The Andes, the Altiplano & the Atacama expedition. By Kate Leeming

After the western light had faded I got my camera out and planned on doing a little astro photography. Pleasantly, my first image showed a cheery red and green glow to the south. The Southern Lights were active!

This past month, Canberra’s trail running community came together at the Frith Road Substation in O’Connor for an action-packed night of testing, learning, and connecting. The Mont Trail Running Shoe Demo gave runners of all levels the chance to put the latest footwear from La Sportiva, On Running, Altra, and Hoka through their paces on a dedicated 1.2km trail loop that quickly became a Strava segment.

At Mont, we believe in supporting events that encourage people to embrace the natural world, challenge themselves, and connect with like-minded adventurers. Mont has been the sole sponsor of Kowen over the 6 years since its humble beginnings, providing flags, bollards, marquees and infrastructure, a market stall to provide the best trail gear, nutrition and mandatory kit. And donating incredible prizes, including Julbo’s newest, top of the line ultra-light glasses – Ultimate Cover Reactive 0-4. The lucky recipient being one of first in the country to own a pair.