Wilderness September 2022

The Great Walks celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. They were created as a means to limit numbers on the most iconic tracks and to help preserve and acknowledge the special environments they meandered through. Booking was required, camping was prohibited except in designated areas. Conversely, there was another goal seemingly at odds with the conversation message: Great Walks tracks were to be used to create a tramping tourism industry that was marketable to the world. At times, it seems that tourism has been the priority; witness the selection process for adding more Great Walks to the network, in which four out of the six organisations on the selection panel were tourism-related. But let's not worry too much. For the Great Walks serve a greater purpose: they provide safe, easy,…

TRIAL AND ERROR BUILDS CONFIDENCE Thank you so much for the story ‘A trip called perseverance' (August 2022). Not only was it an aspiring route over the Richmond Range, but it was fantastic to see a fellow female tramper going it alone. Over the past few years, I have been trying to build my skills and confidence in the outdoors so that I can one day attempt trips like this. Reading the trial and error that was needed to make this trip happen was useful and inspiring. Please don't ever underestimate the power of sharing such stories. It builds up other people's confidence - particularly other women who dream of big solo adventures. SNOW CAMP FOR STUDENTS In The season for adventure' (July 2022), teacher Joe Nawalaniec shared his experiences…

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

WALKSHORTS A handwritten note from the nineteenth century has confirmed the correct spelling of Milford Track's highest point. Minister for Land Information Damien O'Connor accepted in June the New Zealand Geographic Board's recommendation to officially change the name of Mackinnon Pass to Omanui / McKinnon Pass. Submissions on the proposed change were called for last year. It was noted that the pass had been named, albeit incorrectly, after explorer Quintin McPherson McKinnon. Born in Scotland in 1851, McKinnon was one of the first Europeans to discover the Milford Track route in 1888. He became a tourist guide and mail-runner on the track, and died in 1892 after his boat was wrecked crossing Lake Te Anau. The Geographic Board said it confirmed the correct spelling of McKinnon from a signature on…

Complete the crossword and rearrange the letters in the blue squares to spell out the hidden solution. Send your answer, name and address, by August 21, to: wildernessword@lifestylepublishing.co.nz. All correct entries go in the draw to win a copy of Seeking the light by Gavin Lang This book came from Gavin Lang's quest to climb all 24 of New Zealand's highest mountains. It can be regarded as the most significant collection of modern NZ mountaineering photography ever published and provides a unique view of the Southern Alps from the perspective of a dedicated mountaineer. Across _grass - beware of this plant in the wilderness! (5) _River - Whitewater river on West Coast of South Island (7) Seriesornetworkofsnares used to catch animal pests (9) Essentialreferenceforwildernessadventure (3) Goesaheadasguideon…

I'M DOING IT FOR MY BODY AND MIND For Fiona Bersani, the benefits of doing the Walkl200km challenge go beyond fitness. Fiona Bersani was already a keen walker when she joined the Walkl200km challenge. “Early on, my husband asked why I was doing it,” she says. “Taking on the challenge meant I had purpose, I looked for new and longer walks, and it increased my fitness and strength considerably.” She spotted WalklzOOkm on Facebook and joined the challenge a month before walking the Paparoa Track. “It was an excellent incentive and encouraging to see the kilometres clock up.” Fiona likes the challenge's bite-sized approach -that 3.3km a day equals 1200km over 12 months, although from the start she aimed to do better. In the end, she walked 1200km in seven…