While the general election stole the headlines on Saturday, another important election took place in Wellington at the same time:

Les Molloy was elected FMC patron by member clubs during a General Meeting, after the passing of Arnold Heine last year.

Les is widely considered the ‘father’ of Wilderness Areas in New Zealand. He wrote the Wilderness Policy (the document laying out the purpose and management of gazetted wilderness areas), and brought the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum concept to New Zealand. This led to the idea of ‘Zones’ to cater for the needs of different recreational users, which is at the heart of all of New Zealand’s National Park management plans.

FMC is proud to have Les as a patron. We cannot think of a person better suited. We would like to thank all the club delegates who attended the General Meeting to honour Les.

The recipients of the 2020 FMC Expedition Scholarships have been announced:

Simon Bell Memorial Expedition Scholarship

Tara Mulvany, FMC Individual Supporter, for a journey along the Southern Alps from Homer Saddle to Arthur's Pass.

Youth Expedition Scholarships

Conor Vaessen, Otago University Tramping Club, for a three-month long traverse of the Southern Alps from Arthur’s Pass to Fiordland as far as Lady of the Snows.

Emma Strack, Victoria University Tramping Club, for a five week journey along the Southern Alps from Mount Cook to Homer Hut.

Hamish Laing, Tararua Tramping Club, for a tramping and packrafting trip to West Cape in Fiordland.

Joseph Amos, Nayland College, for a sea kayaking trip exploring all arms and fjords of Lake Te Anau.

Kyla Rayward, Motueka High School, for a journey from Arthur's Pass to Lewis Pass.

Laura Jacks, Auckland University Tramping Club, for an expedition on Rakiura / Stewart Island, traversing Mount Anglem, following the track to Doughboy Bay, then to Gog, Magog and back via the Tin Range.

Leah Nicholls, FMC Individual Supporter, for a trip across Kahurangi National Park from the Takaka Region to Flora Hut car park.

Sean Burrows, FMC Individual Supporter, for a tramping and packrafting expedition into Southwest Fiordland. Beginning in Deep Cove with an alpine tops traverse followed by packrafting the Seaforth river, the Long Burn, and Long Sound.

FMC Training Grants

New Zealand Packrafting Association (PRANZ), for a NZOIA kayak 1 training course with the NZ Kayak School, for the upskilling of PRANZ packrafting instructors.

Over 40s Tramping Club, for an outdoor first aid course with Red Cross.

Nelson Tramping Club, for a club snowcraft training course.

Congratulations to all the scholarship and training grant recipients on their successful applications. We wish you a summer full of rewarding adventures, and look forward to your trip reports!

You can learn more about FMC’s Expedition Scholarships and Training Grants on our website.

FMC has become aware of the sale of Whakapapa and Tūroa season passes with preferential parking rights.

Let's be clear: the parking areas for these skifields are part of the Tongariro National Park, and the public's right of access is protected in the skifield concession.

FMC recognizes our collective responsibility to care for the mountain, and is open to a rationing system as long as it is equitable and not simply decided by who can afford to pay.

The current approach seems likely to be illegal. Formal letters have been sent to both Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd and the Department of Conservation asking whether the proposal is consistent with the concession and how equity between users is to be maintained.

We'll keep you updated on progress.

D2U is a new, optional service, which is available to current members of an FMC affiliated club.

Those who are eligible can sign up to D2U online, and we will post your Backcountry magazine and Discount Card “direct to you”.

To sign up, visit www.fmc.org.nz/D2U, pay $20 and receive;

• The next 4 issues of Backcountry magazine, posted directly to you. 
• A temporary electronic FMC Discount Card valid till the end of June.
• Your normal printed Discount Card with the June issue of Backcountry.

D2U is an optional service which is only available to current members of FMC affiliated clubs. 

The launch of this new service will not impact the current entitlements to copies of Backcountry and Discount Cards which we deliver to clubs.

Don’t forget that there are over 50 companies which offer discounts to FMC Card holders; www.fmc.org.nz/discount-card/  For anyone who usually gets a DOC Annual Hut Pass, the 30% discount ($36.60 off) alone makes the card worthwhile!

www.fmc.org.nz/D2U has much more information about the service which explains the thinking behind it and answers some frequently asked questions. If you have more questions after reading this information, please feel free to contact dan.clearwater@fmc.org.nz.

Through the generous support of the Maerewhenua Trust, these cash grants help candidates of the Duke Of Edinborough's Hillary Award and Scouts NZ's Venturer Award with the cost of their backcountry journeys and expeditions.

Check out some of the stories of past recipients on Wilderlife.nz.

The next round of applications close on 15th November; visit www.fmc.org.nz/youthawardgrant to learn more and to apply.

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are available for hire at Macpac stores nationwide since the beginning of October. A fantastic initiative from the Southland Locator Beacon Charitable Company!

The same service remains available at selected Bivouac Outdoor stores around the country.

At only $15 for a day or $40 for a week, PLBs are a small investment to ensure that help is on the way when you need it.

Read more

FMC's monthly newsletters help keep members who aren't following our Facebook page to keep up to date with important news and member information. Club secretaries are encouraged to forward this email to the club, include its contents in your own newsletters, or simply remind members to look at www.fmc.org.nz/newsletters each month, where the current and past newsletters are available. 

Anyone who would like to receive the newsletter directly from FMC, may request to go on our mailing list by contacting our administrator.