Dan Lasto

A solid birthday hunt.

Just before Christmas last year I got out on a quick solo hunt for my birthday and checked out some new terrain.

Sadly I got clouded over during the first afternoon/ evening so had to call it at night there. The next morning I got up, had a quick glass around and spotted a nice hind not even 200m from my tent! I watched her for a bit, then decided she was a good meat animal with nothing else coming out.

It’s good to have put some meat back in the freezer, it was starting to get quite low. The new meat hauler from also was a charm for keeping everything nice and clean!

One year married to my far better half! We hit paper only 29 to go until diamond. I hope they don’t go as fast as the last one did. Love you

Project Beyond the Ranges was completed Two Whole Months ago! And gosh it has flown by.

With all your help we managed to raise $8,000 for men’s mental health through .nz and it still hasn’t quite sunk in what we achieved.

I’ve taken the last few months to have a bit of a reset after what was a massive year and I’ve had a bit of a pause from proper social media content but it’s time to get back into it.

A lot of people asked “what’s next” and honestly it’s been hard. Project Beyond the Ranges. Swimming across Tekapo, running over the Two Thumb Mountain Range, riding from the upper reaches of the Rangitata back to Christchurch when first dreamed up seemed like an impossible task and many people thought I was crazy.

So what is next? It’s pretty hard to top a challenge like that without getting closer to staring death in the face, so I am getting back to what I love. Hunting, diving, and triathlon with a goal to become a bit more competitive.

These events are what make life truly special and show you what you’re truly capable of. I doubt the itch will return soon enough. For now the cup is full.

But if you missed it, I quietly launched an endurance nutrition brand based off my fuelling plan for project Beyond the Ranges. If you’re looking for some good nutrition that has worked and carried me over a mountain range, go check out Enduro 80 at .nz to see what it’s all about.

Into the dying light.

60km across a mountain range by night with only what we had in our running vests. It was a bold attempt that truly humbled the whole team but we didn’t let the night deter us.

The terrain was far more technical that we expected which slowed our progress substantially but you need to keep pushing when things get harder to truly see what you’re capable of pushing through.

We completed a 60km mountain run over the Two Thumb Range for .nz and men’s mental health.

Go Beyond.

I just swam 5km across Lake Tekapo and I'm still reeling! In 2021, I started triathlons, struggling to swim 700m in 25 minutes. Fast forward to today, and I've conquered one of New Zealand's most iconic lakes. The water was crisp, and the journey wasn't easy, but the sense of achievement is indescribable. Huge thanks to for keeping us on track and for having my back (even when cramp hit!). Bring on the next challenge!

Posting on behalf of Dan: Project behind the ranges is now complete. 29 hours and 30minutes, 250.8km! Massive Thankyou to the epic support crew for all the yarns, transition prep, and driving but in particular to Simon from .ballingers for going above and beyond!

Project Beyond the Ranges is here!!

Help us reach our goal of $10,000 and every $20 gets you in the draw to win a share of $1,000+ worth of prizes from .ballingers and

Let’s crush it!

On 22 November I’ll take on a route that cuts from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch in a single day to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health through Movember.

The day opens with a 5km swim across Lake Tekapo in near-freezing alpine water. From the shoreline I hit Transition One and begin the run north along the Te Araroa Trail, climbing past Roundhill Ski Field and up toward Stag Saddle — the highest point on the entire TA. From there I drop into Royal Hut where friends will be running the first aid station.

We carry on north past Stone Hut, through to Crooked Spur Hut, and descend out via Bush Stream to Mesopotamia Station, which marks the end of the 60km run and Aid Station Two.

The bike starts on gravel, following the back trails out toward Peel Forest before turning north to Mayfield, where I’ll switch from the gravel bike to the TT bike. From there it’s a long push to Rakaia Gorge, through to Hororata for Aid Station Three, and then the final stretch all the way into Hunting & Fishing Ballingers Tower Junction for the finish.

In total: 5km swim, 60km mountain run, 200km ride.
Cold water, alpine passes, river valleys, gravel, tarmac, and a purpose bigger than the distance.

Every $20 donated to the Project Beyond the Ranges Movember page puts you in the draw to win over $1,000 in prizes. If you can, please donate. If not, sharing the post helps push this further.

I had an absolute great time at the .show this year on the stand and doing some cool stuff with !! It was head to meet all you cool folks up at the show and share some great yarns.

It was only now sitting down and having a look at my phone I realised I got ZERO photos with anyone whoops but honestly it was great meeting you all and I look forward to seeing you all again in the near future!

Every man needs a few good mates.
The ones who turn hard days into stories worth retelling, who show up without needing to be asked, and who remind you what you’re capable of when you’ve got nothing left.

Real friendships are built through shared journeys — missed opportunities, long hunts, early mornings, and challenges that test who you are. It’s through those moments that trust forms, and the bond between men grows stronger. You learn together, you fail together, and you come out the other side better for it.

Project Beyond the Ranges might look like a solo challenge, but it isn’t. Every part of it is supported by the people around me — the ones who help, encourage, and push me to keep going when the grind gets heavy.

None of us do it alone.