Episode Intro How many decisions do you reckon you’ve made today? It’s probably the conscious ones that come to mind. Do I wear the red shirt or blue top? 1 coffee or 6? Believe it or not, The Harvard Business Review states that adults can make around 35,000 decisions each day and many of those happen automatically … Read more
Episode Intro It was the ABC News that first alerted the outdoors community to Macca’s Big Wall Fall near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. With over 30 years climbing under his belt, including many first ascents and stories, some of which are the stuff of legend, he is one of the … Read more
Episode Introduction My guest in this episode has a long history of working and playing in some of the most rugged and remote parts of NSW. So, with a few days up his sleeve, a bit of research and the right kind of skills and experience behind him, he set off for another steep n’ … Read more
Aussie made ultralight hiking pack At the top end of Katoomba Street, there’s a serious-looking post-war building anchored to the Blue Mountains retail landscape. It’s home to local outdoor retailer, Summit Gear, staffed by trail runners, climbers, and canyoners, it stocks the usual suspects of Icebreaker, Patagonia, La Sportiva, Mont, Outdoor Research, Salomon, etc. At … Read more
The Anatomy of a Search This story is a work of fiction, based on my 19 years of actual search jobs with NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR), formerly Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad. It first appeared in Wild Magazine #187 Autumn 2023. Saturday 8.38 am The headlights of the Forester worked hard to cut … Read more
I’ve always enjoyed reviewing Suunto’s sports watches. Over the years I’ve looked at the 9 Peak and Spartan Baro HR and each time they impress me, drawing me closer to jumping ship permanently into the Suunto world. With their latest offering, the Suunto Vertical, they’ve finally convinced me. Why choosing the right watch is important … Read more
Last Updated Apr 16, 2024 The Grampians (Gariwerd National Park) is to Melbournians, what the Blue Mountains is to Sydney-siders: about 2 hours away and bursting with natural beauty and opportunities for adventure. The 164 km Grampians Peaks Trail showcases the best the area has to offer. It starts from Mount Zero Picnic Area in … Read more
Getting the message out Last Updated 31 July 2026 Where I live in the Blue Mountains (where much to the locals’ dismay, it is considered part of Greater Sydney), it doesn’t take long for mobile coverage to drop out along even the most popular bushwalking tracks and trails. The sharing/democratisation of information online has meant … Read more
Gear Review Sea to Summit is one of those gear companies I’ve always admired for their innovation in coming up with solutions to little problems that niggle outdoorsy folk like us. It’s almost as though they’ve got inside our heads and heard us when we imagine: “Geez, I wish there was a thing/widget/design for ‘x’ … Read more
In 2020 over 3.7 million people from Australia and overseas visited the Blue Mountains – The most visited National Park in New South Wales. They’re drawn to the dramatic clifftop views, deep valleys and diverse habitats that stretch over the 1 million hectares of this World Heritage sandstone plateaux, a landscape that is constantly being … Read more
Stories from Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad View on Zencastr Matt U’Brien’s story is powerful. During his 17-year policing career (mostly within the Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad), he’s done literally hundreds of rescues and saved countless lives whilst risking his own. What’s unique about Matt, is that during this time he also found himself … Read more
Last Updated June 18, 2026 Rescued is a podcast of conversations with rescuers and those who’ve been rescued. It’s about the lessons we learn about ourselves, the paces we go and why – without judgement or shame – to help us have better adventures, manage risk and deal with the unexpected. Caro Ryan What happened? … Read more