Wander Womxn

March 17, 2019 by Torrie Hazelwood in USA, New Zealand, South Korea

Some of the adventurous, tenacious and tender hearted people I’ve wandered this world with. And while there are many more not captured here, I am grateful for their presence, curiosity and continuous pursuit of the wild.

Lake Solitude, Newbury, New Hampshire, USA

I Ran Over a Possum (and Other Happenings in NZ)

December 20, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in New Zealand

There is no place where I freak out about light more, blink harder at the staggering beauty of contrasting landscapes, and feel the need to point out every farm animal I see while driving than in New Zealand. Finishing out my working holiday visa this fall was marked by opportunities to learn from a generous visual journalist, get a permanent addition to my body placed there by an incredibly talented artist to remind me of this place that feels like home, and go on a beautiful trek across the South Island. After I returned and began processing my experiences, I found I developed a stronger sense of self and have, perhaps, become more prudent in how much emotional labor I do for people. As Zora Neale Hurston once said, "There are years that ask questions and years that answer" - and it's propitious when the question and answer happen to come in the same year.

Also, I did run over a possum while traveling in the South Island. We had just finished the Routeburn Track and it was a dark and windy road in the mountains. In my defense, I had just learned from the DOC ranger at the Lake Mackenzie Hut that possums are killing off many native bird species in New Zealand so, I guess, I did it for the birds.

*The Pinnacles, The Coromandel, New Zealand*

*Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park & Coromandel Forest Park, Waikato, New Zealand*

*Bag-End, Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand*

*Crown Range Lookout, Otago, New Zealand*

Routeburn Track, Mount Aspiring National Park, South Island, New Zealand

Routeburn Track, South Island, New Zealand

Key Summit, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand (Photo by: T. Allison)

Tongariro National Park, Wanganui, New Zealand

I've Been to the Land Down Under

April 02, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in New Zealand, Travel

Two and a half weeks, five people in a five person car, all of our camping gear and the west coast of New Zealand's South Island to explore. We experienced the beautiful contrasts between the cultivated and wild landscapes, felt dwarfed by the mountains and calmed by crashing waves that lulled us to sleep. We kayaked in the Tasman sea, hiked up mountains, drove (a lot), swam in blue pools, and jumped from bridges (bungees attached...sometimes). We are now left with indescribable moments of awe at what nature has to offer and a hunger to come back and continue exploring. This is an incredibly abbreviated version of our trip and it will take me a while to cull through my memories to choose one to recount here. In the meantime, enjoy these images.

*Sunrise on Te Pukatea, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand*

*Sunset on Onetahuti, Abel Tasman National Park , New Zealand*

*Catching a water taxi in Awaroa Bay, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand*

*Car trouble in Hari Hari, New Zealand (our car is not pictured).*

*Gillespies Beach Campground, Fox Glacier, New Zealand*

*Reflection of Mt. Cook at Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, New Zealand*

*Summit of Roys Peak, Wanaka, New Zealand*

*Our trusty car entering Fiordland, New Zealand*

*Sunrise at Cascade Creek Campground, Fiordland, New Zealand*

*Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand*

*Setting up camp near Queenstown, New Zealand*

*(Somewhat successful shot) near Queenstown, New Zealand*

As I Predicted

March 21, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in New Zealand, Travel

Well, I've done what I thought I would do. Namely, I've chosen to be with friends and conveniently "forgotten" to sit down and write. I struggle with the balance of remaining present while seeking alone time to write and process, as I feel memories are constantly being created and, due to the limited I have with the incredible family I've found here, it's hard to convince myself to sit on my own. This is an entirely new feeling for me. I am someone who is very comfortable spending time by myself and, up until recently, I felt that I needed that time to recharge. But something wonderful has happened in that the people I'm surrounded by fill me a sense of ease where I can at once be with them while also regaining energy. It occurs to me daily how fearcly kind, confident, humble and hilarious the people I live with are and for that I am forever grateful.

*Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, Waiotapu, New Zealand*

Mount Doom: The Time I Simply Walked into Mordor

January 13, 2016 by Torrie Hazelwood in Travel, New Zealand

Since arriving in New Zealand I have been blown away by how consistently beautiful this country is. In an effort to live out my many Lord of the Rings fantasies, I have hiked mountains, sought out waterfalls, and traversed the North Island - I've even found the perfect Gandalf-style walking stick. Here to help me realize my LOTR dreams are my Kiwi camp friends I made while at Becket Chimney Corners YMCA in the States (I expect they will be thrilled at the prospect of dressing up as elves, dwarfs, hobbits, etc. to go hiking). As the great Galdalf the Grey once said "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us" and with that I will spend my days here exploring, petting Kiwi birds, and shouting "you shall not pass!" whenever the mood catches me.

*Mount Doom (aka Mt. Ngauruhoe) Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand*

*Ngarotopounamu Lake, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand*