Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Wilderness

1. TĀNE MAHUTA WALK, NORTHLAND This short walk, suitable for buggies and children, leads to Tāne Mahuta, the oldest known kauri in Aotearoa. The tree's name translates to ‘God of the Forest’. Tāne Mahuta is 52m tall and is estimated to be more than 2500 years old. 2. KAURI LOOP TRACK, HUNTLY This track winds through a native kauri forest and is an easy 1–2 hour loop with several lookouts, from which the Waikato River can be seen. On a clear day you may also get glimpses of Tongariro National Park. 3. HUKUTAIA DOMAIN, ŌPŌTIKI This domain has several walking options, including a short walk to a pūriri named Taketakerau, which is over 1900 years old. 4. MANGAOTAKI WALK, MAHOENUI Along this 2km walk is an 1800-year-old tōtara named Pouākani.…

Walking meditation is simple. Concentrate on your feet, your body and the ground beneath, then direct your mind to how it feels to walk. In Japan this is known as forest bathing or shinrin-yoku, a Japanese ecotherapy term. It dates to the 1980s and was a response to a national health crisis that saw a spike in stress-related illnesses among people working in technology. New Zealand's native forest offers an ideal environment for walking meditation. In fact, a National Geographic article named New Zealand as one of the better places in which to participate in forest bathing. Walking mindfully through a forest is said to add a layer of good to your physical and mental wellbeing. The suggested benefits include reduced stress, improved immunity, lower blood pressure and quicker recovery…

“Usually the little things. A flower, a bird, an insect … And sometimes big things like a stunning vista or a goal achieved.” – Sue Lovatt “I love the freedom that walking gives to my mind. I find it difficult to think of work when walking, and instead allow my thoughts to wander through all sorts of other, much less stressful things.” -Dan Lodge “MY PASSION IS TRAMPING ABOVE THE BUSHLINE, SO WALKING BRINGS THE ADDED JOY OF ONGOING FITNESS, FRESH AIR, CHANGING WEATHER AND THE DIFFERENT MOOD IT ADDS TO EACH DAY. MY WEE DOG FINN LOVES IT TOO.” - Dina Parker “THE RANDOM PIECES OF WONDER THAT I EXPERIENCE WITH EVERY WALK. THERE IS NEVER A WALK THAT DOESN'T PROVIDE A POSITIVE SURPRISE AND ADD TO MY DAY.” - Stuart Hill…

GREAT WILDLIFE encounters can come from studying the rocks and rotten logs by the side of the trail. So, slow down and look at the forest floor. You'll soon discover that within a mouldy old tree stump there are worlds within worlds – a multitude of tiny plants and fungi that are, arguably, just as fascinating and remarkable as other, more visible, wildlife. Lichens, for instance, are less of a distinct individual species than a way of life: a fungus that has teamed up with a plant – a cyanobacteria or an algae. The fungus forms the bulk of the lichen, capturing the plant within its cells and harvesting sugars from it. Lichens are such incredibly successful partnerships that they cover around eight per cent of the earth's surface –…

‘LIGHTER GEAR please’ is the call increasingly heard from outdoor enthusiasts. However, it's not a new call and light gear is a natural extension to better, more comfortable gear. And, as with most ‘new’ things, there are many myths around the viability and safety of using lighter gear or having an ultralight base weight (<4.5kg pack weight, before food and water). Here are four concepts about lightweight gear that could improve your experience in the outdoors. Ultralight gear is for everyone, not just fastpackers Essentially, ultralight tramping is better for your joints and back. Many hunters and packrafters want ultralight gear because the rest of their specialised gear can be heavy. There are many benefits, not the least being safety, comfort and health. And, once weight is dropped from packs,…

Wild TRIPS TOKA BIVOUAC faces east and has a lovely position in a subalpine basin on the Ngamoko Range. One of a few surviving ex-Forest Service S86 dog box-style bivouacs, it was built during the deer-culling era and is located on the tops of the Ruahine Range. It can be an enchanting place, especially in the early morning when the sun hits the basin, glinting off tarns and lighting up the surrounding ridges and numerous leatherwood gullies. The biv overlooks the nearby Pohangina River, and has a pleasing sense of remoteness despite good access on two tracks. Toka Biv was built sometime between 1958 and 1960, and by 2019 the 60-year-old structure needed some serious work. Rotten timber, rusted cladding, rat-chewed mattresses and a leaking window all suggested better days.…

Synthetic material – especially polyester and nylon – has shaped the outdoor and adventure industry we know today, with outdoor gear lauded for its performance and durability. It's tough, breathable, warm, waterproof, wind-resistant and lightweight – a step change from the gear of earlier explorers who were kitted out in natural fibres such as cotton, wool and down. More recent climbing and exploration achievements wouldn't have been possible with old-fashioned gear, says Gavin Davidson, design manager at Macpac. “Expeditions that took months and required an army of support teams are now being completed by small teams in record time – thanks, in some degree at least, to modern gear.” But with this comes the uncomfortable truth that about half of the textiles used in outdoor clothing are materials that leave…

Let's hear a little about yourself and how you came to live where you do. I met David at a wedding and we were married six months later. He brought me out to the farm, which is right at the end of the road, miles from anywhere, and I fell in love with it. We had our 50th wedding anniversary not so long ago and have had a wonderfully charmed life. How did the idea for the Coast Trail come about? Our children were off at boarding school, so there we were – empty nesters. Heather and I walked the Banks Peninsula Track, and when we got home we thought, “Well, why can't we do this?” So by the time the boys had finished their evening whisky, we had a…

DOC WARNING SIGNS WELCOMED When tramping with my family late last year on Robert Ridge (Nelson Lakes National Park), the signs warning of the dangers of exposed ridge travel forced us to stop and ask: were the conditions okay to proceed? Did we have the gear we needed? Could we last the distance? Our walk to Angelus Hut was straightforward: it was a calm, clear day with stunning views. The next day, however, the weather closed in Driving rain and low visibility ruled out a return along the ridge. Signage at the hut about an ‘emergency’ exit route down Speargrass Creek made our choice easy. We got back to the car park drenched but safe. It's the first time I've encountered such explicit warnings on any route in Aotearoa. Some…

Thousands of rivers and streams cross New Zealand, so it's likely you'll get wet feet on many tramping trips. To reduce the spread of invasive species, it is important to check, clean and dry all tramping gear. DOC has recently requested that people heading into Nelson Lakes National Park clean all gear that is wet or damp from any river or lake water. Cleaning stations are installed near the park's main access points and at Coldwater, Lakehead and Sabine huts. The microscopic algae lindavia and didymo are present in lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa and in Lake Tennyson on the park's eastern edge. The algae are also in some Tasman and Marlborough rivers. Lindavia can produce a sticky mucus-like substance called ‘lake snow’ that floats below the water surface. Didymo, also…

Complete the #microchallenges as these Walkl200km participants have done, and receive a Walk1200km badge. The best efforts receive a special prize from our partners! #microchallenge4 LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS Helen Howell climbed Mt Pirongia. “The mud quickly ate my footprints, but one is visible in the bottom left of the photo.” Jeremy Eade visited Āwhitu Peninsula and walked the beach. “Our footprints were being erased almost as quickly as we were making them, ready for the next people to enjoy the area.” Mike Harneiss left his footprints in all the wrong places! #microchallenge5 – KISS A CAIRN (OR TRACK MARKER) Michelle Wong went in for the kiss on the way down from Mt Arthur during an “epic five days in Kahurangi National Park”. Sarah Law's track marker was in a stunning…

A ‘COVE’ IS a small bay connected to the ocean by a shallow or narrow entrance. Just as trampers value huts as places of shelter, so mariners value coves as havens to escape rough conditions at sea. Supper Cove, at the conclusion of Fiordland's Dusky Track, holds fond memories for me. I've walked the Dusky twice and loved the isolation, history and mood of this remote fiord. On one trip we spent 12 days over the track but I had somehow packed only 10 dinners. We arrived at Supper Cove Hut hungry, wet and tired. A yacht was moored in the bay and my friend Rob signalled it. A dinghy appeared and by sheer chance it was rowed by Rob's friend Blair Jacobs, who was sailing around Fiordland. “Want some…

OFF the Beaten TRACK Mention the Tararua Range to veteran trampers and it will evoke memories of remote river gorges, steep spurs, goblin forest, historic huts and razor-sharp ridges. Storms sweep the tussock tops about 200 days a year, increasing the risk of hypothermia and making navigation difficult. There was unfinished business in those hills north of Wellington. Years earlier we had attempted a Northern Crossing in winter, but when we crested the spine of Te IkaaMāui at dusk we were in a whiteout, and failed to find Arete Biv. We spent a tentless night shivering in our sleeping bags. Perhaps this time we would find the hut? Perhaps we would find redemption? My friend Malcolm Peak likes bagging peaks; I was born in the Hutt Valley, so I like…

FOR MANY YEARS I carried an unnecessarily warm sleeping bag on trips – be it summer tramping or winter mountaineering. And I know I'm not the only one who does so. As a teenager finance was the limiting factor: I (and everyone I knew) bought one bag to do it all, and because a good down bag lasts a long time, I bought one that covered just about every base, short of sleeping on South Col. Stubbornness and tradition were factors too: I was fit and strong with limitless energy. My pack weight didn't matter because I'd carry it anyway and not complain. Now that pool of energy is shallower, so I look for ways to save weight. Also, equipment is now cheaper, more diverse and more widely available, so…

FIT A perfect fit takes time to determine, and each brand will be slightly different. Try several models, and don't determine fit until the boot is laced correctly and you're standing up. Allow a little space for foot swelling and thicker socks. ANKLE HEIGHT Tall cuffs provide ankle and lower leg protection, but very tall cuffs might restrict agility. They also add weight and increase a boot's drying time. Boots with two sets of lace hooks in the cuff are a good mid-point option. MIDSOLE For longer trips on rough terrain, stiffer boots are preferred for protection and to prevent foot fatigue. The midsoLe provides the balance between footbed comfort and a stable and protective platform for the foot. Shanks are usually nylon or fibreglass. They are sandwiched between the…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $17. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. Learn more about Real Meals at www.realmeals.co.nz.…

THE TARANAKI CROSSING has been developed after a three-year, $13.3 million upgrade of tracks across the mountain's eastern flank. Funding came from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), which aims to foster regional economic growth. Meanwhile, according to shuttle operators, the one-day Pouakai Crossing, which runs from North Egmont across the Pouakai Range to Mangorei Road, is ‘going gangbusters’. One crossing overlaps the other. What's going on? Actually, the Taranaki ‘Crossing’ label is a misnomer. Yes, it does ‘cross’ the national park, from Mangorei Road in the north to Dawson Falls in the south. And yes, in total it offers a superb, 25km twotothree-day trip stopping at Holly and/or Pouakai Huts, if you can organise transport. The ends of each track are 70km apart, and local shuttle operators are hesitant to…

WAYPOINTS Wild FILE AROUND MAKARORA are some great day walks and multi-day adventures. From the Fantail Falls car park, just 10 minutes’ drive from the settlement, cross the unbridged, chilly Haast River. A large orange triangle marks the start of the Brewster Track. Beautiful beech forest is a good distraction from the unrelenting steep gradient, and gnarly tree roots make excellent steps and handholds. Once above the bush line, the exposed ridgeline track stretches all the way to the hut. On a clear day, from the ridge, there are spectacular views into the Haast River Valley and across to the Southern Alps, including commanding views of Mt Brewster and Mt Armstrong. It can get very windy so don't linger long on these exposed tops. But, it's a lovely day walk, or…

DEHYDRATION IS insidious and serious. The condition develops slowly, and people can be badly affected before they realise what's happening, particularly as many of the symptoms are similar to other tramping-related conditions. Thirst and a dry mouth are telltale early signs. Take note and rehydrate. Less obvious is low energy, as this may also indicate that you are hungry, tired, too cold or too hot. When you feel fatigued, stop and rest, have food and drink and get warm or cool as required. More serious symptoms include a headache, dizziness and muscle cramps, though there could be other reasons for these. Whatever the reason, you need to stop, rest and have something to drink. If you have not peed for an abnormally long time and your urine is dark, you…

Merrell Moab 3 $299, 960G (M), 740G (W) Features: Merrell has been making its ‘mother of all boots’ for 15 years. It's the brand's best-selling shoe. This latest version promises out-of-the-box comfort with a soft and supple suede leather and mesh upper. It has a waterproof/ breathable lining, a shock-absorbing air cushion heel, a nylon arch shank, a bellows tongue to keep debris out and a Vibram outsole. 5/5 Fit: It's built on a wide last and the UK8.5 was true to my usual size. Length and width were ideal, providing enough room to wriggle toes and not have them bunch up on descent. The heel cup is shallow and doesn‘t ‘grip’ the heel, meaning laces need to be done up tightly to keep the foot in position. 4/5 Comfort:…

Insulation There are two types of insulation: This is best for light weight and low bulk. Most down is now treated with a water-resistant coating to maintain loft and prevent clumping when wet. Most manufacturers use down that meets the Responsible Down Standard for animal welfare. Synthetic: A good option for prolonged damp conditions, lower budgets or where weight is less important. For the same warmth rating, synthetic-filled bags will be heavier and less compressible than down-filled bags but they're durable, easier to wash and warmer when wet. There are high-end and budget bags. Quilts Because down insulation doesn't trap air well when compressed (i.e. when you're lying on it), quilts do away with the bottom side of the bag, but retain a footbox which generally extends to mid-calf. Provided…