Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i Wilderness

IT HAD A FAMILIARLY tragic plot. A tourist sets off ill-prepared on a challenging alpine walk. The weather deteriorates, and exposed to the elements in blizzard conditions, another international visitor doesn’t make it home from a New Zealand track. The death of Indian tourist Sateesh Babu Halehally-Chikkanna on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in October has reinvigorated debate about how to ensure the safety of tourists exploring the backcountry. In the wake of the death, police and DOC released a statement urging the public to intervene and talk to tourists about their plans. “Talk to visitors who are in your shops, petrol stations or hotels,” senior constable Barry Shepherd said. “Ask them their plans, tell them about the New Zealand weather – what cold really means here, what rain really means…

A NEW HUT will be built in South Westland this summer thanks to a bequest from author and conservationist, Andy Dennis. The eight-bunk hut will be built beside a tarn 1250m up the Mataketake Range, near Lake Dime north of Haast, and will create a new multi-day loop in the area. The hut will be owned and managed by the Backcountry Trust. Trust manager Rob Brown said they spent months looking at a number of sites, but the Mataketake was the pick of the bunch. “It will be the first new hut built in the World Heritage Area since it was created,” Brown said. “It’s got great views east to Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Tasman, west to the Tasman Sea and south towards the Haast Valley, which really gives a…

ALL IT TOOK was two hikers, a night on the turps and a roasty-toasty fire that wasn’t properly extinguished to lose a century-old farmhouse in Skippers Canyon last January. The former Mount Aurum Station homestead was reportedly burned to the ground by fire in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. It was said the couple responsible fled the scene embarrassed, but later owned-up to police saying the fire simply got away on them. Luckily, nearby campers stopped the blaze spreading using hand pump extinguishers and stamping out flames. Firefighters arrived and had the fire out by 4am. DOC heritage ranger Jim Croawell was responsible for the clean up. “It was a terrible loss,” he says. “That old place was special to a lot of people, including the families connected…

THE TRANQUIL ST JAMES WALKWAY has long been a favourite destination for trampers. Commencing at Lewis Pass, the 66km marked trail provides access to some memorable and isolated mountainscapes where valley, forest, scree, snow and ragged summits form an exquisite vista. Best of all, the track can be negotiated with surprising ease and is suitable for all ages and abilities. Most people will take 3-5 days to complete the track, stopping off at one of the several excellent huts along the way while enjoying the scenery and revelling in the space, colour, and personal challenge of completing a beautiful multi-day trek. For those with time to spare, there are many options to explore farther off the main route, to climb a mountain, visit a hidden lake, or just set up…

‘ACCESSIBLE BY 4WD or company car’ is a tongue-in-cheek South Island expression that captures perfectly the dilemma for a vehicle owner deciding whether to drive that gnarly ski field access road or the river track to the start of a tramp. Yes, you might make it in a 2WD vehicle but not without considerable wear and tear. That’s wear and tear on the track as well – a 4WD driven with care will cause much less damage than a slipping, sliding 2WD. Not all 4WDs are created equal Many cars have 4WD but are still not designed to go off-road. That’s because they are missing two other key attributes: high ground clearance, and low-range gears. Suspension that sits the vehicle well clear of the ground allows you to drive over…

THE AUSTRALASIAN shoveler is a highly mobile species with many birds traversing the length of New Zealand annually before returning again to their specific breeding areas. CONSERVATION STATUS Native species classified as ‘not threatened’. Features The most distinguishing feature of the Australasian shoveler/kuruwhengi is its large shovel-shaped bill that is almost twice as wide at its tip as at its base. Males are colourful, with a brown and white mottled chest and chestnut-coloured flanks. They have a lovely blue-grey head and neck and a distinctive white crescent-shaped band at the base of the black bill and bright orange eyes. The female is a mottled brown colour with a dull brown eye. Nesting The nesting season is in October, but just prior to that, birds gather in large flocks at traditional…

Why do a South Island traverse using a scooter? Constance Titterson: My friend Jeremy Platt came up with the idea while on another South Island trip. He was trying to hitchhike after a few weeks in the backcountry and no one would pick him up and he thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if I had some kind of transport in my pack that I could use’. He spent a couple of years developing different versions of a pack-scooter and thought the South Island would be a great place to test them out. What are the scooters like? CT: They are made of carbon fibre and aluminium and weigh about 3kg. He used a 3D printer to create a mould out of plastic and lined it with carbon fibre. He didn’t…

AN ACADEMIC is calling for public debate on public access to Crown-owned farmland, saying the law governing access is ambiguous and is begging for further clarification. The Crown owns more than a million hectares of South Island high country, the bulk of which is leased to farmers through pastoral leases which can be perpetually renewed. University of Canterbury senior lecturer Dr Ann Brower said historically the law governing pastoral leases did not give farmers exclusive possession of the land, but only the right to graze it. This would imply the public has greater rights to access these high country stations. But she said decades of lobbying had created a perceived right of exclusive access. “Other parts of the Land Act have ‘exclusive’ rights written into it, but it’s conspicuously absent…

TWO DOC STAFF killed in a helicopter crash in Wanaka last month had been threatened for their involvement in tahr control, it has emerged. DOC came under heavy criticism from the hunting community when it announced plans to cull 17,000 tahr over the next 10 months. Rangers Scott Theobald and Paul Hondelink were about to begin a tahr culling mission when their helicopter crashed shortly after take-off, killing them both along with pilot Nick Wallis. Conservation Authority chair Kerry Prendergast said the pair had been abused by people opposed to the tahr control operation in the preceding weeks. “Everyone involved in conservation is still mourning the loss of Hondy and Scotty, who were both subjected to abusive calls to their home addresses and on social media over this issue,” Prendergast…

Close to Hope Kiwi Lodge on the Harper Pass Track, the Kiwi River runs past. From there you can see right up the valley, in the direction of Kiwi Saddle, a decent expanse of land where you can see someone coming a mile away. Or so we thought, when my friend Laura and I stripped down to our birthday suits and started washing in the river. Only a few minutes later – barely enough to wash a sweaty armpit – we saw the grey head of an older gentleman bob along the grassline and come over the hill. Foiled! Laura got dried and dressed with the swiftness of a cheetah, but I got flustered and only managed to cover myself with a towel. A very small, tramping-sized towel which left…

It’s the hill that does it. The massive barrier of limestone and marble of Takaka Hill, between Motueka and Golden Bay, acts like a filter, dissuading many travellers from entering the secluded haven of the bay despite the fact that SH60 cuts across the hilltop with relative ease. Yet from the hill’s summit, after all those hairpins, where the first snapshot of the bay is revealed, there is a tangible sense that this truly is a special slice of New Zealand. Sandwiched between the forested hinterland of Kahurangi National Park to the west and tiny but world-renowned Abel Tasman National Park to the east, Golden Bay curls out into the Tasman Sea, its unique northern boundary formed by the ‘kiwi-beak’ barrier of Farewell Spit. Coming here for a weekend of…

Trounson Kauri Park, Northland In 1890, James Trounson set aside 3.14ha of land for a reserve, which is now 457ha in extent. The track is wide, even and metalled. It performs a loop through the forest, over a substantial boardwalk and alongside a stream. There are information panels and even audio recordings providing commentary to help children understand the kauri and ecology of the forest. As the birdlife here is more prolific than elsewhere, you can spend time with the kids just observing the birds. There is also a campsite, which provides an excellent opportunity to see the resident kiwi at night. Access Signposted from SH12 Time 40min Maungauika/North Head, Auckland In the 1880s, when the Russians were the enemy, the government constructed coastal defence systems as…

Carrying your baby There are many different baby carriers available. Most local babywearing groups will hire out carriers for a small fee and offer advice about fit and safety. Carrying everything else It’s a good idea to share the load with someone when overnighting. Not only will you have a lot more gear, your core muscles and back will be weaker after pregnancy. I carried Rosie on my front, and a daypack on my back. My husband carried everything else in a full-size pack. Food Food is the solution to most baby problems. Even if you are breastfeeding it’s a good idea to take some back-up formula because exercise can reduce your milk supply. Once your baby is eating solids, snacks are the key to a happy day. Take a…

A GOOD TRAMPING photo captures people enjoying the outdoors. But when you are tramping by yourself or want to be part of a group photo, you have to be creative to get in the picture. FIND SOLID GROUND A stable support for your camera is important. A bean bag on a rock is a cheap, lightweight and flexible platform for your camera. But a table-top or half-height tripod will open new perspectives. Remember that any tripod is better than no tripod! UNLEASH YOUR CAMERA While a self-timer will cover your basic needs, a remote trigger will allow you more flexibility. Use your camera’s built-in bluetooth or smart-phone app, or buy a wireless radio trigger which can work at a distance of 100m or more. Avoid infrared triggers due to their…

THIS RECIPE DIFFERS from your usual Christmas cake and has converted many fruit cake haters in its time. Its deliciously chewy, full of flavour and will top up your energy stores. It has less flour than most fruit cakes, leaving more room for the good stuff like dried fruit and nuts. Its the perfect companion to a cup of tea. Profile Prep time: 15min with overnight soak Cook time: 45min Serves: Many Cost: $15-20 Ingredients ½ cup dates ½ cup sultanas 1 cup walnuts ½ cup dark chocolate ¾ cup crystallised ginger 1 cup chopped dried pears 1 ¼ cup brown rice flour ¼ cup tapioca flour ½ cup honey 1 medium lemon 2 tbsp brandy 1 cup water 1 tsp mixed spice Method The night before baking, mix together…

PACK My pack is a Fairydown Phoenix, which is still my favourite. It’s a little heavier than some packs, but it’s still in great shape after many years. I also carry a 3-litre Platypus water bladder. SLEEPING I use an MSR Hubba Hubba tent – it’s light and comfortable for one, but easily fits two people. I also have a three-quarter length Therm-a-Rest mattress, which doubles as a splint and flotation device. I use a Macpac Solstice 700 sleeping bag, which I keep in a dry bag with a set of long thermals, socks, hat and gloves. Clothing I take Gore-Tex rain pants, a shell jacket and a down jacket. Spare clothing is a pair of wool socks and two Icebreaker t-shirts. Handy things I also carry 50m of builder…

GET YOUR PHOTO PUBLISHED HERE TO RECEIVE A TUB OF STORM LEATHER CREAM TO WATERPROOF, CONDITION AND SHINE YOUR TRAMPING BOOTS. Learn more about Storm at ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

REVENUE FROM backcountry huts has declined after the country was battered by storms earlier this year. DOC’s latest annual report shows revenue from backcountry huts has been flat since 2015/16 and declined by $33,000 over the past year to $2,062,000. DOC recreation, tourism and heritage director Gavin Walker said track closures from storms across the country affected revenue at a number of popular sites. Pinnacles Hut in Coromandel, the largest hut in the country, was closed for much of the year due to storm damage and revenue was down $52,000. A number of tracks in the Nelson region also suffered damage following cyclones earlier in the year. Walker said, overall, more people were using the backcountry hut network, as the conservation estate has become increasingly popular with Kiwis and tourists…

MSR WindBurner Duo Stove System 1.8L $399.99 Combining award-winning Reactor technology with the features travellers need most, the WindBurner Stove System is ideal for backcountry adventures and weekend camping. Silva Expedition S Compass $149.99 Silva’s Expedition series of compasses is a global leader when it comes to accuracy, precision and durability. Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy $299.99 each Win two synthetic-fill Space Cowboy summer-weight sleeping bags. Weighing a paltry 545g, you’ll hardly notice you’re carrying it. MSR Carbon Reflex 2 $999.99 MSR’s lightest double-walled two-person tent weighs just 990g! It features carbon fibre poles, a micromesh inner and a seam-taped fly. Therm-a-Rest Airhead Pillow $64.99 each Win two inflatable pillows to help you drift off just about anywhere! Combining air and open cell foam, this innovative pillow has just the right combination…

AT EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT, I was sipping tea in a café with three new and similarly-afflicted friends. We were discussing how babies were going to change our lives. One of the mamas-to-be asked me what I did to relax. “Tramping,” I replied. “The multi-day, backcountry kind.” Her face took on a look of deep concern. “So you’re an active relaxer, then?” Ah, the lure of the backcountry, far from those ever-increasing madding crowds. The perfect balm for an active relaxer. The front country will do at a pinch – particularly if it includes bagging a new hut. But the best release from nine to five drudgery is one of those great long South Island epics. No jandal-clad selfie stick snappers, no boombox backpacks, just the birds, the rivers, the mountains,…

It started with a 130-year-old map showing a long lost miner’s road. The map, discovered by a Buller local, shows a route weaving through the rugged Lyell Range and forested valleys, connecting the ghost town of Lyell to Seddonville, 85km away. Word got out about the forgotten track, piquing the interest of a group keen to discover a new local trail and a lost piece of the region’s history. The Old Ghost Road began to take shape. Phil Rossiter, chair of the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust, which developed and manages the trail, says it became an obsession. “We called it the Lyell flu, and it took hold,” Rossiter says. After exploring the route, a vision took shape of what a new world-class trail could do for the Buller district. “The region…

DESPITE THE POPULARITY of navigation apps on smartphones, knowing how to read a paper map is an essential skill for when the batteries inevitably die. To understand a map, you must first understand the various symbols depicted. This is where the key, located on the left hand side of the map, comes in handy. Tracks: Different types of tracks, roads and bridges are identified with different symbols. Walking tracks are short dashes, poled routes, found above the bushline, are dotted. Just because a track or road is shown does not imply right of access. Relief features: Relief features such as cliffs, terraces, slips, rock outcrops, saddles and caves are all shown on the map. A saddle is where there is a dip along a ridgeline. Walking along the ridgeline, you…

ACHES AND PAINS can be a common part of an active lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore or put up with persistent pain. Intermittent or ongoing pain can be a warning sign that something might become a serious problem or that an old injury is getting worse. You might be able to ignore the pain until one day you move just a little too much in the wrong way and find yourself with a serious injury because your body was already vulnerable. Next time you feel that nagging pain in the same old place, ask yourself: »Is your basic range of movement significantly limited (you’re not able to bend or twist, push or pull)? »Does it limit daily activities (cooking, driving, working)? »When it does flare up, do…

OUTSOLE The lug pattern and outsole compound determine how grippy the sandal is in different conditions. Harder compounds will last longer but don’t provide the same level of on trail grip as softer options. Widely-spaced, multi-lugged soles are great for muddy trails, while narrower spacing is better for water-slicked rocks and tracks. MIDSOLE A stiffened shank offers support and protection to the foot. Arches are supported by a medial post that also reduces twisting. Footbed Impregnated or coated with an anti-microbial treatment to reduce odours caused by sweat, the foot-bed is generally soft and anatomically-shaped. Closure VELCRO IS SIMPLE, RELIABLE AND DURABLE. PULL-CORD LACES PROVIDE A BETTER, MORE ADJUSTABLE FIT ALONG THE LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE FOOT. UPPER MATERIALS Depending on the sandal’s intended use, uppers may be waterproofed…