Wilderness October 2016

25 YEARS OF WILDERNESS IN 1991, ANDREW Mitchell was working for what was then David Hall Publishing as the editor of New Zealand Windsurfing. That magazine was only published for part of the year, so during the downtime, Mitchell was tasked with finding a gap in the newsstands for a new title – what was missing amongst the myriad mastheads? Mitchell’s research revealed there was little, indeed nothing, in the way of magazines for trampers. The niche was found and soon after, in October, Wilderness was launched as a bi-monthly magazine. It was printed on newspaper stock, mostly in black and white. Within two issues, it was clear Wilderness was going to be a winner. Letters poured in, advertisers flocked to the title. Demand was such that the December/January issue…

POLES AND BOOTS FOR ME, OKAY? I AM WAY over 30 and have a couple of diseases which create joint/tissue issues. In response to Steve August’s letter in which he advocated for saying no when things didn’t feel comfortable (‘The ability to say no’, September 2016), I have some comments. I love tramping and walking and run a small farm. I can walk for hours at a steady (not slow) speed, but I cannot walk fast for hours, or run. Steve hit the nail on the head when he mentioned trip leaders who take off and leave everyone else behind. When I meet a trip leader who does this, I have a very unpleasant day and never go with them again. Fortunately, most trip leaders are caring and kind. I…

SEND YOUR PIX 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…

Te Araroa Trail walkers are in for a treat: thanks to a generous individual who has donated the $250,000-$300,000 required to replace the archaic Caroline Creek Bivvy in the St James Conservation area of North Canterbury with a 10-bunk standard hut. DOC’s North Canterbury operations manager Kingsley Timpson said the hut, while also used by locals for climbing and hunting, is an important stop for thru-hikers on the Te Araroa Trail. Timpson estimates that roughly 500 people use the hut each year. The highest crossing of the trail is at Waiau Pass, which, for a southbound walker, is just before the biv. “This facility is the first hut – the refuge – that people receive coming over the pass. So it’s strategically quite an important location for a hut,” Timpson…

The rescue of a Czech woman from the Routeburn Track in August has raised awareness about tourism safety in the New Zealand outdoors. Pavlina Pizova survived a month in the hut warden’s quarters of DOC’s Lake Mackenzie Hut after her partner fell and died on the track in late July. Poor winter conditions and her compromised physical and emotional state meant she couldn’t leave the hut, so Pizova kept herself fed with canned food left from the previous season, and stayed warm by burning firewood. The Czech couple hadn’t communicated their intentions to anyone before they set out; it was the Czech authorities that raised the alarm. Pizova has said she and her partner were warned ahead of time that the track conditions could be challenging and dangerous. “Even though…

A number of outdoor leaders were honoured at the annual New Zealand Recreation Association Outdoor Awards. Those awarded include Geoff Spearpoint, who took home the Outstanding Volunteer Award for his backcountry-hut volunteer initiatives. Spearpoint has been a leader in motivating volunteer efforts in the hills; he has helped with the restoration and management of both Tunnel Creek Hut and Roaring Billy Hut in South Westland. “Geoff’s efforts have helped to elevate voluntary hut maintenance from an idea into a movement,” said Sam Newton, NZRA advocacy manager. ‘Didymo’ Dave Cade received the Environmental Leadership Award for his environmental leadership initiatives to protect central North Island rivers. The Supreme Award went to John and Christine Furminger for their 40 years of work in outdoor education programmes. “People like John and Christine Furminger,…