In keeping with the time of year, there is a winter theme running through the new issue of Wild - but as always, there will be plenty more to tempt you, including:

• Backcountry Dreaming – skiing Mt Feathertop’s exhilarating flanks
• Strait Across – the untold story of the first sea kayak crossing of Bass Strait
• Crossing England – the Coast to Coast Walk in Northern England
• The Curse of the Fainters –venturing out in snow shoes into the Victorian Alps in winter
• Mad as a Hattah – the stark desert environment of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park on the NSW-Victoria border
• Food dehydrators – some expert advice
• Profile – bushwalker and environmental activist Karen Alexander
• Wildlife – musings on the mallee regions of Australia
• The Nature of the Beast – the miner bird
• Track Notes to the High Tops Traverse
• Track Notes to Mt Rufus in Tasmania
• Framed – a new mystery subject for our photographer

and much much more.

This issue goes on general sale on 30 June 2010. Subscriber copies are being mailed during the week before.

Chris Baxter OAM (1946-2010)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chris Baxter OAM, founder of Wild Publications and tireless promoter of Australia’s wild places.

After a protracted battle with various forms of cancer over the last decade he finally succumbed to leukemia on Sunday 28 February. He is survived by his beloved wife Sue.

Chris published the first issue of Rock in 1978 and the first Wild in 1981. Both were formed through Chris’ huge passion for the outdoors and the fact that they have gone on to be the longest running outdoor adventure magazines in Australia is testament to this drive.

When not running the magazines Chris spent most of his spare time in the bush or overseas. Not only was he a keen walker, but he was also a prolific climber, putting up thousands of new routes all over Australia.

A full obituary will follow in the forthcoming issues of Wild and Rock.