We protect what we love

FRIDAY 13.01. 23.

Hello and welcome back, friends! We hope this finds you well and rested after a relaxing and/or adventure-filled summer break.

The For Wild Places team enjoyed some downtime, during which plenty of fun was had in the mountains, in the snow, in the surf and many other places in between.

We have received a few responses from our community survey and I have really enjoyed reading newsletter-specific feedback. Some weeks we have an abundance of content, and then other weeks I'm not always entirely sure what I should include. Your feedback has given me a lot of direction, and I've noted that people would love more content surrounding indigenous Australians, conservation, sustainability tips, environmental campaigns, trail running and interviews with interesting people. In the coming weeks, we will have an interview with Australian big wave surfer Harry Steele on the impact of climate change on surfing and next week we'll hear from fish veterinarian Matt Landos on the impacts of agricultural run-off on fish embryos and populations (and how we can conserve these vulnerable under-water ecosystems).

If you haven't had a chance to fill in the survey, there is still time, and we'd love to hear from you!

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

To kick off 2023, we're going to share some of the FWP team's adventures, to get you inspired and ready for what will hopefully be an adventure-packed new year.

📝 🙏🏽 🙂

SUMMER ADVENTURES OF FWP CREW

Hilary and Liz

When everyone heads to the coast for the week between Boxing Day and New Years, Liz and I took to the mountains to find some peace, wildflowers and elevation! We certainly weren't disappointed - Hotham Village was somewhat of a ghost town, with just a few hikers, runners and the likes enjoying the unseasonably green alpine views and somewhat cooler temps.

Hilary & Liz looking very matchy matchy on the

summit of Mt Hotham

Our days in the mountains were a perfect mix of activity, adventure, rest and relaxation. Mornings were spent on the trail, running or hiking, before the midday sun set in. After returning to the lodge and having a big lunch, it was time to open that book that had been sitting on my bedside table for 6 months, which usually meant a nana nap after about 10 minutes of reading. After an afternoon coffee, it was soon 6pm, and time for beers and Christmas cheese leftovers on the deck, as we kicked back and revelled at how bloody good the mountains are.

Liz and Matt enjoying the wonderful views from the

summit of Feathertop!

Highlights of our trip include spending a morning traversing Bon Accord Spur from Harrietville to Feathertop Summit with Matt Gore. The excellent company and trail chats made up for the socked-in summit views! Unfortunately, Liz just missed Erchana, who was enjoying some mountain marathons around day 137 of her 150 consecutive marathon mega-adventure. A few of us joined Simone Brick and Erchana for the final 15km from Hotham Village to Dinner Plain, followed by a (in Erchana's case!) well-deserved pub lunch at The General.

Ry (the man behind the camera) and Erchana enjoying

a post-marathon feed!

It wasn't surprising to run into so many familiar faces up in the mountains - we all want to make the most of what little leave we can get from work, and playing in the mountains is the perfect escape and reset after a busy year.

Paige

Once I finished my last race of the year, an indoor 5000m, I headed straight home having arranged to take my final exams remotely. As soon as I landed in Sydney I drove down to Jindabyne with Dad and just managed to make it to the start of Ultra Trail Kosciuszko. Being back in the trail scene was much needed.

After an epic couple of days catching up with a lot of people and reuniting with the Aussie bush, we headed east to Merimbula to stay my grandparents and met up with my Mum and sister. I finished the remainder of my exams here before we drove back up the coast to home, where I spent two weeks doing very little. The days were filled with training, eating, ocean swimming, puzzles and dog cuddles.

Now I’m back in the US in the cold and have just finished my first day of official training - a double aerobic threshold workout day. We’ve got two weeks of training camp before school and competition starts again later in the month.

Lara

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time on snow and (in between storms!) on the trails these holidays. Still mornings in the mountains at sunrise, with the alpenglow, is my favourite my thing.

The Ruby Range as seen from mid-way up Mt Crested Butte,

at sunrise

Lauren

The holidays were a very quiet time for me. No massive adventures. Got my last big long run done for Tarawera on beautiful Wiradjuri country and did a sunrise birthday hike with friends over the weekend.

Lauren enjoying a sunrise summit and coffee on

Wiradjuri country

☕️ ⛰ 🌄

TIP TO TOE

Join Erchana at the finish line!

Game face on for the final marathons!

Erchana - that incredible human who is running from the top to the bottom of Australia to raise money and awareness of the extinction crisis - is currently completing marathon #147. Erchana is so close to finishing this incredible feat of 150 marathons in a row, and has shared details of her final runs. For anyone based in Melbourne and keen to get amongst the action, we have no doubt that the atmosphere will be incredible, the company will be great and the trail banter will be tops. Here are the details that Erchana has shared via instagram.

Saturday 14th Jan – 7am

Warby Rail Trail. This is a one-way 40km trail, starting at 7am at Cog Café (or the trail head) in Warburton. We will end in Lilydale approx. 11.30 / 11.45am

Key access points along the trail are Launching Place, Seville Rail Café, Wandin, Mt Evelyn. Travelling at about 10.5 – 11km per hour.

There is a public bus that runs directly back to Warburton for anyone who comes the full length, or both taxi and Uber are available.

Monday 16th – the final leg!!

So, to finish at 6pm it’s an arvo run! The plan is to do the first 27km as per the map, starting at 1.30pm at the Pillars of Wisdom and looping some excellent Melbourne running iconic laps. We will then finish with 4 laps of the Tan track, running UP Anderson Street (yikes). Please feel free to jump in for as many laps as you like!

I’ll cross the tan track start/finish line at 6 pm to finish Tip to Toe – FINALLY! 

Map of the final day - Monday 16th January.

If you're heading along, keep an eye out for some of the FWP Crew and be sure to give Erchana a big HIGH FIVE for all of her amazing grit, determination and resilience she has shown over the past 150 days. What an accomplishment! We can't wait to catch up with Erchana soon to check in about how her recovery is going, and what new wild projects she's dreaming up 😏

TRAIL CHAT #9

with Peyton Thomas

On Thursday January 26th at 12pm AEDST we are stoked to have marine biologist, athlete and environmental advocate Peyton Thomas join us all the way from Boulder, Colorado for Trail Chat #9. Peyton has a PhD in biology and marine biology and is currently working as a research associate, understanding the influences of environmental stressors on the physiology of fishes as part of the Arctic Rivers Project. Peyton is a passionate environmental advocate, Protect Our Winters Alliance member, a Footprints mentor and NNormal athlete.

Peyton believes 'Runners of all forms should be welcome and should speak up for the environment around them because when our surroundings are healthy and prosperous, we are as well.' We are excited to chat with Peyton about her studies and research, racing, sports activism and what opportunities 2023 may bring.

You can check out more about Peyton via her website or Instagram. If you'd like to join us, RSVP to receive the Zoom link. We will record the chat and it will be available via our YouTube channel shortly after.

⛰️ 👟 🙌🏽

That's it for this week, folks!

Thank you for your ongoing support; we can't wait to continue the journey and see what this year brings! As always, THANK YOU for taking the time, for wild places.

Elanor & the For Wild Places team

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM

UPCOMING EVENTS

16/01 Tip to Toe Finish Line, The Tan, Naarm | details

26/01 Trail Chat #9 with Peyton Thomas | register

01/02 Pilliga Tee & Postcard orders close | order now

11/02 Trail First Aid Course, Arthurs Seat | register

25/02 takyana Trail, Waratah, Tasmania | register



We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This email was written on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.