Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Wilderness

WALK SHORTS A Bill soon to come before parliament, which gives various ministers personal power to decide projects on public land, has raised concerns in the outdoor community. If approved, the Bill would give ministers power to approve fast-track development projects on public conservation land without consultation. Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) is not impressed. President Megan Dimozantos said that under the proposed law, many areas of public conservation land will be “exposed to economic exploitation” devoid of democratic process. “The Bill is the biggest assault on democracy and nature that Aotearoa New Zealand has seen in decades … Its impacts would be irreversible [and] a reminder for future generations of how little this government cares about the environment and the places we value.” Dimozantos said that powers within the Bill…

It's the biggest event of the year for Canterbury University's Tramping Club. TWALK, a 24-hour walk, is a rogaine event organised by club members. Last year was big, with 500 competitors and it is hoped this year's TWALK, held on April 27–28, will be even bigger. TWALK has run nearly every year since 1967. Organisers select a secret location in the high country. “We have to negotiate access with the farmers, hide small markers over many acres of the farmland, and arrange for a truckload of food and gear to be driven to a remote woolshed,” said club president Nick Slegers. The orienteering event is split into five legs of some 10–20km. Each leg has around 10–20 controls, hidden on features marked on a map and described by a cryptic…

Confusingly, there are three different variations of north to take into account when navigating. Here's what they are: True north: This is the direction of the earth's geographic north pole and the axis on which the planet spins. Magnetic north: This is the direction in which the red end of the compass needle points. The difference, an angle (in degrees east or west) between geographic and magnetic north, is known as magnetic declination. This changes over time, which is why declination adjustments are needed when a bearing is taken. The angle is different for all locations in the world, so check your topo map for the local declination angle and rate of change. Grid north: Topo maps are aligned to grid north, which is expressed by the vertical (longitude) lines…

WILD PEOPLE WHEN SHE WAS 18, Abigail Hannah moved to New Zealand from India to study urban planning. She left her family in Tamil Nadu, where her parents worked in language development. The culture shock was huge, and her mental health plummeted. “I don't think there are two countries that are further apart,” she says. “India is loud, colourful and energetic. New Zealand seemed boring and quiet. I found myself asking: How can I belong? How can I make New Zealand home?” Getting into the outdoors, starting with small adventures around Auckland, was part of her journey back from depression. “It was going to the local park, or popping down to Mission Bay to feel the sand on my feet. That led to day trips, then to getting a van…

WILD TRIPS WILD FILE IT TAKES just minutes to reach the first swing bridge over the Mangatainoka River from the end of Putara Road. From here it's a gentle amble beside the river for about an hour to another, longer swing bridge. This lovely section of track has easy access to several fine swimming holes. From the second bridge it's uphill through red beech forest for about an hour. The slog ends at the T-junction with tracks to Roaring Stag and Herepai huts. Turn left towards Roaring Stag Hut, which is popular with families and about two hours away. The track is muddy in patches but is a gentle stroll along a broad, flat ridge followed by a benign descent. Along this section there is stunning lowland podocarp and broadleaf forest…

Winter. Frost. Snow. Ghosts. Well, one anyway: Ghost Lake, which lies below, frozen and glistening, as we wait at Ghost Lake Hut for the sun to appear. We had left the warmth of the hut early, set up cameras and watched the sun slink – seemingly reluctantly – over the eastern horizon. Numb fingers on cold cameras and tripods, but it was worth it. The dawn was sublime: sheer grand spectacle almost beating the evening before when, at dusk, we had watched a fantastically large, orange super moon pop above the Southern Alps. To the southeast the great arc of the northern Kā Tiritiri o te Moana stretched to the southern horizon. Inversion cloud, snaking around spurs and copses of beech trees, clung like small glaciers in hollows and valleys.…

WILD GEAR I set off from the Divide Shelter on the Milford Road in late spring, and I had no idea how long this adventure would take, nor exactly where it would take me. I planned to traverse the Southern Alps and needed to be at Farewell Spit by the end of January. I had a rough outline of the route and was to meet a few people on key dates along the way. Eighty-five days, 1153.5km and 59,234m in elevation gain later, having truly used and abused my gear, I reached my destination. Here are the 10 biggest gear lessons I learned along the way. 1. Even an analogue watch can fail I took my trusty analogue watch because I wasn't sure I could keep my Garmin charged for…

WILD COMMENT I'D HEARD that there's a beauty in going slow. Once I would have countered (in my mind, at least), “but going fast is more fun.” These days, I am not so sure, and I recently found out why. Sitting on a large rock by Sylvester Hut in Kahurangi National Park, I watched the sun cresting Mt Crusader in gentle orange. The rock was cold and the surrounding tussock formed an immersive, golden sea. I closed my eyes. The sun's rays were warming and soothed the sting of the morning's cold breeze. Body and mind were still. Quiet. Deeply grounded. It was the magic you hope for. Until, along came a disruptive, deeply habituated urge: “Stop wasting time! This is an opportunity to get going early! You'll be able…

FROM LOVELY Mātaitai Bay, Pūweto Loop track climbs uphill on easy gravel. It soon crosses the road and sticks close to it for a few hundred metres as far as Tikapa Moana lookout. Here excellent views to the east take in Karamuramu, Pakihi and Ponui islands and the Coromandel Peninsula on the horizon. The track now enters a forested area with plenty of tree ferns, and the gravel is replaced with a natural surface as it leads downhill to Waitawa Bay. The campground here has a cooking shelter and is used mostly by those undertaking the five-day Te Ara Moana sea kayaking trail, which stops at Waitawa and four other regional parks. It is not possible to continue along the shore at high tide, and a diversion leads south for…

THE TRACK starts at 330m altitude from the Glacier Burn Track car park next to the Kinloch Road, which leads to the Greenstone–Caples Track. Parking should be reasonably safe here as many people drive past on the way to the area's many tracks. Following a few minutes’ walk through a grassy field, the track crosses the Glacier Burn – normally easily – and enters beech forest after 300m. The first kilometre is on a neat but wellworn track with small ferns lining the way. There may be treefall in early summer. You'll rarely be on flat ground through the beech forest, and the second kilometre has over 200m of elevation gain. At just over 800m you leave the forest and enter alpine terrain. Although DOC shows this track finishing at…

“Have you used a circular saw?” Megan Dimozantos asked. “No,” I replied. “An impact driver?” “No, um, maybe I should just paint.” “No way, learning is what this is all about.” Project manager Megan wasn't taking no for an answer when I turned up to join a Backcountry Trust (BCT) allwāhine hut project on a remote Ngaruroro River reach in southern Kaweka Forest Park, and said I'd always wanted to learn about building. There was a lot of learning with this Komata Hut job. What started as a simple hut relocation grew into essentially a new hut build. There was a kānuka-covered terrace to clear, a steep access track to cut through dense scrub, and there was cyclone devastation that delayed everything for months as slips and tracks were repaired…

Your compass is a powerful, pocket-sized navigation device, and it's an essential piece of equipment. Most compasses weigh less than two AA batteries yet require none, making them reliable at all times and in any weather. A compass can be used as a primary navigation tool paired with a topo map, as backup or in combination with a GPS. It's important to get to know your compass, its parts and functions. Using your compass Here's how to use a compass in a common navigation scenario: taking a bearing from the map when you know your location and want to travel to another location that may or may not be visible to you. 1. Align to destination: With the map level, align the long edge of the compass between your location…

Eugene Yeo's passion is technical caving under Aotearoa's marble mountains and limestone hills. With a background in rock climbing and canyoning, he especially enjoys vertical realms carved out by underground waterfalls, and sporty, bouldery navigation through subterranean streamways. “What I pack largely depends on the objective,” he says. “Major factors include the amount of rope work and rigging anticipated, how wet and cold the cave is, and whether or not it's an overnighter. Durability is key: our gear needs to withstand being hauled, thrown, kicked and dragged through rock, mud and water.” OUTER PROTECTION My Aspiring Safety overalls, made from 1000-denier Cordura with reinforced patches on backside, knees and elbows, polar fleecelined collar and built-in foam knee pads, provide durable protection against harsh cave environments. Garden gloves protect my hands…

Bridgedale socks have been one of those little things that transform your journeys every day – and it's been happening for over 100 years. The passion, experience, and care for every tiny detail, from fit, Fusion Technology and an industry-leading guarantee, have helped Bridgedale create the most comfortable and enduring socks, and blister-free feet around the world. That's why Bridgedale is a perfect partner for your Walk1200km challenge. Don't just take our word for it – some of New Zealand's leading adventurers choose Bridgedale, too. Nathan Fa'avae Fave sock: Bridgedale Lightweight Merino Performance Fit As an adventurer who is constantly pushing the limits, I demand socks that can keep pace with me in every season and terrain. Bridgedale's Lightweight Merino Performance Fit socks are an absolute game-changer. They defy nature by…

ANNABEL MARTH from France learned about Te Araroa while hiking in Europe. “My friend told me about the trail and I thought, why not? I'd lost my father recently and I'd never been to New Zealand, so I booked the flight.” Marth is hiking the South Island leg of Te Araroa. She met fellow hiker Georgia Everett-Brown, from the United Kingdom, in the Richmond Ranges. Everett-Brown found out about Te Araroa through YouTube. “I was at university, and during exam season I'd relax by watching hiking videos,” she says. “I found a series by Elina Osborne about the trail and watched it every exam season for three years. When I graduated I was supposed to start another course immediately, but I didn't feel ready to commit to another four years…

THE TRACK to Tarn Hut initially follows the Ashley River through farmland. It's well-marked, flat – and belies the challenge to the knees up ahead. After an hour or so there's an easy crossing of the Lilburne River, after which the track divides: the right fork follows the Ashley River towards Youngman Stream Hut, the left ascends sharply towards Tarn Hut. At the start the uncompromising 4WD track leads steeply away from the river with a few switchbacks to provide respite. It's wide and well-graded and there are fantastic views down the Lees Valley and over the Canterbury Plains towards Christchurch. Pt1250 is reached after ascending approximately 800m. It's a good spot for a break and the hut is only 30 minutes away along a level track. In the right…

OFF the BEATEN TRACK The Tararua Range is punctuated by ‘classic’ tramps, routes trodden over many decades and memorialised in generations of photo albums. Of these routes, the southern and northern crossings are perhaps the best known. The most spectacular, though, would be the traverse of the main south range from Junction Knob to Bridge Peak. Add an off-track excursion into the rugged Snowy River and there's a recipe for an unforgettable experience. My friend Emily and I shouldered packs and began down the Ōtaki Gorge Road from Shields Flat. It was a hot morning in April. We were soon over the Ōtaki River swingbridge on the track to Waitewaewae Hut, but 500m along the track abruptly turned up the hill and lost all semblance of civility. We scratched up…

HERE ARE SOME top tips to help you spring out of your bunk in the morning ready to tackle the hills. SLEEP Aim for 8hr+ Bring an eye mask or neck gaiter to pull over your eyes, and ear plugs. Invest in a comfortable sleeping system – pillow, sleeping bag and mat – so that a lack of comfort doesn't cause you to wake up. NUTRITION Sweet treats are great for morale, but look for more substance during your main meals. Are your dehy meals giving you enough fuel for your body size and metabolism? If you are sharing meals with others, will the portions be sufficient for you? I always have a few Pic's peanut butter slugs to add some energy to my evening meal if I feel I…

INSULATION Synthetic insulation is durable and will keep the user warm even when it's wet. It is cheaper, bulkier and heavier than down, but modern synthetic fills are coming close to matching down in weight and compressibility. Down offers incredible warmth to weight and will most likely be treated with a hydrophobic coating that will resist soaking and enable it to dry more quickly. This means that in wet conditions, down won't ‘clump’ so easily whilst still offering warmth. BAFFLES Down jackets use baffles to keep the fill from moving around. Some synthetic garments also use baffles amongst other techniques. Seamless (welded or seam-sealed) construction reduces heat loss through the stitching. Articulation Jackets are cut to ensure warm air remains close to the body, which means fabrics will offer some…