Here, in the Wild

There's an iconic scene in The Hobbit where Bilbo decides at the last minute to join 13 dwarves on their quest to retake their homeland.?

Bilbo frantically gathers his belongings and sprints out the door. He jumps over fences and cuts through fields in a dash to catch up with the rest of his company.?

Just before he leaves the Shire, a fellow hobbit shouts, "Mr. Bilbo, where are you going?" As the music crescendos, Bilbo responds, "I'm going on an adventure!"??

It's a beautiful scene because it encapsulates a basic human truth: we crave the wild and unexplored. Whether it's investigating an imaginary world as a kid or watching the latest mountaineering documentary, we yearn for adventure.?

Fortunately, protecting Middle Earth isn't a prerequisite for adventure. There are still untamed places in this world brimming with possibilities. Take New Zealand, for example.

New Zealand packs a massive amount of scenery into an area the size of Colorado. The North Island hosts a spine of mountain ranges, including active volcanos that dominate the landscape. The Southern Alps soar thousands of feet into the sky, forming the backbone of the South Island.?

Backpacking, or tramping as the locals call it, is essential to New Zealand culture. Thanks to an extensive hut network, backcountry hiking is accessible for all ages and levels.?

"Tramping is so good for my mental health. Getting out into nature and disconnecting from all the stresses of our busy modern lives is essential. Normally, we don't have cell service in the backcountry, which allows you to spend quality time with loved ones. And I can challenge myself in a semi-safe way," says Alice Milne.??

Alice grew up tramping and skiing in the deep south of New Zealand. Now, she writes a popular blog on all her tramping experiences, hoping others will embark on their own adventures. “I grew up tramping like my parents,” explains Alice. “Dad has been tramping since he was a young one, and then Mum got into it when she was at university. She joined the tramping club there. They were tramping before kids; they kept tramping after kids. Now, I’m hoping to do that with my family.”?

There are 13 national parks in New Zealand, with some of the most remarkable ones in the Southern Lakes region. Glaciers sculpted this area thousands of years ago, leaving behind some of the most impressive scenery in the world. The remaining landscape boasts several of New Zealand’s most challenging and stunning tramping adventures.?

One of the most arduous routes is the Cascade Saddle trek. Although it only stretches 9 miles, it requires 6 to 8 hours of climbing along a steep rock face. In return for your effort, you're awarded 360-degree views of Matukituki Valley and New Zealand’s second tallest mountain: Mt. Aspiring. And you're a stone's throw from the Dart Glacier, making it a bucket list experience for every seasoned tramper, including Alice.?

"Part of the reason Cascade Saddle was so great was that the weather conditions were epic. It was a bluebird day going up. There was no snow or ice. There was this golden light covering the tussocks at sunset. It was all so beautiful. And sharing it with my father was such a cool experience," says Alice. "I knew I was trying for a baby that year. So, getting to experience a challenging route with my dad was the epitome of the last beautiful summer before settling down.”?

New Zealand isn’t the only place in this world that offers opportunities for adventure. There’s a road less traveled in your local park. But it takes a little courage and some curiosity to seize it. The towering peaks of the Southern Alps won’t come to you. The trees and rivers of the forest don’t owe you an invitation. You must go to them, but the desire to remain comfortable is a siren’s song.?

It can be an irresistible feeling, the urge to stay put. Everything is in its place. There are no surprises. You know what's around every corner. But if you linger here too long, you'll soon learn that the world and all its adventures have passed you by. Bilbo realized this. He knew in his heart that he had clung to his books and garden for too long. Don't wait for an old man in baggy grey clothes to tell you that the world is not in your books and maps. Go. Find out for yourself.