Wilderness July 2016

AS MORE TOURISTS come to New Zealand, pressure on DOC to allow more flights, more guides, more boats, more roadside facilities in conservation areas will increase. It’s wonderful that so many people are willing to travel to New Zealand for the unique experiences found here, and if some people can make a business out of it, great. But as DOC faces continued budget pressure and demand to provide for these tourists, it is facing resistance from those who see DOC catering to tourists at the expense of the recreation rights of Kiwis. In Fiordland this past year, more international visitors than ever arrived, placing unprecedented pressure on DOC facilities. People are being crowded out and those who complain that their experience is being ruined by, for example, helicopter noise, are…

A MAGAZINE FOR ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE I HAVE BEEN reading Wilderness for a couple of years now. The photographs and insight into wild New Zealand has been a most inspiring adventure and a chance to discover what is out there through the escapades of others. I love the great outdoors and tramp with friends, albeit on a rather simple scale in comparison to some of the more avid trampers whose stories are told in the magazine. I did feel for a while that Wilderness was only talking to the most experienced outdoor experts, pitching the walks and articles at a totally different level to mine. I lost interest and thought I was so out of my depth, I should look to another magazine to encourage me to keep up…

SEND YOUR PIX Get your photo published here to receive a set of four Light My Fire Sporks – one for you and three for your friends! Learn more about Spork at ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

An American woman who recently survived five days lost with her mum in the backcountry is now working with New Zealand outdoor safety groups to promote safe tramping. Rachel Lloyd, 22, and her mum Carolyn Lloyd, 45, became lost while on a day-tramp on the Kapakapanui Track in Tararua Forest Park in April. Rachel came to New Zealand in February to study at Massey University for one semester, and her mum was here on a short visit. While they’re experienced trampers in the United States, Rachel said the unfamiliar trail markings were the primary cause for confusion. They followed orange markers to the Kapakapanui summit, but on their descent they lost sight of the orange markers and began following blue markers. However, the blue markers are intended for possum traps…

Kathmandu has come under fire after employees at the Takapuna, Auckland, branch were seen slashing and throwing away faulty gear. Auckland journalism student Nicole Barratt discovered the employees had thrown away tents, backpacks and clothing. One witness reported seeing staff cut up a six-man tent before tossing it. Images of the destroyed gear show a cut-up backpack, footwear and a sleeping pad. The news sparked an outcry amongst those who believe the store should be donating the gear, not trashing it. Kathmandu released a statement saying it had done an investigation into the disposed gear, which they say was faulty. Some gear was former display stock, which was badly damaged, or gear returned by customers. “Faulty product is product that has been evaluated and deemed not fit for purpose,” the…

Mt Fell Hut has been plucked from its precarious home and relocated to more stable ground. Thanks to a group of trampers, DOC and the New Zealand Air Force, the six-bunk hut in Mt Richmond Forest Park was recently airlifted from an unstable slip area to a new spot just 250m away. DOC has been monitoring Mt Fell Hut for years; 15 years ago the area was deemed relatively unstable, and about 18 months ago, DOC officially closed the hut because of the slip danger. Since then, Matt Flynn, supervisor of recreation and historic in DOC’s Wairau-Renwick office, has been working with Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) and the Air Force to come up with a plan to save the hut. Since the official closure, Flynn said trampers continued to use…