Wilderness September 2020

IF YOU’VE EVER wondered about walking one of the Great Walks, this is the issue for you. Not only do we show you how to do each of the 10 walks, but we’ve also asked New Zealand’s best outdoor writers to share what the walks mean to them. When I asked the various writers to contribute their experiences, I was hoping to discover what makes each walk ‘great': is it the views, the huts or the overall experience. Turns out, it’s a combination of these things but, also, much more. I’ve discerned a couple of major themes running through the feature: that the walks are as much a cultural experience as they are a nature experience, and that those who walk them seem to develop an unbreakable connection to the…

Letter of the month THE ARTICLE ‘Subscribe to outside’ (August 2020) confirmed for me that I’m on the right track. I’ve started a private Facebook group called ‘Lunchtime Hikes’ for an invited list of friends and close colleagues – all women in their 40s and 50s. When I’ve spoken about my tramping trips, where I’d been and what I’d seen and heard, various responses would usually start with ‘oh wow – I’d like to do that but…’ – insert any of the next phrases to finish the sentence: ‘I’m not fit enough’, ‘I wouldn’t be able to keep up’, ‘I don't have the right gear’, ‘I'm not brave enough to do that’ or ‘aren’t you afraid?’ I agree with the author that ‘for every Kiwi tramper, there are two non-trampers…

Get your photo published here to receive a Light My Fire ‘Re-kit’ Cup/Straw/Spork made from environmentally-friendly bioplastic and worth $20. Learn more about LMF at e.ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

LYDIA BRADEY AWARDED ORDER OF MERIT CLIMBING ICON Lydia Bradey has been honoured for her services to mountaineering. The Wanaka local, who was the first woman to climb Mt Everest without supplementary oxygen, was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to mountaineering at a ceremony in Queenstown. She has since climbed Everest six times, and is the only woman to successfully guide four expeditions to its peak. Bradey said it was an honour to receive the award from Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy, and the award will be used to open doors and give back to New Zealand. “When you get a medal, I feel it obliges you to use the letters on your name for good causes,” she said. As patron of the…

TECH SPECS Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10 / Laowa 7.5mm F2 lens Tripod: Vanguard Veo 235 Camera settings: 25”, F2, ISO1600 NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY is one of the final frontiers where a dedicated digital camera still reigns supreme. But even with the best camera equipment, photographing clear images of the Milky Way is difficult in populated areas where light pollution diminishes the view of the stars. After being housebound for far too long, I looked at possible locations for a backcountry overnighter with solid night photography potential and soon settled on Granity Pass Hut in Kahurangi National Park for its accessibility and stunning mountain backdrop. To maximise my chance of coming away with a good image, I explored the topography using software such as Stellarium and The Photographer's Ephemeris to reveal the…

WITH HER WALL space quickly running out, Rachel Gamble-Flint needed a plan B. Photographs of tramping adventures adorned much of her home, and the need for a more streamlined interior was becoming apparent. The keen tramper had just returned from a Fiordland adventure with thousands of photos and rather than get them printed, she was struck with a new inspiration. Selecting a few colouring pencils and a fine liner, she got to work on her first map, using Geographx maps, DOC brochures, photographs and her memory for reference. The result – a beautifully illustrated, annotated map of the Hollyford-Pyke Loop – showcased the unique features of the landscape, the waterfalls, mountains and wildlife – and best of all, it was an efficient use of wall space. The map was a…