Rob Brown - Keeping the Hut Network Alive

Rob Brown is one of the most influential voices in New Zealand tramping. Rob is the National Operations Manager of the Backcountry Trust, the organisation that supports volunteers to restore and maintain our huts and tracks. He is also a renowned photographer, writer, and long-time advocate for the outdoors.In this wide-ranging conversation, Rob shares stories of his early adventures with the Massey University Alpine Club, his long tramping partnership with Shaun Barnett, and the making of the best selling Classic Tramping. We talk about memorable trips into places like Ivory Lake and the Landsborough Wilderness, near-misses in wild country, and the evolving role of New Zealand’s hut network. Rob also reflects on what huts mean for our culture, how the Backcountry Trust works in partnership with DOC and local communities, and where the future of our backcountry huts might be heading.If you’ve ever wondered about the stories behind New Zealand’s huts — and the people who keep them alive — this episode is for you.https://www.backcountrytrust.org.nz/