Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2017 i Wilderness

Ruataniwha decision prompts law change THE GOVERNMENT IS suggesting it might change the law to override the Supreme Court ruling blocking the controversial Ruataniwha Dam project. Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry had previously allowed 22ha of Ruahine Forest Park to be exchanged for 170ha of a nearby farm. The Ruahine land, which Barry had said was of low conservation value, would then be flooded once the dam was built. Environmental group Forest & Bird successfully challenged the land-swap in the Environment Court in 2016. Barry appealed that decision earlier this year, resulting in the latest Supreme Court ruling that that land-swap was not lawful. “The Supreme Court has confirmed that our forest parks belong to the people of New Zealand and are protected by the Conservation Act,” said Forest &…

EVAN SMITH HAS songs on his mind. Bird songs. So much so, that he raised over $100,000 to protect New Zealand native birds. Smith has been a hut warden at the Mackenzie Hut on the Routeburn Track for 15 years. During the first few years he observed a rapid decline in birdlife on the track while also noticing a visible increase in predators such as rats, stoats and possums. “Trampers staying at the hut were asking me every day why they didn’t hear or see any birds on the track,” he said. This prompted Smith to do something about it. Initially he just wanted to improve the birdlife around Mackenzie Hut. He approached the Department of Conservation and was given six traps to place around the hut. In the first…

1 MULTI-DAY MOUNTAIN BIKING Think overnight mountain biking with an emphasis on rough tracks and singletrack: two to five days on the bike (but can be longer), carrying the bare minimum of equipment to enable more comfortable travel over rough terrain and/or steep or long climbs. Depending on how technical the riding is, either a 27.5+ or full suspension bike may be most suitable, but rides can be tackled on any decent mountain bike. Classic rides in this category are Heaphy Track, Old Ghost Road and the Great Southern Brevet event (a 1100km ride around the South Island). 2 DIRT AND GRAVEL ROADS This very broad category includes multi-day and longer tours where the riding style is generally less technical and the emphasis is closer to cycle touring, but with…

It’s not the most heroic of starts for a journey to the mountains of legend. Hot. Sweaty. Crashing through beech forest. Swatting the occasional sandfly. Hauling uphill, hanging onto branches, our packs trying to drag us back downhill. Our six-strong party was clambering through beech on a steep ascent towards the Barrier Range, headed for the isolated Olivine Ice Plateau, a holy grail of New Zealand tramping. Two of our number, Peter Wilson and Danilo Hegg, had stood on its fastnesses before. But for the rest of us, it was new country. For almost as long as I’ve been tramping, I’d wanted to visit this hallowed ground, but never made it closer than sorties into the fringes of the Olivine Wilderness Area. Now I was finally headed for it, taking…

OMANAWANUI TRACK IS part of the Hillary Trail and has a reputation for being spectacular. Winter weather in the ranges can be hit or miss – and the trails notoriously muddy. But we arrived at the trailhead with a brilliant blue sky overhead and the small car park empty. We chose to tackle the track top to bottom so we would always have the views in front of us, rather than have our noses into the hill. The track undulates mostly downhill through mixed forest along an easy ridge before briefly rejoining the road. As we reentered the forest, the track steepens and is muddy in places. From this point, there are tantalising glimpses of the views across the Manukau Harbour which have inspired Auckland Council to dub the track…

SOMETIMES IT’S NICE to walk without a pack, even if that means the views you’ll find at your destination will not be as spectacular as those that can be enjoyed further from civilisation. So it was a pleasant surprise when my partner and I stumbled upon Castle Rock and the Deliverance Cove Track at Castle Point. The track heads south-west beyond the sand dunes, through woods around and above a lovely sheltered cove, to Castle Rock/ Matira. The summit is 162m above the cove, commanding panoramic views south over Christmas Bay, along the craggy south coast; and north, over the cove and a spectacular rocky reef, to the 100-year-old ‘Holiday lighthouse’ atop Seagull Island. Views fit for a king. On the south-east side of Castle Rock are sheer, sometimes overhung…

I wanted a biscuit that wouldn’t crumble in my pack and that catered to a range of diets. These Afghans should do the trick, though they didn’t even make it into my pack because my other half decided he quite fancied them with a cuppa. Profile Makes 12 cookies Prep time 15min Bake time 12min Cost $6-9 Ingredients 1 cup sunflower seeds ½ cup coconut threads 1 cup brown rice flour ½ cup buckwheat flour (if you’re not gluten free, swap rice and buckwheat for 1.5 cups wheat flour) 1 tsp baking powder ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla essence ½ cup honey ½ cup coconut oil 2-4 tbsp water Icing 3 tbsp melted coconut oil 1 tbsp honey ½ cup cocoa powder ½ cup walnuts Method Preheat oven…

PERCHED AT 2600M, Mt Ruapehu's crater lake is the focal point of any hike to the summit area. Accessible year-round, it comes alive in winter when pristine white snow blankets the surrounding peaks and vast Summit Plateau. The easiest route to the summit is via Whakapapa Ski Field, consisting of a fairly strenuous two-hour hike from the top of the Waterfall Express chairlift. But for a more adventurous multi-day challenge, and a glimpse to one of New Zealand’s darkest days, consider taking the Round-the-Mountain Track anti-clockwise from Bruce Road. As the track begins a descent to Lake Surprise, head east up the easy unmarked ridge, above Mangaturuturu River. There are good camp spots on the ridge or next to the river. At 2000m, at the base of the Mangaturuturu Glacier,…

IT’S 11AM ON a Monday morning at a little school next to the bushy Clevedon Scenic Reserve. There is a group of kids on the front porch of the school, soaking up the sunshine. One boy plucks away at a guitar next to a scattered assortment of muddy gumboots in various sizes. Head teacher Joey Moncarz stands near the door, answering questions, eventually offering a hand to a girl whose guitar is out of tune. This is Deep Green Bush School: a private, ‘democratic nature-immersion’ school just outside of Auckland. Founded by Moncarz and Oksana Simonoff, the school has a unique approach to education. There are no assignments, no tests, and no grades. There are no bells signaling the start of class; in fact, there’s not even a school desk…

Bikepacking is a new name for an old sport: multi-day mountain biking with an emphasis on travelling light and having fun. Ever since the late 1800s, adventurous cyclists have strapped overnight gear onto bikes and headed into the wilderness. The mountain biking boom of the 1990s allowed a new type of bike adventure as fat tyres, better brakes and stronger frames opened up new possibilities for adventure: four wheel drive tracks, single track and rough terrain could now be tackled with confidence and a lot more comfort. As mountain biking has become increasingly specialised, whole new categories of bikes and products have emerged, including bikepacking specific luggage – reducing reliance on racks and panniers – and ‘plus’ bikes with wider rims and even fatter tyres. Technology too has opened new…

George Guille couldn’t sleep. It was late. Or maybe it was early morning. His alarm was set for 3am. The aspiring alpinist and adventure photographer needed to rest. But his mind was racing. “My brain just wasn’t turning off,” says Guille. “I spent the entire night not sleeping – and you start worrying. Everything starts running through your mind.” His previous three mountaineering missions hadn’t gone to plan. En route to the summit of Mt Kehu (2220m) in Nelson Lakes National Park, Guille and his climbing partner Brandon Kay ran out of time. They got stuck on the descent and had to change course, scrambling down the wrong side of the mountain. On The Footstool (2764m) in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, precarious crevasses and a five-metre wide bergschrund at the…

KAHURANGI POINT SITS on the northernmost stretch of the West Coast, about 45km south-west of Cape Farewell, and it’s a logistical nightmare to get there and back in a weekend. The biggest issue is the tide. Big River, 2.5km from the hut, needs to be crossed at low tide. The best option is to coordinate any visit with an afternoon low tide, which gives time to get in and out from Nelson on consecutive days. Then there’s the weather; Big River can easily become ‘Bigger River’ after a deluge. The trip begins by wading the Turamawiwi River and then passing through the dunes to the beach, where gorgeous white sand stretches all the way to the lighthouse on Kahurangi Point. Walking along the beach leads to Anaweka River estuary, where…

Your trips, your pix What did you get up to last weekend? Get your photo published here to receive an Opinel No.5 folding knife worth $20. Learn more about Opinel at ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

REPORTEDLY ONCE VISITED by Princess Diana and Prince Charles, Royal Hut is a challenging destination to reach in winter. Whether you approach from Round Hill Ski Area or Mesopotamia Station, expect big ascents, deep snow and many river crossings. In winter, prepare yourself for delays and slow wading through deep snow – it’s best to bring snowshoes for the alpine areas to make progress more bearable. The hut itself is basic; it has eight bunks, tin walls and a small fireplace which doesn’t do much for heating, but does help to dry wet gear from the river crossings. Reading the hut book, it seems the only winter visitors are occasional backcountry skiers, whereas, in summer, a steady stream of Te Araroa Trail walkers regularly pass through. From Royal Hut you…

IN 2015, Jackie Lee Loffley-Wilson had a ‘whoops’ moment that led to her first job as a rafting guide. The 18-year-old and her fellow Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) classmates were paddling the Buller River when a rapid swept her overboard and she plunged into the swirling white water beneath. “I put myself in what’s known as the ‘white water float position’. I put my nose and toes in the sky and I managed to get on the top of the rapid,” she says. Jackie threw her paddle down to the next boat, saw another raft edging closer and climbed into it. Then, in a feat of personal strength, she ran across the raft and “superman dived” back onto her raft. “My tutor was like ‘pull over Jackie, pull…

Dedicated bikepacking luggage has revolutionised overnight mountain bike rides. The benefits of ‘soft’ bike luggage – bags that fit directly on the bike without steel racks) are threefold: the load is distributed over the bike, improving handing; there is ample clearance for scrub, deep ruts and large rocks, and soft luggage doesn’t rattle like panniers often do. A framebag, handlebar harness and an oversized underseat bag allow plenty of storage for a lightweight trip of a few days. If you already own a rear rack, the framebag and handlebar harness are a good first purchase; while the rear rack can carry a bundle in a dry bag. Top tube bags or feedbags (which mount on the handlebar) are ideal for snacks-on-the-go, multitools and items you want to access quickly.…

Timber Trail, Pureora Forest Park Towering podocarp forest, saved from chainsaws by 1970s activists, makes a memorable start to the Timber Trail. Combining ancient forest, purpose-built trail and tramway, this great entry-level bikepacking ride includes some of the longest and highest suspension bridges in the country. The classic ride covers 85km. St James Cycle Trail, St James Conservation Area Close to Hanmer, this intermediate two-day (64km) ride makes a rewarding loop through North Canterbury high country and covers fun terrain. Some rocky sections and steep climbs keep it challenging. There are several options for shorter or longer routing, including starting at Hanmer. Anne Hut is a worthwhile detour, both for a comfortable overnight stop and its beautiful location. Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail, Whanganui With the Fisher Track and Kaiwhakauka…

“It’s extremely annoying. There is no real reason – no legitimate reason. They just do it because they can.” - Danilo Hegg on being denied ac cess to cross Glenthorne Station Since the 1960s, the rock quarry at Auckland Boys Grammar School has been a haven for climbers. It’s smack-dab in the middle of the city, and offers some of the best – and most accessible – climbing in the North Island. There are two main cliffs, simply named ‘short’ and ‘long’, both of which are located next to the school’s playing fields. The routes are anywhere from 10 to 20m high. On sunny afternoons, Auckland climbers flock to the crag, some getting their first taste of outdoor climbing, others learning skills that keep them safe for climbing further…

PINNACLES HUT STANDS in a moderate alpine environment at 900m, right on the bush edge, below the north face of Mt Somers in central Canterbury. As part of the Mt Somers Walkway, it’s a popular destination being accessible via a good, albeit steep and rough, track from Sharplin Falls car park. Winter trips in the hills always come at a discount – short daylight hours and a steady feeling of pressure to get to the destination before nightfall. Our trip was no different and so we headed briskly up Bowyers Stream on the riverside track which leads all too soon to the unrelenting climb up and over Duke Knob (720m) to avoid the canyon below. This section is tedious and quickly claimed most of our enthusiasm. But once over the…