About Backcountry

Backcountry, the quarterly bulletin of the Federated Mountain Clubs is produced by editor Peter Laurenson and a small, hard-working team. Our flagship publication is published four times a year, providing vital links between members and outside agencies. Backcountry forms a rich archive of otherwise unpublished material.

The editorial direction of Backcountry is to provide news, articles and a forum for debate for users of New Zealand’s public lands, especially members of FMC’s affiliated clubs. The content of Backcountry is decided by the editor. An executive committee will consider concerns relating to published items. Write to FMC, PO Box 1604, Wellington.

You can contact the editor directly be email: backcountry@fmc.org.nz.

FMC Discount Card

Those who financially contribute to FMC as a supporter can get a FMC Discount card.  You can get an initial card after signing up, and then an annual card with the June issue of Backcountry. The card entitles the holder to many discounts, including 30% off the DOC Annual Hut Pass.

How to get your copy of Backcountry and your FMC discount card

• Via affiliated clubs. Copies of Backcountry (plus the FMC Discount Card) are provided free to affiliated clubs, to pass on to their members. Here’s how to affiliate your club.
• D2U (“Direct to you”): Current members of affiliated clubs may opt to receive their copy of Backcountry and their FMC Discount card directly from FMC, for $20 annually. Sign up to D2U.
•  Supporters of FMC: Individuals, young people and families may become supporters of FMC for an annual fee. Supporters receive Backcountry and the FMC Discount Card. Become a supporter now.
• Via a FMC Youth Leader at your School: Copies of Backcountry (plus the FMC Discount Card) are available to year 12 & 13 students studying outdoor recreation Unit Standards. Sign up as a FMC Youth Leader now.
• Libraries Subscription: Backcountry is available to organisations and libraries for $35 (overseas $45) per year by contacting the FMC administrator.

Any queries about distribution, affiliation or subscription should be directed to the FMC Administrator.

Contributing to Backcountry

Intending contributors should send drafts or discuss their proposals with the editor (backcountry@fmc.org.nz) well ahead of the editorial deadline. Images should be .tif or .jpeg files between 1-5 Mb. Letters to the editor and brief Noticeboard items may be sent without prior notice at any time before the deadline.

Digital copies of Backcountry

FMC has digitised every issue of Backcountry ever published, and they are now available for everyone as PDFs in our FMC archives.

Since 2009, an interactive electronic version of Backcountry has been made available on the FMC website. The e-version of the previous issue is released when the printed copies of the new issue are distributed, to maintain the primacy of the printed version and ensure those who’ve paid for a copy get to read the content first.

To find out more about FMC’s reasons to keep printing Backcountry, have a read of editor Peter Laurenson’s article Sustainable in print.

Advertising enquiries and Media Kit

To discuss opportunities for advertising and promotions with FMC, please contact us via email:   adverts@fmc.org.nz  or download our Media Kit.

Key dateshttps://fmc.org.nz/mediakit

Issue	Editorial Deadline	Advertising Deadline	Issue to Clubs
MARCH 2025	27 January	14 February	Late – March
JUNE 2025	14 April	2 May	Mid – June
AUGUST 2025	30 June	18 July	Late – August
NOVEMBER 2025	22 September	10 October	Late – November
MARCH 2026	26 January	13 February	Late – March