Online outdoors intentions service launched

A free online outdoor intentions service set up by a Nelson company has been launched nationwide.

Adventure Buddy is a monitored intentions service provided by Adventure Gear Hire in Nelson.

Its directors, George Turner and Don Schwass, have more than 60 years experience tramping, camping, and in bushcraft, and over 30 years experience in search and rescue activities between them.

Schwass said they decided to set up the system and monitor it as a way to give something back to the community.

It also fitted well with their gear hire business as they needed to get information from people using locator beacons.

He said from his experience with search and rescue a lot of the time people who went into the outdoors did not leave detailed intentions. They thought they could come up with a system that worked better including information they would want from a search and rescue perspective if a search had to be mounted.

Schwass said before heading into the backcountry, outdoor enthusiasts simply complete an online form with details of their trip, including where they were going, who was going with them, what equipment they were carrying and a time and date when they were due back.

The system also asked for a photo of the person or people in the party and a photo of their gear.

The system could be accessed through the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council website.