I confess there were times my lovely porters positioned themselves ahead and behind me so that one could pull me up by the arm while the other pushed me up by the bum. I assure you this only happened when the gradient was so steep and the next step up was so high, there was no other way. I have heard other people talk about how easy their gorilla trek was. All I can say is they didn’t do this one! At the end of the day, our guide told us that people regularly get stretchered out. In the briefing video there was a woman who looked about seventy doing the trek. This was obviously promoting the idea that anyone can do the trekking. After I finished the trek, I couldn’t help thinking that making that video must have been the last thing that seventy-year-old woman ever did!

After about four hours of difficult vertical trekking, we came upon our gorillas. I had been so focused on staying sure-footed and thorn-free, suddenly coming upon gorillas hidden deep within this remote and dense landscape caused an immediate surge of pre-photography adrenaline. Our family was now in sight, positioned next to an ant nest, veiled by a vast dark network of leaves, branches and vines; the perfect spot for a gorilla snack and nap. We nestled in behind a curtain of tangled vines and struggled for a vantage point of gorillas nestled behind their own tangle of vines. This was not the sunny open field where Richard Attenborough had filmed his famous gorilla encounter. It was about now I was wondering why we had come to the Ugandan side of the mountain and not the less formidable Rwandan side.

These gorilla families are habituated to human contact and disregarded our presence as long as we stayed outside their tolerance distance. What a privilege to observe their natural behaviour and interactions. Many of the mums were sleeping together in a huddle of shiny black furry limbs, all draped over one another. Some sleepily breast fed their babies or scratched themselves with the vacant expression of sleep-deprivation and maternal exhaustion. The infants, too full of energy for a nap, played together, swinging on vines and grabbing at each other. This quiet gentle scene was frequently interrupted by a squeaky scream when a little tail was pulled or a little hand was bitten as it stole fruit out of a little

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the family yesterday. They also moved around more, so there was more scrambling to get a view. At one point, my foot slipped and I slid forward. The gorillas seemed to stop to see what had caused the slight commotion and then, unperturbed, resumed their conversations. Today, there were gorillas concealed in depressions in the forest floor, behind vine-covered boulders and in small caves created by a dense mass of foliage. It was a completely different scene from the day before. One mother breast- fed her baby directly beneath us as we squatted down behind the small ridge above her.

mouth. One young little male hung off a vine with one arm and demonstrated his emerging virility by beating his little chest, comically almost falling off the vine. His father, the huge silverback, stayed well behind the family group, overseeing everything.

The answer to the epidemic is right out our front doors. Literally!

Put down your phone, go outside and seek an adventure, experience some adrenaline, log off and live a little bit!

The odd ray of sunshine cut through the forest, putting a sparkle in a gorilla eye or adding a dark purple sheen to their black fur. Sometimes it was like a spotlight, drawing attention to those extraordinarily human-like hands and feet, or a wonderful facial expression. One female, with a glint in her eyes and a gentle smile on her face, seemed to be the personification of happiness. The entwined sleeping bodies of the family almost concealed behind the forest’s elaborate camouflage net, produced an incredibly primal scene and it was easy to imagine that nothing had changed in this forest since prehistoric times.

Having spent hours reaching the family, we now had to leave them but two armed guards stayed behind. If we could find them, so could poachers. Now that their location was known, they needed protection.

Day 2. This was a walk in the park compared to yesterday. Well, at first.

Then trackers radioed in to say the family (a different one today) had headed straight up the mountain so it was time for the machete again and hours of vertical climbing. Doggedly, we reached the summit of the ridge and then the trackers radioed in to say the family had turned around and headed down into the valley again! We liked the idea that these gorillas were not going to make it easy for us. After all, it doesn’t seem right to just be able to step into the forest and see mountain gorillas. You have to work for your gorillas.

When we reached the family group, they were more spread out than

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In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, expect strenuous uphill trekking and expect to trek for 6-7 hours in total.

Depending on where your gorilla family is, or how much they move about, you could be in for a shorter or longer trek. I would recommend doing two treks to double your chances of a really amazing gorilla encounter. Bring lots of water and layers of clothes.

Most importantly, buy your trekking permit well in advance of your trip, as the number of permits is very limited. Certainly don’t turn up thinking you can buy a permit on the spot. I bought my permit a year in advance. If you are not up for a difficult trek, the Rwandan option is much easier but three times the price.

Photographically, I kept things to a minimum. Even though you could get porters to carry a lot of gear, it really isn’t necessary.

You certainly won’t need a big, heavy zoom lens. Given how dark the forest is and how close you can get to the gorillas, I chose to take my Canon 70-200mm lens with an f stop of 2.8, making it a fast lens ideal for low light conditions. My camera body was a Canon 7D Mark II which is lightweight, can take 10 frames per second (for those infants swinging from vines) and allows a high ISO to provide more light sensitivity, while minimizing graininess.

Once you reach the gorillas, you have just one hour with them, so all photographic decisions need to be made well in advance and you don’t want to waste time or make a too much noise fiddling with lots of gear.

You also want to be free to enjoy the moment. I went in with a clear understanding of the habitat and light conditions, and with a wish list of the kinds of shots I wanted. Of course, all that planning and research has to be balanced with a flexible attitude that is ready for whatever luck and nature throw at you. Also be prepared for rain. Taking dry bags for your camera is essential. If you like photographic challenges, Bwindi is for you! While the Rwandan habitat is more open, giving you a much greater chance of a clear shot, I liked capturing images that told a story about the relationship between the gorillas and the forest. The difficulty of the trekking also connects you to the agility and strength of these magnificent animals and the complexity of the forest ecosystem.

Stay in the local area of Buhoma and inject lots of money into the local economy. My husband and I bought a 4-foot wooden sculpture of a Ugandan waterbuck. It was brought to the lodge late at night because

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the shop owner spent the evening making a wooden crate to transport it in. Our wonderful hotel manager, Andrew, stood outside in the pitch dark with a huge knife, cutting up an old mattress to use as stuffing to secure George (we named the waterbuck after our driver). We got George as far as Entebbe. It was a Sunday and the DHL office was open but the staff consisted of one teenage girl who had no idea how to mail a package. At our next hotel, the equally wonderful manager, Patrick, very kindly offered to mail George for us the next day. Sadly, like many migrating animals, George did not emerge unscathed from his great journey. By the time he reached our shores he had a broken leg but we are confident that with some tender care he will be restored to his former glory. He is a constant reminder of the Ugandan people who were so friendly and helpful. I will always remember their huge smiles and gentle melodic voices.

While in Uganda, check out the Chimpanzee Habituation Program in Kabale Forest and the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you fly in or out of Entebbe, be sure to visit Mabamba Swamp, which has a staggering number and variety of birds, including a very small number of the elusive prehistoric-looking Shoebill.

To see more gorillas, visit www.wild-photography.com.au

The answer to the epidemic is right out our front doors. Literally!

Put down your phone, go outside and seek an adventure, experience some adrenaline, log off and live a little bit!

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we're all in this

TOGETHER WRITTEN BY SPUTNIK

I should be more embarrassed than I am to admit this, but I remember a time, in the not so distant past, when I was confused about why one of my friends started a women’s only trail running group. “Wasn’t our trail running group already inclusive of all people?”, I wondered.

We weren’t elitist, or sexist, or discriminatory in any way, (that as a white male I was aware of), so I didn’t understand why they felt like they needed to have their own group.

And more so, by doing that, was it somehow promoting ‘segregation’?

Was it solving one problem, but perpetuating the myth that it was even necessary in the first place? Not to mention the old chestnut, “I bet if us guys did a men’s only running group it would be labelled sexist!”. Yep, I’m sorry to say that one may have escaped my lips at some point as well.

fly north for winter. Fish know where they have to go to spawn. But blokes inevitably know jack shit about some of these gender issues. And to be fair, how could they? Time and time again, I hear women say “well, we shouldn’t have to explain it to you” which is fair enough but doesn’t do an awful lot to make things better. Because, like it or not, we’re all in this together. We’re all adventurers, running, hiking, jumping, riding, climbing, and paddling our way through life as best we can. And yes, we all stumble from time to time too. Literally and figuratively.

I’m happy to report I’ve refined my thinking somewhat since then, and I’m totally fine with things like women’s only running groups. And magazines. Not that anyone ever needed my approval to do such a thing anyway. Whether I or any other man for that matter, is fine with something is completely beside the point. What’s not beside the point, is this: sometimes, even decent blokes don’t necessarily bring an inbuilt, genetic understanding of these issues.

Women do because they live with the shit men* dish out day after day, year after year, for their entire lives. But men have it different, so even the ones who try and do the right thing, who want to do the right thing, don’t always have an automatic understanding of what ‘the right thing’ actually is.

As much as I’m all for a good fist pump and a bit of “girl power”, (no offence intended with the use of the word ‘girl’), the thing about the dynamic between genders, is it’s a relationship.

Two parts, for better or for worse, interacting. Working together, or against each other, as the case may be. It requires both sides to come to the table. Women can demand all the things they deserve, and be as strong and compelling as they want, but inevitably it’s us blokes that need to get the message, know better, and do better. And you know how we’re going to work that out? I’ll give you a clue: It won’t be through osmosis.

And if we don’t know what we don’t know, some blokes, even the half decent ones, for a variety of reasons, simply won’t know.

And that’s where you come in.

So it’d be cool if you could cut us some slack at times. Not let us get away with the bad stuff. Obviously.

You see, we all know some animals just know stuff. Birds know they have to

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And not because we deserve any slack at all when we get it wrong, but just because it would be really helpful and useful, for everyone, if you did.

Should it be your job to mother us and spoon feed us this stuff? Of course not. But if not you, who? If not now, when? For change to happen, people need to give things a gentle, and sometimes not so gentle, shove in the right direction. Just please know, there are a bunch of mostly pretty decent blokes out there, who want to be on your side. Who want to know better.

Who want to do better. But they can’t do it without you. Seriously.

And before you jump on social media to ask who the heck I think I am telling women what they should or shouldn’t do, please know, I’m not a man demanding you do any of this. I’m just a fellow adventure lover, who happens to have been born into a man’s body, making a few suggestions based on what I’ve seen, and experienced, out there in the big wide world. Because, whether it suits us or not, change can’t happen with only one side participating. It takes a joint effort.

Because at the end of the day, we’re all in this together. * I use the term ‘men’ generically, which I want to acknowledge is neither accurate nor fair nor constructive. Just as not all women are anything in particular, neither are all men. So to use generalisations can be counterproductive.

Sexism & Racism

through the eyes of the younger generation When a group of Year 6 students approached us for an interview to discuss sexism and racism in sport and adventure, you bet we said yes! We were honoured to speak with several students who were preparing for their end of year project and were delighted with their passion for equality in all areas of life. How could we say no to publishing their findings. If this is the calibre of future leaders, we are in good hands.

WRITTEN BY RYWIN NOCK, JACKSON CROUCH, HARPER STRACHAN AND AVA POWELL HUNTER VALLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ASHTONFIELD, NSW

You’re an ape, you throw like a girl, go back to your country, you can’t play you’re a girl, you’ve lost to a girl! These are some comments we hear in our everyday lives.

We are a group of Year 6 students from Hunter Valley Grammar School and we would like to take action to promote a positive view of race and gender in sport.

Our passion for this topic was inspired as each of us has seen or experienced sexism or racism, in some form, during sporting events. We developed an inquiry into the prevention of racism and sexism in sports.

Our main focus was the impact of sexism and racism on physical performance and peoples involvement in sport.

As 11 and 12-year old students, we have experienced examples of racism and sexism in sport. We are disappointed in what we have seen or experienced. “I have been experiencing sexism first hand with my sister, I like to ride motorcycles and my sister does too, my sister hasn’t been riding lately due to comments she has heard,” Jackson. “My sister hears remarks

such as: don’t ride like a girl and you’re a girl man up! She is offended that people are actually being sexist towards girls and acting like girls are horrible at riding dirt bikes. The message I have been trying to get through is don’t be sexist towards girls or boys”.

Some examples of sexism in sport that we have discovered in our inquiry are: the differences in uniforms between male and female sports, rights to training and playing facilities and access to pay and sponsorship. On a personal level, “I’ve spent my whole life playing soccer in an all-boys team and I constantly got told to leave and join a girls team. Thankfully there are girl soccer teams that accept you no matter what skill level,” Ava. Racism is discrimination against someone's race or beliefs. Racism can be present anywhere, for example in sport, work places and even at schools. Take Adam Goodes and Eddie Betts for example. They both got called an “ape” whilst they were

Our passion for this topic was inspired as each of us has seen or experienced sexism or racism, in some form, during sporting events.

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playing AFL, not long after getting called an “ape” Adam Goodes left the AFL due to the racist comments that he has faced.

Eddie Betts however is still playing and choosing to ignore all the racism. A lot of sport stars are in the firing line for hurtful or racist comments as most of them are public figures. Racism can be a problem in all neighborhoods, all states and all countries so take a stand and stop racism now.

We were lucky enough to interview the editors of Travel Play Live as primary sources for our inquiry. We found their information helpful and they gave us more material than we could ask for. They gave us a new perspective to consider.

We strongly agree with their mission to promote and empower people of any gender or race to participate in sport.

Racism and sexism has no belonging in sport so let’s work together to stop the racist and sexist comments and to make sport enjoyable without experiencing discrimination.

for your girls

Recommended

Of course Travel Play Live tops the reading list, but there are some other great resources out there for our young women and girls that don’t buy into all the noise, hype and gossip and foster a heart for adventure.

Fuels' Strike Workshops WITH KY FURNEAUX

Ky Furneaux - Hollywood Stunt Artist, Survival Expert and Author of 'Girl's Own Survival Guide' is in Brisbane for FUEL's Strike Workshops.

With an astounding life of experience behind her, Ky works with teen girls to identify what direction they are passionate about, how to overcome hesitation and fear, and GO FOR IT! Develop your own #gameplan to take on a goal, ambition or dream - with a particular focus on how to deal with the unexpected.

You don't need to be an enthusiast of the wild (or of throwing skilfully placed punches!) - Ky takes the skills and attributes developed over her incredible career working as a key stunt

choreographer and trainer on over 50 films, including The Avengers, Thor and X-Men, as well as critical techniques learnt to survive in the wild, and applies them to all areas of life - such as: • Thinking Positive • Being Prepared • Being Adaptable • Educating Yourself Work through her step by step guide to attacking challenges head on (plus if you're super nice to her she'll share a few juicy on-set stories) When: 10 & 11th February 2018 Where: Brisbane Powerhouse New Farm, QLD 4005 Info: www.girlshapedflames.com/eventcalendar/

"We want to bring teen girls (in Years 7 – 12) experiences that will challenge how you think, what you strive for, and why you want it. If the prospect of this excites you, then welcome!

You’re one of our Girl Shaped Flames and are ready to be fired up through our hands-on workshops, interactive talks, immersive camps and one-onone mentoring sessions.

Fuel - Girl Shaped Flames.

Women's Adventure Grant UNDER 18'S

Angie Scarth-Johnson.

Photo courtesy of North Face Australia

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We have $5000 up for grabs for one luck Young Australian Adventureress. We are looking for young women adventurers under 18 years of age who are pioneering adventure and paving the way for their generation to embrace the epic heart of adventure.

Within this category, the funding may also be used to participate in skills training or competing at a national or international level in outdoor pursuits. If that is you or someone you know, make sure they apply over on our website www.travelplaylive.com.au/grants-apply

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OYSTERS FROM THE WILD Discovering, gathering, shucking, preparing and devouring our own oysters from Tasmania’s pristine waters off the coast of Bruny Island, will always remain a happy memory. In my experience you are either an oyster fan or you are not, and for those who enjoy oysters you’ll love these combinations.

SERVES 4 GF

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

Natural: Place 8 freshly shucked

Kilpatrick: Preheat grill on medium-

24 oysters, opened on the half shell

oysters on a serving plate. Serve with

high heat. Place a bed of rock salt

Natural:

lemon wedges and pepper to taste.

on a baking tray or heatproof plate.

lemon wedges

Ginger and Shallot : Combine all the

Arrange 8 oysters on rock salt. Sprinkle

freshly ground black pepper, to serve

ingredients to make the dressing.

Worcestershire sauce over oysters.

Ginger and Shallot:

Place 8 freshly shucked oysters on a

Top evenly with the garlic and bacon.

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

serving plate, and spoon the dressing

Grill for 4-6 minutes or until bacon is

1 tbsp honey

evenly over each oyster.

crisp. Serve with lemon wedges.

½ tsp fish sauce 1 tsp finely grated ginger 1 green shallot, finely sliced

oysters

pinch of sea salt Kilpatrick: 1 cup rock salt 1-2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 garlic clove, finely sliced 100g rindless bacon, finely sliced

SPECIAL THANKS

are bivalves and feed by sifting and filtering algae and other nutrients from the sea water they inhabit. Australian oyster growers farm two main species of oyster in our coastal waters: Pacific Oyster and Sydney Rock Oyster.

Pacific Oysters are native to northeast Asia (including Japan) and have trans-located and widely dispersed throughout many countries. Sydney Rock Oysters are indigenous to Australia and are smaller, softer and retain a more distinctive taste than Pacific Oysters.

©Jane Grover – Recipe from Jane’s cookbook: Our Delicious Adventure – Recipes and Stories of Food and Travel w: www.janegrover.net

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SILVERBEET AND TRIPLE CHEESE ROLLS Silverbeet is one of the easiest plants to grow and harvest in your kitchen garden. When you cut the leaves they reappear just a few weeks later, time after time. It is the plant that just keeps on giving. This recipe is a great way to use up that abundance of silverbeet. Combined with three diverse, delicious cheeses, it makes a great vegetarian alternative to sausage rolls.

SERVES 12 MEAL-SIZE ROLLS V

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C

place into the centre of each piece of

300g cooked silverbeet, finely shredded

fan forced) and line 2 large baking

pastry. Fold the edges of the pastry

trays with non-stick baking paper.

over and overlap slightly to enclose

2. In a large bowl, combine the

the filling.

silverbeet, ricotta, feta, parmesan,

4. Place the rolls onto the prepared

pepper, nutmeg, shallots, thyme

trays, seam-side-down. Using a sharp,

and egg. Use your hands to mix

serrated knife cut each roll in half or

thoroughly.

into 5 smaller pieces. Brush with milk

3. Cut the pastry sheets in half and

to glaze and generously sprinkle with

divide the mixture into 6 equal

sesame seeds. Bake for 20-25 minutes,

portions. Using wet hands, roll each

until golden brown. Serve hot or cold.

portion into a long sausage shape and

GF option: Use gluten-free pastry.

(approx. 1 bunch, white stalks removed) 300g ricotta, crumbled 100g feta, crumbled 100g parmesan, grated ½ tsp ground white pepper ½ tsp ground nutmeg 3 green shallots, finely diced handful thyme leaves 1 egg, lightly beaten 3 sheets ready-made butter puff pastry ¼ cup (60ml) milk for glazing 3 tbsp sesame seeds

ricotta is a soft textured, creamy white fresh cheese with a mild flavour. Often used in Italian pasta and desserts, ricotta is relatively low in fat and a good source of protein, vitamin A and calcium. As with many fresh kinds of cheese, ricotta is highly perishable and best consumed within a week.

SPECIAL THANKS

©Jane Grover – Recipe from Jane’s cookbook: Our Delicious Adventure – Recipes and Stories of Food and Travel w: www.janegrover.net

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www.travelplaylive.com.au

TRAVEL PLAYreLIVE ctory

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MUST DO EVENTS Tick off your bucket list and discover your wilder side with our hand picked recommendations

SOCIAL SCENE All the latest news from our Aussie adventure girls in action

TPL MARKET PLACE Look no further for all your adventurous needs & desires

INSTA LOVE TAG US TO SHARE YOUR ADVENTURES @travelplaylivemagazine #travelplaylive

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MarketPLACE

The latest products & offerings from our partners

IO MERINO

RAYS

Our Delicious Adventure – Recipes and Stories of Food and Travel, Jane entertains with the family’s travel adventures and her delicious recipes. Available NOW.

This great Zodiac Crop Top is made from io Merino flagship ‘Enigma’ fabric comprising of 96% Australian Merino wool and 4% elastin providing a four way stretch for easy movement and maximum next to skin contact.

Rays supporters of ‘out there’ people, offering over 1500sqmtrs of the biggest brands and widest range of gear making it perfect for any type of adventurer.

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CENTS FOR SEEDS

OCEANFIT

Healthy Beauty for every body.

Being healthy first is the most important thing and that your makeup should not be harmful to your body or your daughter's.

Cents for Seeds is changing the lives of families in Uganda by empowering women and enabling them to provide for their families. For a small $30 donation, a woman is provided with a 30kg loan of seeds.

Australia’s #1 ocean swim school has free training resources online and delivers ocean swimming clinics at beaches along the east coast.

www.shekinahglow.com

www.lovemercyfoundation.org

oceanfit.com.au

JANE GROVER

SHEKINAH GLOW

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Merchandise

Get the latest products from Travel Play Live www.travelplaylive.com.au/shop

INSTA LOVE #travelplaylive

Good reads @spata jen

The Adventure Box These carefully curated Adventure Boxes are the perfect gift for yourself, a friend or loved one with a passion for adventure and travel. Filled with a beautiful selection of items to inspire the adventure lifestyle and Travel - Play - Live.

Blue Mou ntain s @an gi.ki m

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Siem Reap Cambo dia @aweso meadve nturech ick

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What you get: • Current issue of Travel Play Live • Travel Play Live Buff • Travel Play Live Manifesto & Postcards • Love Letter Mindfullness Cards • No Pong all natural anti odourant • Maya Organic lip balm PLUS a SURPRISE selection of various samples from our partners Adventure Weekend @mel_caslick

ORDER THE ADVENTURE BOX $65+P&H Upgrades for The Adventure Box are available - head to our website for details

Th red bo MT B @m el_ haye s

Travel Play Live magazine

Get the latest products from Travel Play Live www.travelplaylive.com.au/shop Rot oru a NZ @p roc ras tisa usr us

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She Womens Adventure Expo @thehappywalk

{Travel Play Live}

GIVEAWAYS WIN

We have some great offers up for grabs for our readers & subscribers.

Henty ENDURO BACKPACK

Subscribe to the Magazine to go in the draw to get your hands on Henty’s ultimate hydration kit for cyclists, to keep you energised, ventilated and hydrated.

The Enduro Backpack carries a decent amount of gear – 3 litres of water, an extra layer, small toolkit, tube and ride snacks – but you might want more storage for a longer endurance ride. The mesh harness keeps the whole thing nice and breathable, and while we haven’t long-term tested it, the cordura nylon looks built to last, in line with Henty’s established range of commuter cycling gear.

Read our review here: www.travelplaylive.com. au/magazine/review-henty-enduro-backpack (accessories not included)

VISITOR'S GUIDE TO

Best Walks of the Great Ocean Road Australia’s Great Ocean Road, a beautiful 243km stretch of road, runs along some of Australia’s most magnificent beaches and towns. Some fly past in cars, or maybe even fly over it, but the best way to really see this incredible area is by foot – and here at Travel Play Live, we couldn’t agree more.

We are big fans of the Great Ocean Road walk, which is a perfect for women looking for their next adventure. So when this little guide book came across our desk we were happy to share it with our readers. The book introduces 25 breathtaking walks in the area ranging from leisurly beach side strolls to the more rugged tracks deep in the bush. Detailed descriptions and maps help the reader explore all the region has to offer.

“An interesting feature is the ‘Walks at a Glance’ section; concise section that provide an overview of hikes in different

sections of the Great Ocean Road indicating time, distance, grade, and of course it’s proximity to good coffee – the most crucial element for most weekend vagabonds”. Dan Parks – We Are Explorers “Julie Mundy and Neil Fahey practice what they preach. They walk. They write. Because of this, I feel I can trust the insights and approach that they’ve taken with this book. They’re passionate about walking and sharing their stories of journeys on not just the physical level, but the multiple layers that go into a great bushwalking experience”. – lotsafreshair Visitor’s Guide to the Best Walks of the Great Ocean Road is available in all good bookstores and online at www.woodslane.com.au We have a copy up for grabs for one lucky subscriber!

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SOCIALSCENE Jo New showing off her awesome weaving techniques

8000KM ELLIPTIGO CYCLE

2017 SHE WENT WILD WOMEN'S ADVENTURE EXPO What another fabulous event the She Went Wild Expo was in bringing together and

We met up with adventurer Emma Timmis in the Great Lakes of NSW, 5 days shy of completing her goal of riding an Elliptigo cycle 8000km across Australia and aiming to have this adventure recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for the furthest distance anyone has travelled on an Elliptigo. If you want to find out more about Emma, her journey and her campaign check out her website www.emmatimmis.com/-elliptigoz.html

recognising Australian women in the adventure landscape out there doing amazing things! We were so excited meet and connect to many of our followers and readers, it is always an honour to have you share your adventures with us.

Jacqui Holth, Amy Heague & Terra Roams

Kez with some of our Awesome Readers

Australian Women’s Adventure Alliance.

You’ll be hearing more about this in 2018!

An exciting initiative and an awesome weekend in the Blue Mountains connecting with some of the key players in the women’s adventure landscape who are ready to make a united stand to fight for equality, empowerment and inclusion for each and every Australian woman to be able to let their inner adventurer shine. No matter your size, shape, experience, race, age or background, we will continue fighting for this generation and those to follow, to make the outdoors accessible to all as a welcoming and even playing field. Keep an eye out for this!

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Run Against Violence & RMA The fabulous women from Running Mums Australia and their cheque handover to the ever amazing Kirrily Dear after this years Run Against Violence campaign. Kirrily ran 860km over 12 days through regional NSW during the hottest November in 57 years with a sole purpose to raise funds and to get people talking about what they can do to end violence against women. Great effort all round.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN STORE MEET UP AT RAYS CAMPERDOWN.

EVERY WOMAN GATHERING Our Travel Play Live editor Amy hanging out with some of our readers at the 2017 Every Woman Gathering. Getting their wings on ready to soar. Guest speakers that weekend included the awesome Jane Grover, Dr Caroline Leaf Cognitive Neuroscientist, Ps Bobbie Houston and hosted by the dynamo Chris Pringle.

Our first ever in store #MEETUP with the team at the new Ray’s Camperdown store in Sydney for our 12 Days of Christmas promotion.

Ray’s ever keen to support “Out There” people had some great deals for all of us through the Rays Rewards program. Big thanks also to the North Face team for sharing their knowledge and watch out for future in store events with the Rays team

Perth to Sydney by pushbike.

THE LADIES' AUXILLARY Sue Wellington from Geraldton, WA, at 52, hit the road, 4500km of it to be exact from Melbourne to Geraldton with her trolley "The Ladies' Auxillary" raising funds for Alzheimer's Disease. To date Sue has raised almost $40000.

Amy-Nicole Peters in August, 2017 departed Perth by pushbike, riding all the way back to Sydney completing the ride in around 8 weeks, and estimating to cover over 5,000km to raise funds and awareness around Mental Health.

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must donts

DISCOVER YOUR WILDER SIDE THE 33RD SURFFEST

eve Photo: WSL/Sproule

Type: Surfing Championship and Festival Date: 20th January - 25th February 2018 Locations: Newcastle NSW www.surfest.com Surfest has become Australia’s largest surfing festival and in 2018 will host 12 different surfing events over the summer months attracting more than 700 surfers from around two dozen countries competing to get their names etched into the record books.

More than 10,000 people rock up to check out the action during the finals dished up on Super Surfest Sunday, it’s pure magic. What separates Surfest from many other profes-sional surfing events is the emphasis placed upon community and grass roots surfing competition and has always been conscious of ensuring the involvement of today’s kids who will be tomorrow’s champions.

Wild Women on Top Sydney Coastrek

10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY Type: Walk 30km and 60km events Location: Sydney NSW Date: 16th March 2018 sydney.coastrek.com.au Explore Sydney's stunning coastline – rugged coastline, spectacular bays, secret bush trails, historic sites, complete an incredible personal challenge with your friends while restoring sight.

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OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL:

WORLD TOUR

Type: Film viewing Date: various Locations: see the website for location dates oceanfilmfestivalworldtour.com At the Ocean Film Festival World Tour our vision is to inspire you to explore, respect, enjoy, and protect our oceans, and we aim to share the best films from around the globe with our audiences.

With over 2 hours of the most inspirational, educational and entertaining films related to the ocean from independent film makers around the world. The Ocean Film Festival World Tour includes a unique selection of films of varying lengths and styles covering topics such as ocean adventure and exploration, the oceanic environment, marine creatures, ocean related sports, coastal cultures and ocean lovers. At the Ocean Film Festival World Tour we are committed to conserving our oceans. In each tour location we work with local ocean charities to support them in their crucial work conserving our oceans.

THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL’S:

RADICAL REELS FILM TOUR Type: Film viewing Date: 17th October - 2nd December 2017 Locations: see the website for location dates www.radicalreels.com.au This one’s for all those with leg twitches and adrenaline fixes: The 2017 Radical Reels Tour is making its sweaty, filthy way around 20 cinemas and theatres in 17 Australian towns through October and November, and tickets are swiftly getting snatched up. A break-neck carousel of endorphin-injecting short films, the 2017 Radical Reels program features 10 films plucked from Canada’s nine-day world-famous Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Oxfam TRAILWALKER Type: Team Trekking Locations: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth & Melbourne Melbourne: 23rd -25th March 2018 Brisbane: 22nd - 24th June 2018 Sydney: 24th -26th August 2018 Perth: 21st -2rd September 2018 trailwalker.oxfam.org.au Oxfam Trailwalker is an inspiring and challenging team trekking event that challenges poverty and changes lives. Including yours!

With three team mates you will journey through 100km within 48 hours.

All states now also offer alternate distances – 50km or 55km within 24 hours. It’s not a relay. Your team starts together, sticks together and finishes together. It’s tough, but with the right training and attitude it’s rewarding, we promise. The feeling when you cross the finish line will be something you’ll never forget. For years Oxfam Trailwalker has been a catalyst for a more active lifestyle for many an adventurous woman. Not just a tough physical and mental challenge — Oxfam Trailwalker is also a rewarding fundraising challenge raising money to help fight poverty around the world.

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Photo by Jonathan Wellings

Travel Play Live magazine www.travelplaylive.com.au

Don't Miss Out on Issue 11 - 2018 Head to our website to subscribe NOW www.travelplaylive.com.au/subscribe

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"I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored".

David Attenborough

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