Innehållsförteckning för March 2021 från Wilderness

I’M READING a book about hurry, by John Comer, and it’s making a world of sense. It describes the ailment ‘hurry sickness’, a term coined by a pair of cardiologists to describe the constant state of haste plaguing modern society. Symptoms include feeling there is never enough time in the day, irritation at any delays encountered and the urge to rush tasks to completion. Tailgaters, queue-jumpers, power-walkers: this could be you. The book also details how the modern world feeds and exacerbates hurry sickness. With phones in our pockets, we rarely have moments of boredom – opting to scroll apps or message friends whenever we are faced with a short wait for a coffee or appointment. Social media plays a role too with its barrage of FOMO-inducing highlight reels a…

Get your photo published here to receive a $30 Silva Pocket Thermo Compass for accurate wayfinding and temperature-sussing. Learn more about Silva at e.ampro.co.nz. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

MORE ACCURATE weather forecasting through the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research’s (NIWA) website will be available this month. The site will include daily forecasts, animated videos detailing every national park, potential weather hazards, as well as river flow data to facilitate safer river crossings. DOC has partnered with NIWA to ensure outdoor users will benefit from the new website. “DOC wants to enable people to make safe decisions about getting outdoors on public conservation lands and water,” said media advisor Herb Christophers. “The new forecasting has improved benefits including high resolution weather modelling with accuracy to within 1.5km, allowing for more detailed forecasts in national parks and forests.” Severe weather watches and warnings provided by MetService will still be available from the DOC and NIWA weather websites.…

A HELICOPTER-SHUTTLE operation is upgrading its service to the Paparoa Track to include mountain bikers. Flights are permitted to land on conservation land, outside Paparoa National Park, but not everyone is happy with the idea. New Zealand’s first purpose-built walking/biking Great Walk, the Paparoa Track, crosses the Paparoa Range and lies mostly within Paparoa National Park. Huts on the track are all but fully booked through to winter. Coastwide Helicopters, owned and operated by GCH Aviation, has a long-held concession for multiple landing sites on conservation land on the southern Paparoa Range, near the Great Walk’s highest point. Caroline Blanchfield, GCH Aviation group marketing manager, said the company has purchased specially-designed helicopter bike racks from Canada, with vertical frames that will protect expensive bikes. Up to four passengers (at $335…

TO CLIMB AORAKI/MT COOK these days you need ice axes, crampons, a rope, snow anchors, prussicks, a belay device … the list goes on. When Freda du Faur, the first woman to summit Aoraki, climbed it 1910 she also needed a skirt (not to mention a guide and a chaperone). Edwardian custom demanded the feminine attire, although practicality called for pants. Amid great controversy and further hand-wringing advice from non-climbing ladies concerned for her reputation should she wear pants, she devised a compromise and wore a knee-length skirt over knickerbockers with puttees up to her knees. It was a sensation; most ladies on the lower slopes would wear skirts to their ankles. Even Freda considered the skirt to be ‘brief’, and when she worriedly showed it to her guide, Peter…

Any road trip with a toddler can be difficult, but with some careful planning, it’s not impossible. Judit Angeli, who is driving around New Zealand with her 10-month-old, offers some tips. All parents know what happens when their baby’s routine is messed up. It’s bound to happen at some point on a road trip, but there is a great deal that can be done to keep the peace and create lasting memories together. Baby is boss: It pays to work around wake-ups, daytime sleeps and feeding schedules. Exactly the same as at home, just on the go. Create a baby-friendly space: We have utilised the lounge space at the back of our motorhome to double as a playpen and is also home to the travel cot. We added a curtain…

Trail mix can be stingy with its chocolate-to-nut ratio, so why not treat yourself to this luxe scroggin, featuring not one but two types of Whittaker’s chocolate. I like to use the deluxe nut mix for variety and quality and the addition of dried cranberries adds a mouthwatering bite. But really, the ingredients list is a guide only – if you like banana chips, white chocolate, dried raspberries, pretzels or anything else in your scroggin, go for it. The key is to nail that sweet and salty ratio. Profile Prep time: 5min Cook time: 30min Serves: Two Cost: $10 Ingredients 1 cup raw and unsalted deluxe mixed nuts ¼ cup sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds ½ cup cranberries and sultanas 8 squares of Whittaker’s 72% dark Ghana chocolate 8 squares…

“Food be a fun can and affair joyous in the hills” IN MY TWENTY-PLUS years of tramping with kids, I’ve come to the conclusion that in the outdoors creating happy family memories is more important than creating balanced nutritious meals. Cooking a sausage over an open fire while being chased by smoke, or burning your tongue on a burnt toasted marshmallow are rites of passage for most young Kiwi trampers. Dunking half-stale bread into a cup of soup at lunchtime on a winter’s day can feel like a feast. Perfecting the art of slurping your milo through a Tim Tam, and learning the precise moment when to stuff the soggy biscuit into your mouth before it drops into your cup, can really only be mastered as a kid. Food can…

LIKE BEAUTY, organisation is in the eye of the beholder. Some trampers use colour coordination, labels and lists while others throw everything in a sack and keep a catalogue in their well-organised mind. Regardless of your style, do what works for you to keep on top of your food – it will save you time, effort and stress. IN THE BAG Lightweight bags are an excellent way of organising food, and there are plenty of ways to go about it. I tend to use one large drybag for everything, including my pots, cooker, dinners and a small mesh bag containing breakfast, tea and coffee for those early morning starts. Other trampers like to bring a bag for each day’s food, which makes it easy to count calories and ensure food…

FOZZILS SNAPFOLD BOWLZ $27.50 Pack-flat dinnerware with two bowls, measuring lines for food prep, easy-clean non-stick surface, dishwasher safe, BPA free. 80g. www.cyclewerks.co.nz MSR CERAMIC 2-POT SET $199.99 Compact nonstick Fusion ceramic pot set. Safe with metal utensils and high heat. Includes 1.5l and 2.5l pots, strainer lid and pot handle. 428g. e.ampro.co.nz JETBOIL CERAMIC FLUXRING COOKPOT 1.5L $159.95 A compact backcountry pot for solo or group cooking, easy-cleaning, folding wire handles, insulating cozy. 306g. www.jetboilnz.co.nz JETBOIL SILICONE COFFEE PRESS $39.95 Brew coffee or flip the press to steam fish and vegetables. Stem and basket detach to stow in a cup. Compatible with Jetboil Flash, MicroMo and Zip stoves. 36g. www.jetboilnz.co.nz JETBOIL JETSET UTENSIL SET $29.95 Telescopic handles are long enough to reach the bottom of the cooking cups and…

ON DAY ONE, Andrew Robinson watched his goal get swallowed by gales, clag and bitter sleet – a Tongariro specialty. The Cromwell cross country runner was attempting a difficult first: 10 Great Walks in 10 days. After ticking off his first track that morning, Lake Waikaremoana, his support team drove him to Whakapapa to tackle the Tongariro Northern Circuit – but it was not to be. “I reckon it’s got to be the most temperamental mountain in New Zealand,” Robinson said. Turned around near Mangatepopo Hut by dangerous weather, Robinson returned to the support van dejected, wondering if he should bother completing eight more Great Walks. “I thought, if I couldn’t get 10 in 10, what was the point?” he said. “But then I realised if I wanted to inspire…

I DON’T HAVE any incoming notifications activated on my phone, other than ring. I rate the call as the only important one; if someone wants you, they will phone. However, most mountaineering companies I have worked for in Queenstown for the last 20 years also usually send emails and text messages about future alpine guiding and instruction jobs. The phone has stopped ringing and I scroll frustratingly through the apps looking for something that resembles an alpine job around this former tourist mecca. People are still out there exploring and climbing, but the only time my phone rings are for social occasions or for an Alpine Cliff Rescue call-out. The New Zealand strategy to protect our communities from Covid-19 has been a strong and effective one. It generally shut out…

IT’S FUNNY; the most enjoyable meal of my life, and I don’t remember what was in it. Instant potato mash featured, I know that much, but I don’t recall the accompanying stodge… pasta perhaps? Or was it a packet soup? I was camping with a friend at Abel Tasman’s Whariwharangi Bay. It was early autumn and we were nearing the end of a six week tour of the South Island. Home was calling, though we didn’t want to heed its call; we were already nostalgic for an adventure not yet complete. With tents pitched, we fed a fire to vanquish the post-swim chill from our bones. A meal was hydrated, and a small vessel of honey whiskey sailed from port to port. Threatening dew circled, but our bubble of warmth…

Posh porridge can be enjoyed in the backcountry – just add the right ingredients Porridge is a light and quick option for a tramping breakfast, but it needn’t be plain. It also doesn’t require a billy – it can be made straight into your bowl, saving you the unpleasant task of cleaning a burnt porridge pot. Here are some easy steps to making the perfect posh porridge. Make your base At home, make your base according to what you like. Any mixture of oats, milk/coconut powder, coconut, sliced almonds, chia seeds, protein powder or brown sugar works well. The oats don’t need to be the instant or quick-cooking variety; regular rolled oats are fine, but avoid whole grain oats if you want a creamy porridge. Half a cup, or 45g,…

Foraging can be a fun and delicious activity to indulge in while hiking. It’s also a great way to connect to the whenua and learn about edible plants. (When foraging, be sure to always correctly identify then responsibly collect plants away from busy roads and pollution.) Though this recipe calls for foraged greens, if you cannot harvest on your hike you can still make a simple olive tapenade. It goes well with cheese and crackers, or in pasta, rice, quesadillas or wraps. Add foraged greens to create your own variations. Profile Prep time 10min Serves Two, as a sauce or snack Cost $2.50 Ingredients 1 pouch pitted green olives with herbs and garlic (70g) ⅓ cup foraged greens 1 clove garlic (optional) Some foraged greens that you can use include:…

This meal is standard for many of my tramping trips and seems to be a winner with most people. Naturally, you can leave out the chorizo if you have vegetarians in the group, or add it separately for each person’s plate. Although it uses quite a few fresh ingredients, all of them will last in your pack for 2-3 days. Using gluten-free penne pasta is also another variant. Profile Prep time: 10min Cook time: 10min Serves: Four Cost: $25 Tip: Make sure you put the pesto in a sealed container, then another waterproof bag, as the oil tends to leak. Ingredients 1 tbsp of rice bran oil 1 medium red onion, diced 4 chorizo sticks or bier sticks (choose according to how spicy you like it) 500g penne pasta 50g…

This lightweight meal changes-up the monotonous quick one-pot stews eaten on multi-day hikes. All the ingredients can be dehydrated at home before the trip and many of them can also be found at bulk-food stores or supermarkets. I prefer to take a variety of dried ingredients which enables me to prepare unique meals suitable to my desire at the time. If equipped with the bush-pantry basics like dried onion and garlic flakes, as well as tomato puree dehydrated into a ‘fruit’ leather, coupled with a healthy selection of mixed spices, the options for a gourmet bush meal are endless. Profile Prep Time: 10min Cook Time: 20min Serves: Two Cost: $5-8 Ingredients 1 pack of penne pasta (for extra protein consider pasta made with quinoa or legumes) 1 tbsp dried Italian…

I made this dairy and gluten-free dessert when tramping the Aotea Circuit on Great Barrier Island. It’s a great alternative to cheesecake – but you do need a cold source, such as a stream, lake or tank water, to help chill the cake. Profile Prep Time: 15min Cook Time: 15min Set time: 3-4hr Serves: Four-six Cost: $12 Base ingredients ½ cup almonds ½ cup cashew nuts ½ cup dates ¼ cup boiling water Filling ingredients 1 cup cashew nuts 5 pitted dates Pinch of salt ½ cup boiling water ¼ teaspoon vanilla essence (optional) Topping 1 cup dehydrated blueberries 1 teaspoon thickener (e.g. arrowroot, cornflour, tapioca) ¼ cup cold water Rind of half a lemon 1 tablespoon Cacao nibs Method At home 1- Combine almonds and cashew nuts for base…

PROTECTION A rubber rand protects the upper material from abrasion from rocks and ice. At a minimum, the boot should have a rand at the heel and toe, though it’s common for it to run right around the boot. Ankle height ANKLE A HIGH UNDER CUFF SUPPORTS HEAVY LOADS THE AND OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN. LACING Laces should flow smoothly to provide even tension around the foot. Durable metal eyelets and lugs are the norm. FIT Wide-fitting boots have greater volume to accommodate broad feet. Allow a thumb-width of space between the end of the boot and the longest toe. UPPER Thick leather uppers with few seams offer support and structural integrity. These boots may require extra wear-in time, but when cared for properly, the leather will mould to the foot…

Features: The four person Solstice 4 stands rigid with three grounded aluminium poles and one floating pole to increase head space. It has a 2000mm hydrostatic head fly, with a hardier 5000mm tub floor. A front vestibule provides extra storage space, and the awning can be pegged or poled out (awning poles are not included). Two side entrances and three vents aid ventilation. Internal pockets allow storage, and ceiling loops allow lamps or the included clothes line to be strung up. Two zip ports provide power cable access to an external solar panel or power source. Macpac’s MultiPitch system means the fly can be pitched independently or with the inner simultaneously. 4/5 Pitching: I believe this is Macpac’s first family tent series to utilise the excellent multi-pitch system, which allows…

I was surprised that Diana de Beus’s letter, ‘Money-saving weather protection’ (January 2021), did not create more discussion and debate. All New Zealand trampers know what a vital piece of gear a waterproof jacket is and her advocacy to use a waterproof coat that cost $2 and not to worry about spending a large amount of money on other types of waterproof clothing, went completely uncommented upon. I thought there would have been a queue of outdoor clothing suppliers flooding this page with their opinions. So, to ask the question: Is a waterproof coat bought from a $2 shop a satisfactory coat to take on a multi-day tramp? Even though I do note she wore it under an older ‘un-waterproof’ jacket. Perhaps Wilderness could publish an article outlining the key…

MOUNTAIN SAFETY COUNCIL hopes to revolutionise trip planning with a new online tramping tool, Plan My Walk. The platform will be available on a website or via a free app, and will compile track information, alerts, MetService weather forecasting and gear lists compiled by MSC, into one place. Users will be able to select their track of interest and the dates they intend to walk it, and all relevant information will be tailored to their specific trip. This may include user reviews, difficulty ratings, accessibility information and safety videos. The most relevant weather forecast for the intended walk will be added upon release by MetService. DOC’s entire database of tracks (over 1000) will be available, in addition to a number of regional council and Walking Access Commission walks. “This tool…

The categories 1 HUTS AND CAMPING Celebrate the uniqueness of New Zealand hut life and locations, or share the perfect camping scene. 2 OUT THERE For the wilderness photos that make you go ‘wow’. Whether taken from a mountaintop or deep in the bush, it should be a view to savour and the best photos will feature trampers, climbers, kayakers, bikers – anyone enjoying New Zealand’s wilderness. 3 WILDLIFE Whether it’s birds, insects, plants, trees or a lone deer or chamois captured in the mountains, send us your best shots of NZ’s flora and fauna. The prizes OVERALL WINNER The photographer who takes the image judged to be the best entry will win a Panasonic Lumix G85 with 12-60mm lens worth $1199. Weather and dust proof design make it the…

WITH A FAST CAR and a fine weekend, there is no telling the beautiful sites you could see on New Zealand roads. The same diversity which makes it the best filming location on earth also makes Aotearoa the finest for road trips. World class coastline, the serrated spine of the Southern Alps, living, breathing rainforests, volcanic deserts – it’s all there, and it’s all ‘just down the road’. Curate a playlist, buy some snacks, pack your boots and a towel, and hit the road. 1 FINDING TRUE NORTH Twin Coast Discovery Highway, 800km No place in Aotearoa impacts quite like Te Rerenga Wairua, Cape Reinga. In te ao Māori, it’s the departing place of spirits who slide down the roots of an ancient and precariously-perched pohutukawa into the ocean…

Alternative protein Despite long standing beliefs – possibly perpetuated by the farming industry – meat isn’t the only source of protein available. Experiment with tofu, lentils, chickpeas and beans for more sustainable sources that won’t go bad in your pack. Buy second hand Need a new cooker or pot? Check TradeMe or Facebook marketplace first. Save money, reject consumerism, and if you’re lucky, you’ll make new tramping contacts in the process. Compost If you’re carrying biodegradable foods, fruit and veg, keep your organic waste – apple cores, orange peels, egg shells –separate from your trash, ready to be composted at home. Don’t toss scraps We may have grown up tossing apple cores into the bush, but it’s not as consequence-free as we’ve been led to believe. Food scraps take longer…

“Muesli bars that won’t crumble in your pack – priceless” This recipe creates muesli bars that won’t crumble in your pack and, better yet, the ingredients can be sourced without using plastic. Even if, in the unlikely event, the muesli bar begins to crumble, it makes excellent garnish for your porridge. I recommend not making your mixture too wet – you can always add more liquid later. Profile Prep time: 15min Cook time: 30min (depending on setting time) Makes: Roughly 20 bars Cost: $15-25 Ingredients 4 cups rolled oats 2 cups coconut 6 cups of pantry items – mixture of untoasted muesli, whole oats, rice bubbles, sunflower and pumpkin seed, nuts, seeds etc. 200g butter 1 cup honey 1 cup peanut butter 1½ cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence The…

This delicious pick-me-up is for the serious coffee addicts who can’t quite justify hiking with an espresso machine but need a morning (or afternoon) fix. One piece of this espresso chocolate bark will have you leaping up mountains. Store it in the fridge until your hike and carry it along in a ziplock bag. For a caffeine-free version, try omitting the coffee beans and adding salted pretzels and your favourite dried fruit and nuts. Profile Prep time 5min Cook time 3min Fridge time 20min Makes 12 servings Cost $8-10 Ingredients 250g milk or dark chocolate ¼ cup roasted coffee beans, roughly chopped ½ cup hazelnuts, roughly chopped Handful of freeze-dried strawberry slices Method Break the chocolate into pieces and pop in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then…

When I first discovered this idea of savoury porridge, I was hesitant. After all, porridge is meant to be sweet and fruity, right? But this recipe has firmly converted me. I like to make it with fresh veg (I also use green beans when they’re in season), but you could do it with dried ingredients to make it last longer. Adding dried herbs makes it even tastier. Profile Prep time: 2min Cook time: 15min Serves: One Cost: $1.50 Ingredients ½ cup oats Handful of peas (or chopped green beans) Handful of sliced mushrooms (can use fresh or dried) 1 tsp thyme Garlic clove (or ½ tsp garlic powder) Big pinch of salt and pepper 1 cup water Oil Method 1- Heat a bit of oil in your pot, then add…

I first discovered truffle cheese on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing when I spread it on my homemade crackers. It proved so tasty, I devised this recipe for the Whanganui River Journey. Halloumi is a good option for vegetarians, though it can be replaced with steak if the temperature is cool enough to transport the meat. Profile Prep Time: 5min Cook Time: 20min Serves: Two Cost: $20 Ingredients 150g truffle cheese 6 field mushrooms Instant potato mash 200g halloumi Handful of green beans 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 clove of garlic Knob of butter or oil Method This recipe isn’t easy on one pot, so it’s best saved for group trips or Great Walks where cooking equipment is provided. 1-To begin, cut the truffle cheese, halloumi and garlic into thin slices.…

This is a tasty, nutritious and simple meal for an overnight hike (if you freeze the salmon and pop it in a cooler bag alongside other chilled items, it could be stretched out to the second or third night). I often carry a frozen slicker pad in my pack in summer to help keep food cool. If you want to simplify the dish, and reduce the cooking time even further, opt for a piece of cold smoked salmon and precooked Hokkien noodles. Profile Prep time: 5min Cook time: 15min Serves: Two Cost: $20 Ingredients 2 balls of egg noodles or two packets of two-minute noodles ½ head of broccoli ½ red capsicum ½ yellow capsicum 2 salmon fillets Coriander Dressing 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1…

I created these delights while in the middle of a tramp, eating dark chocolate and wishing I hadn’t eaten all of my peanut butter so I could’ve combined the two for the ultimate snack. This led to the brainwave of pre-making something that held the magic of both foods, with a little extra sweetness. Ice block trays are the perfect mould, and they take just 20min to create. Profile Prep time: 20min Serves: One-two Cost: $5-6 Ingredients 170g dark chocolate Crunchy peanut butter Thick honey (helps for the chocolate to set around it) Method 1- Boil water in a small pot then place a metal bowl with the chocolate inside on top to slowly melt. Stir constantly to prevent burning. 2- Once melted and gooey, take off heat and fill…