Stephen Ritson's Six Peaks Winter Challenge for Mental Health

This winter, Stephen Ritson is taking on the Six Peaks and turning an already tough challenge into something even harder, all to raise funds for Building Wellness Taranaki.

The Six Peaks has been done before, but never quite like this. Taking on the route in winter brings a completely different level of difficulty. Snow and ice, avalanche risk, heavier packs, slower progress and rapidly changing mountain conditions will all form part of the challenge.

The 6 Peaks 55km route includes:

- Fanthams Peak 1,966m

- Mount Taranaki Summit 2,518m

- Pouakai Peak 1,400m

- Kaitake Peak 682m

- Paritutu Rock 156m

- Shining Peak Celebratory destination.

It will be a long, challenging day, and one that will require careful planning, preparation, skill and a healthy respect for the mountain. Winter changes everything! The planned date is 30 August, but the mountain will ultimately decide when he goes.

Building Wellness Taranaki works to support mental health, wellbeing and connection within our local construction and trades communities, helping create an industry where people feel comfortable talking about how they’re doing, asking for help and looking out for one another.

The mountain might be the challenge, but supporting the people behind our local building and construction industry is the reason why he has chosen to do it.

We’re asking the Taranaki community to get behind him. Whether it’s $5, $50 or $500, every donation will help support the work of Building Wellness Taranaki.