LETTER OF THE MONTH

SOLO INSPIRATION

I loved reading the story ‘Wāhine doing it for themselves’ (February 2022) and was left feeling inspired.

As a solo mother of an eight-year-old son, our love of the outdoors, tramping and adventure has been an increasingly solo (but beautiful!) experience together. With no friends who share this interest, I have had to overcome a variety of worries and doubts to tackle increasingly long and challenging tramps alone. This has not been easy, and I have often been consumed with self-doubt about my capability, bearing the full responsibility for my son’s safety and overcoming all the ‘what ifs’.

My son and I have recently completed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Equipped with enough survival gear to