Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Wilderness

A PROJECT TO RESTORE HUTS on the Dusky Track is underway and the Backcountry Trust is appealing to the public for funding to ensure the future of the iconic tramp. The trust formed last year and manages a $350,000 annual DOC fund to help volunteer groups restore huts and tracks. It has now started a Give-a-little campaign to raise $20,000 to help re-roof two huts on the Dusky Track. Grant manager Rob Brown said maintenance on the huts has been lagging behind and they are leaking. “The huts are over 50 years old now and if we don’t do the work they will deteriorate further,” Brown said. “Spey Hut has already gone backwards and there is some rotten timber we will need to cut out.” The trust has funded the…

UNDERFIRE ONLINE tramping retailer Aorangi Methven has been shutdown following a number of complaints. There had been multiple reports of people buying top-of-the-line gear from the website, only to receive cheap equipment accompanied with an often random assortment of items. Complaints to the website went unanswered. In March, Wilderness ran a story highlighting people’s experience with the website and just weeks later, the Domain Name Commission moved to terminate the website. The commission is responsible for monitoring and registering .nz domain names. Commission spokesperson Henry Williams said after a number of complaints, the commission checked the website’s details and found them in breach of its terms and conditions – the contact details for the domain were incorrect, and attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful. The domain name was cancelled…

RISING ABOVE the shore of Lake Tekapo, Mt John boasts the kind of scenery you might expect on a Tourism New Zealand promotional video. The Mt John Walkway follows the lake before climbing to the 1031m summit, offering one of the best views in the region. And the secret is out. The track runs through Balmoral Station and farm manager Andrew Simpson says the number of walkers has increased rapidly, and is now approaching 100,000 a year. He says the sheer number of walkers means that issues with human waste, rubbish and disruption to stock is reaching a crisis point. “We need to think really clearly about how we cater for this amount of people and what is required with infrastructure, because the pollution is getting quite bad,” Simpson says.…

THERE CAN BE few more energising and invigorating ways to begin your day than an early morning walk to the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier viewpoint to watch the sunrise. An easy walk in summer, and a little more challenging in winter, the hardest part of this adventure is dragging yourself out of bed in the predawn dark. In winter, snow often blankets the ground in the Tasman Valley and the icy mountain air freezes anything that lingers, making the walk a winter-lover’s paradise. The snowy track leads over glacial moraine and ascends a few steps to arrive at the vantage point. The view is unrivalled, with the Tasman Glacier – New Zealand’s longest – and its terminal lake sprawled out in front. Dominating the view are some of the…

At first glance, a ski tourer might look like a normal resort skier, but if you look closer you will notice a few differences. The main one being they can ski both up and down hill. This ability to defy gravity and travel up slopes is called ‘skinning’ and is achieved by using touring bindings that allow the heel to lift so the ski can be pushed forward. Removable sticky skins attached to the ski provide grip. Once the skier gets to the top, the skins are removed, the heels are locked in place, and gravity does its thrilling work. Like tramping, ski touring is about the freedom to go where you like under your own steam. With large sections of New Zealand’s high country covered in snow from July to…

1- Pomoca Tipon Skins $399 Thin and lightweight skin with washable adhesive, UV and freeze resistant, durable adhesive doesn’t require regluing, 120mm and 140mm widths. www.pomoca.com 2- Norsewear Everyday Possum Lined Beanie $28.90 Possum inner and wool outer, folding brim can also be pulled down to keep ears warm. www.norsewear.co.nz 3- The North Face Snomad 34 $330 Award-winning ski touring day pack with spring steel frame, quick-access avy-tools pocket, helmet holder, covered-tip ice-tool holder, A-frame or diagonal ski carry, Glove Stash on shoulder strap, reinforced in high-abrasion areas, hydration compatible. 1280g www.thenorthface.co.nz 4- The North Face Respirator ¾ Zip $230 Durable and breathable midlayer with wicking stretch grid fleece, stretch double weave at arms, hood and seat, Lycra-bound, under-helmet hood, deep pack-friendly centre front zip, pack-friendly chest pocket, thumb-loop cuffs.…

Footwear I never wear boots as I’ve had issues with tendonitis in the past, so a sturdy but light pair of trail runners like the Salomon XD ticks all the boxes for me. I chuck in a pair of jandals to use at camp. HYDRATION After a lot of sad moments drinking mouldy water from water bladders, I’ve gone back to old-school water bottles. I have a Sawyer Squeeze water filter that has been really handy when water sources are limited and all that’s on offer are muddy creeks. Pack A 50-litre Osprey Aura has been perfect for long distance hiking. This pack only came in dark green so I usually tie a piece of luminous reflective fabric on the back when I’m road-walking or traversing through forests during hunting…

Moisture management Dry feet are less likely to blister or overheat, and a good sock will complement a boot’s lining by creating a gap which allows moisture to be drawn away from your foot, through the boot lining, to be released into the air. Seams Chafe-free seams lay flat against the skin to reduce pressure points. Materials All socks have different blends of synthetic and natural fibres. The exact mix will determine the quality, durability and comfort of the sock. Here’s what the various fibres do: Wool: insulates the foot and helps control moisture. Merino is naturally anti-bacterial and odour-resistant Lycra, spandex, elastane: keep socks up Nylon: adds durability Synthetic materials like Endurofil or CoolMax: wick moisture CONSTRUCTION Socks should fit snugly and stay put when they’re on. An elasticised…

NEW ZEALANDERS could get first dibs on booking a bunk on the Great Walks, as DOC investigates a preferential booking system. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has asked the department to investigate the feasibility of preferential booking for New Zealanders. Sage said she supported the idea, but wanted to see whether it would be technically possible before proceeding. “Because the Great Walks sell-out so quickly, and a lot of people don’t plan their holidays until later in the year, I’ve asked the department to look into it,” Sage said. The idea has gained the support of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Federated Mountain Clubs. It comes after the Government announced that tourists would be charged double the rate of Kiwis on four Great Walks (the Milford, Route-burn, Kepler and Abel Tasman). The…

VIRTUALLY EVERY New Zealander knows of Milford Sound: the elegant spire of Mitre Peak, the smoking form of the Bowen Falls, the sheer-sided majesty of a valley chiselled by glaciers past and long since invaded by the sea. Its Maori name, Piopiotahi, refers to the native thrush, piopio, that flew here to mourn Maui’s death. According to legend, Tu-teraki-whanoa carved each of the 14 fiords in Fiordland, using his great ko, or digging stick. Beginning in the south, he worked his way north, honing his skill until he reached the pinnacle of his craft by adzing Piopiotahi. School geography lessons taught me that a ‘sound’ is a valley shaped by a river, then invaded by the sea; for example, Marlborough’s Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. In contrast, a fiord –…

THE SHARP SPIRE of Girdlestone; the precipitous pyramid of Ringatoto Peak; the prow of Te Heuheu; the dome of Tahurangi Ridge. All these aspects of Mt Ruapehu present themselves on a tramp around its sprawling flanks. The 66km Round the Mountain Track circumnavigates Ruapehu, making an irregular scribe around the southern half of our oldest national park. Taking 4-5 days, the route crosses diverse landscapes and ecosystems; subalpine wetlands, beech forests, rocky alpine uplands, as well as the Rangipo, the closest we have to a desert. While the North Island’s highest mountain and our largest volcano dominate the landscape, this is also a place of sometimes exquisite details: the russet hues of the ground-hugging Dracophyllum recurvum; the attractive mats of white daisy, the irregular blocks of old lava flows and…

1 Pisa Conservation Park, Cromwell 4-7hr, easy The Pisa Range provides a great starting point for anyone new to ski touring. Located behind Snow Farm, the range’s rolling terrain, easy access and reliable snow cover makes it perfect for those still mastering their touring and skiing skills. For an adventurous day out, park at Snow Farm (buy a $10 pass and inform reception of your intentions), and head up to the summit of Mt Pisa. On the eastern side of the peak you will find some of the steeper runs on the range and stunning rock towers which you can ski between. For an overnight or longer option, stay in DOC’s Kirtle Burn Hut or book the private Robrosa Hut ($150/night, sleeps four) and spend a few days exploring the…

I ARRIVED AT Blue Lake Hut wet and cold after battling wind and rain in the Sabine Valley. The hut doesn’t have a porch or entrance shelter and water had pooled over the floor, laundry hung from the rafters, and people were huddled on bunks. I first noticed the four young boys from Canterbury – each of them oozing swaggering Southern Man attitude – because of the music they were playing from a portable speaker. That in itself is poor hut etiquette: it’s arrogant to assume that everyone else enjoys the same music as you. But it was the huge amount of space they occupied that really made them stand out. They hogged one of the two tables and had their gear laid out on a bunk each. Meanwhile, others…

THIS HEARTY dinner is perfect for a cold winter’s night. It is best suited for when you have a fireplace you can cook on, because it takes a fair amount of gas to cook the barley. If you want a quicker-cooking recipe, replace the barley with white rice and use about one cup less water. You can also replace dehydrated peas for 200g frozen peas if you don’t mind the weight. Profile Prep time 5min Cook time 40min Serves Three Cost $8-$10. INGREDIENTS 1 small onion, diced 1 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, diced 1 cup pearl barley 2 veggie stock cubes 1 bay leaf 200g fresh mushrooms 100g dehydrated peas (soaked in hot water for 30min prior) 4-5 cups water ½ cup sunflower seeds Salt and pepper to…

After a busy day at work in Christchurch, Erik Monasterio headed to a favourite rock climbing haunt in the Port Hills. He chose a climb he had done 20 times before and well within his 30 years experience, which has included knocking off peaks from the Andes to the Himalayas. And yet it nearly cost him his life. “I went to do a few routes, but I knew I wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” Monasterio recalls. “I was fit and well within my capacity, but my head was too busy. I was distracted.” Monasterio is still trying to piece together what exactly happened – somehow he slipped and fell seven metres. He was knocked unconscious and when he came to, he found himself on the ground and in…

You can’t yell at your dog too much when you’re looking for the elusive and shy whio. As we powered up the Mangatera River in Ruahine Forest Park, Andy Glaser kept Beau under control with whistles, hand signals, a low voice and the occasional tap. As the dog sniffed on, we passed through a network of weather-sculpted limestone caverns. “This place has just made it into my top 10 list of New Zealand rivers,” Glaser said, looking awestruck. We were soon making our way through dark, steep-walled gorges that were stepped with log jams. I found myself lagging and had all but forgotten what we were doing when Beau suddenly stopped in the middle of the stream. I could see him pointing with a bent foreleg; unusually still, seeing and…

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…

BY THE TIME you’ve reached Tarn Bivouac, having either clambered up the cold, bouldery confines of the Tukituki River and Rosvalls Track, or traversed over the Sawtooth Ridge, you’ll probably be grateful for any sort of shelter – even a tiny two-bunk dogbox-style biv. The diminutive hut lies in a partially-sheltered dip on Black Ridge, a long spur that descends from its high point at Ohuinga (1686m). The ridge crest above offers a grand profile of the notched Sawtooth Ridge to the west, and the shadowy headwaters of the Tukituki below, as well as the gentler foothills of Hawke’s Bay, lying crumpled to the east. The bivouac takes its name from sizeable tarns located further along the ridge. It was built in 1960 by the Forest Service. Small but practical,…

THE NEW ZEALAND SCAUP (p ā pango) is the only diving duck in New Zealand. It spends a lot of time underwater and can dive to a depth of up to three metres and travel considerable distances while down. Conservation status Endemic (occurring only in New Zealand) species classified as ‘not threatened’. CALL The male scaup has a high-pitched whistle sounding like ‘weeee weo-weo weo’ and the female emits a low and quiet ‘wack wack’. NESTING The nest is made on the ground, close to water and well hidden. Often it will be completely covered and it is not uncommon for scaup to have a tunnel leading to a concealed chamber. The breeding season falls between October and March. They’re usually gregarious birds, but during the breeding season mating pairs…

Ledlenser SEO 7R $179.99 Rechargeable plus runs on AAA batteries, ANSI-rated, two energy modes and four light functions including dimming and signal, OPTIsense adjusts light to surrounding environment, floodlight, spotlight, red or white LED, transport lock, IPX-6, seven-year extended warranty. Output 220 lumens Range 130m Run-time 5-20hr Weight 93g. www.ledlenser.co.nz 1- Petzl Duo S $889 Five light modes, BOOST mode temporarily delivers 1100 lumens, glove-friendly operation, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, energy gauge, anti-glare function dims light to avoid blinding others, auto-lock, rear-mounted battery, fits all helmets, washable headband. Output 1100 lumens Range 200m Run-time 3.5-12.5hr Weight 370g. www.spelean.co.nz 2- Ledlenser NEO 10R $199.99 Rechargeable with swivel-mounted and focusable lamp, ANSI-rated, vertical battery box, can also be worn on chest with included chest belt, rear red blinking light, low battery warning, seven-year…

Vasque Saga GTX $449.99, 1304g (m), 1032g (w) Features: Waterproof 2mm nubuck leather uppers combined with a mesh textile and Gore-Tex lining provide a light, waterproof and breathable boot. The rubber toe and heel guards have built-in ventilation ports. Vasque’s All Terrain Compound midsole offers plenty of flex and a plastic shank limits torsional twisting and is particularly sturdy on the inside edge. 4/5 Best described as snug. The gusseted tongue limits how wide the mouth of the boot opens, so it was a real effort to get my foot in (there is a knack: put them on while standing). Once on, they fitted like a glove, comfortably holding my foot to prevent heel-lift and providing enough wriggle room on downhills to ensure my toes didn’t get squished. 4/5 Comfort:…

In a remote South Westland valley, a peanut butter-loving rat springs a trap that radios a signal to a satellite that bounces to a laptop in a bivvy in the bush, telling the field rangers exactly which trap, out of 1000 set throughout this far-flung backcountry, has been sprung. It’s not science fiction: it’s just one of the smart tools designed by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), in their aim to remove predators from – and prevent their reinvasion into – vast tracts of wilderness. As we snuggle into winter, spare a thought for this ZIP team, sheltering in huts and temporary bivvies and scrambling through the cold, rain-sodden Perth Valley, in Westland/ Tai Poutini National Park, monitoring and trapping the resident rats and possums. Aerial 1080 applications are planned this…