Innehållsförteckning för February 2024 från Wilderness

A new year, a new you? IF YOU'RE STILL sitting on the sidelines and unsure if you want to commit to the ultimate walking challenge – one that will transform your health, fitness and even happiness – then you may be in the minority. A record number of people have signed up for the Walkl200km challenge in 2024. And, some fascinating people getting are involved: some with brain injuries, one who broke her back, those wanting to lose weight. If regular walking can help them, imagine what it can do for you. For a start, it'll make your tramping trips easier and much more enjoyable – I speak from experience. I know I may sound like a broken record when it comes to the Walkl200km challenge, but if not now,…

HOW THEY WORK Within a few minutes of a PLB being activated, a signal is picked up by a satellite and sent to Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, which uses the data to determine the exact location of the beacon. RCCNZ will contact the people listed on the beacon's registration details to determine such things as the intentions of the party, the number of people, and the equipment being carried. When the position has been determined, a rescue operation is launched. WHEN TO ACTIVATE? Distress beacons should be used in life-threatening situations and where self-rescue is not possible. RCCNZ advises erring on the side of caution and to activate the PLB when there's plenty of daylight left, as it's easier and more convenient to search during the day than at…

ARTHUR'S PASS Arthur's Pass National Park has some of the best native birdwatching in New Zealand. Scotts Track to Avalanche Peak is a prime location to find kea in the alpine environment. You'll see them soaring above the ridgeline, and a few may come to say hello if you stop for a break on the tops. Remember not to feed them, though. Keep an eye out for whio (blue duck) on the Ōtira Valley Track or in the Mingha Valley above the biv. Roroa (great spotted kiwi) can be heard in the Bealey Valley. Keep an ear out in the first two hours after dark. On the way to Temple Basin, watch for pairs of pīwauwau/ rock wren. Along the Craigieburn Nature Trail you'll find korimako/ bellbirds, miromiro/tomtits and riroriro/grey…

Gear Having the correct gear is crucial for having a good tramp. Not enough and you could get cold and wet; too much and your pack will be heavy and uncomfortable. Having the wrong kit for the conditions is potentially dangerous. Research gear for different conditions, and pack layers for all weathers. Look for items that are versatile and can have more than one purpose. Kelly Allen from Nelson recommends compiling a packing checklist to ensure nothing is forgotten. “You can tick off as you pack,” she says. “And a list also serves as a good reminder to take any food from the fridge before you leave.” Feet Having the right footwear is one of the most important aspects for a comfortable tramp. The most common mistakes are getting boots…

UHMWPE is an acronym for ultra-highmolecularweight-polyethylene, the generic name for unbranded Dyneema. With a tensile strength 15 times stronger than steel, it's the lightest and strongest fibre commercially available. Challenge Ultra was made for the outdoors industry in 2020 by Challenge Sailcloth. It's a blend of woven UHMWPE and high-tenacity polyester laminated with an eco-friendly adhesive. It's waterproof, and ranges from 100–800 denier. Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) is a waterproof, non-woven composite material made from UHMWPE laminated between two sheets of polyester. Dyneema Composite Fabric Hybrids are essentially DCF reinforced with an extra layer of woven polyester. Ultra TNT is Challenge Outdoors’ tent and tarp fabric. It consists of 200-denier UHMWPE fibres laminated between polyester film – a similar construction to DCF. It doesn't tear or sag and is incredibly…

$729.99 / 1990G / 65L Best for backpackers seeking all-day comfort Features: This is a versatile and robust pack from Swiss company Bach. The main compartment has zippered access on the front and bottom, double drawstrings on the top, and an internal zippered divider. There's also a padded internal hydration (or laptop) pocket. The lid is removable and has two pockets, top and bottom, and an internal key clip. There's a single hip pocket and two stretch side pockets (open and zippered) and trekking pole loops for two poles. A padded harness and shoulder straps support an internal frame and the recycled N/210D RIP fabric has a reinforced bottom to resist wear and tear. 4/5 Fit: The adjustable harness allows fine-tuning to get the perfect fit and the pack sitting…

OCTOGENARIAN WALKER On Christmas Eve I completed my second Walkl200 challenge. It was even better than the first one. I treated it as a progressive challenge and made new goals as I knocked off each one. Here's how it progressed: Started recording on Christmas Day 2022. Turned 88 on 13 February 2023. Recorded 1200km on 18 June. Recorded 1510km to better what I achieved in the previous challenge. Recorded 1610km on 16 August. Recorded 2000km on 24 September. Recorded 2415km (on 7 November. Recorded 2800km on 24 December. On this day, the last day of my 12 months, I achieved a personal microchallenge by walking up Tuahu Track in the Kaimai Range from the Bay of Plenty side to look over the Waikato from the top and then returned. Thank…

Ocean Signal rescueMe PLB1 $599.99 Single-handed operation, 406MHz and 121.5MHz transmission, seven-year battery life, seven-year warranty, 66 channel GPS, minimum 24hr operation, flotation pouch, mounting clip, bright strobe light. 116g. www.lusty-blundell.co.nz ACR 410 RLS ResQlink $679 Compact PLB with Return Link Service (RLS) to confirm to the user that the beacon's distress signal has been received and the location detected, built-in buoyancy, strobe and infrared strobe, minimum 24hr operation, multifunction clip system included. www.hutchwilco.co.nz…

WHAT'S THE ATTRACTION of urban walking? Surely, it's a poor second to rural or wilderness walking? Not everyone would agree, least of all some Walk1200km participants, who've discovered, often to their surprise, that urban and suburban walking can be enjoyable, rewarding and fun. Can we get past considering urban walking as purely a chore to keep us fit for the next tramp? It may serve that purpose, but can also offer much more if things are tweaked a bit. Interestingly, few of those spoken to for this piece mentioned the noise, fumes or stop/start nature of street walking. Instead, common themes were deriving enjoyment from getting to know their neighbourhoods better, connecting with others, the convenience and cost-effectiveness of walking close to home, the health benefits, and delighting in the…

#microchallenge1 SHARE AN AMBITION Rab Nexus Pull-on Winning ENTRY #microchallenge2 HIKE A PĀ SITE Bridgedale Socks Winning ENTRY Seen that you've won? To claim your prize, email a photo of yourself holding this issue of Wilderness to: walk1200km@lifestylepublishing.co.nz. Only registered Walk1200km participants are eligible to win. #microchallenge3 WALK IN A LOCAL RESERVOIR OR PARK $100 Further Faster voucher Winning ENTRY…

ONE OF THE more extraordinary outdoors people of the twentieth century was tramper, mountaineer, hunter, scientist, guidebook author, and photographer Mavis Davidson. Mavis spent much of her life in Wellington and was an influential member of the Tararua Tramping Club (TTC). As well as spending much time in the Tararua Range, she climbed and explored throughout Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana the Southern Alps. With friend and fellow mountaineer Rod Hewitt she researched and wrote one of the first guidebooks to the Southern Alps. Mavis was also a keen hunter, and her love of hunting and interest in zoology grew into a scientific career in which she became a world expert on Sika deer. While pursuing a zoology degree, Mavis studied the deer in the southern Kāweka Range, based at…

Using HyperD 300 fabric, this is an ultralight multiday pack that stands out with its unique patterns. It's designed to carry an ultralight kit on any trip from day trips to thru-hikes. It's frameless and has seven external pockets, a roll-down top, adjustable and removable hip belt, and custom torso length. 300-420g. www.kiwiultralight.co.nz This is a heavy-hauler for multi-day tramping, hunting, packrafting and alpine adventures. It features a removable internal frame, external pockets with drain holes, internal storage pocket, load lifters, roll-top closure and four side compression straps. It's capable of carrying loads of more than 25kg and weighs from 1100g. www.southernlitepacks.co.nz This framed pack has a removable framesheet and is available in three back-length sizes. It's made using durable XPAC VX07 fabric with a Cordura 1000D base. It has…

WILD GEAR WHEN CHRIS TUFFLEY, from Palmerston North, found the seam of his shorts failing, he got handy with some dental floss. “I thought they'd be durable, but the material didn't seem to be holding up that well,” he says. “I had some dental floss and I borrowed a needle from another party at the hut to stitch it up. I was pretty proud of the repair job.” The repair lasted a few more trips before Tuffley retired the shorts for good: “Dental floss is pretty tough stuff, but I didn't want to push my luck.” Andrea, from Mount Egmont Alpine Club, carries cable ties on any tramp. When her microspikes (traction device) broke on a tramp, she fixed them without any tools. “The chain broke on rough ground and…

$299.99 / 952G / 26L Best for versatility, dura-bility and the environment. Features: A trademark of this US brand is that each Inca pack is made from an assortment of repurposed fabrics so that no two are exactly the same colour-way. Shoulder straps are wide and padded and feature a zippered cell phone pocket and hydration hose clip. There are adjustable chest and waist straps, the latter with two zippered waist pockets. Storage includes a front stretch pocket, an internal hydration sleeve, zippered top pocket with hang loop and two zippered side pockets. Two side water-bottle sleeves hold mediumsized bottles, while ice axe and trekking pole attachments provide external storage. 5/5 Fit: This model is tall and narrow and well-suited to my 1.8m+ frame. I felt no need to ride…

SAVE TIME AND LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD Pack weight can be reduced by sourcing water on-the-go. Rather than carrying litres of water (1l/water equals 1kg) filters and purifiers can be used. They'll also save time as water needn't be boiled to make it safe to drink. WATER-BORNE HAZARDS Water filters and purifiers are designed to provide protection from waterborne infections such as from giardia, campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli. When to use If you're carrying a filter or purifier, it should be used every time water is collected for drinking, even in the backcountry where the risk of contracting a water-borne illness might be small. The risk increases in more popular areas, where people might go to the toilet near waterways or where animals are grazed. In urban environments, filters of…

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 country's newest hiking group, dreamed up one fine spring afternoon in a Hokitika pub, is about to celebrate its first anniversary. President Brent Robinson said the first year had been really successful. “Community support has been great, and many members have signed up after hearing about the club via word of mouth. Our membership has continued to grow, and we have seen many members come on multiple trips.” The club has completed overnight trips to Mt Brown Hut by Lake Kaniere, Lake Christabel and Big River. Some highlights for Robinson included a three-day tramp of the Cass–Lagoon Saddle Track and crossing the Hokitika River via cable car on a day trip to Rapid Creek Hut. “For many members, this was their first time in a cable car,” he said.…

If you're feeling lacklustre about your urban walks, some new approaches can add zing. Theme your walks. Plan a walk that takes in street art, heritage sites, tracks a river or the coast, or skips across green spaces (amp it up by walking on grass or natural surfaces wherever possible). Become a so-called ‘every-single-streeter’. Get to know your town or city in detail by walking every street, even cul-de-sacs and alleyways. Record the streets on a map, your walking app or on CityStrides (compatible with many trackers), an app used by other ‘every-single-streeters’ around the world. Gamify your walks. Compete with yourself or others – improve your time on a set walk or increase the distance covered every day or week. Invent your own games. Christine Barnes-Tuka, who walks in…

Each month three new #microchallenges are set to add interest and silliness to your kilometres. These three fun #microchallenges will help you better appreciate your surroundings and have fun on your walks. Our favourite six #microchallenge completers receive a Walk1200km badge, while the best entry for each challenge receives a prize from our partners. #microchallenge7: Cool off! February is often the hottest month of the year – show us how you cool off during or after a walk. #microchallenge7 Partner prize: A pair of Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite hiking shoes worth $349.90. #microchallenge8: Find some urban art Do an urban walk that takes you past an artwork. It could be a sculpture, a painting on a building, graffiti art or some other work in a public space. Photograph the artwork…

Debra and Cody Howell move fast. They met on day two of the Appalachian Trail; 143 days later they were still together. “Speed dating,” Debra called it. She's an experienced ultralight hiker and lifelong sewer, who had walked Te Araroa and the Pacific Crest Trail and made her own gear. Cody was so impressed by the quality of her quilt he suggested she start selling them. Four years on, the couple has a burgeoning Nelson-based business, Kiwi Ultralight – and an 18-month-old child. Kiwi Ultralight is one of several ultralight gear cottage industries to have started up in New Zealand. Others include The Very Least Ultralight, Southern Lite Packs, Fiordland Packs and Helium Packs; established repairer Twin Needle is also introducing its own ultralight products. These companies offer innovative, customised…

249.99 / 426G MINIMUM, 510G WITH BAG AND CUP Best for simple meals for 1–2 people in harsh conditions Features: The Alpine Pot Wide is an integrated burner stove with a large volume (1100ml) pot and piezo ignition. There is a heat exchanger that interlocks with the stove, and which, along with a security lid, makes the stove safer to use in a tent, on uneven ground or in windy conditions, because the pot cannot fall off the stove. A carry bag, small cup and adapter for using the stove with an ordinary billy are included. 5/5 Construction: This stove is well made from quality materials, and it feels more sturdy than my Jetboil, while having 100ml more pot volume and weighing roughly 60g more. It feels as though it…

HANDLE Handles are designed to fit naturally for a comfortable grip. When using a knife or other implement, the tools not in use should not protrude into the hand. Some handles also offer a textured surface for non-slip grip. BLADE ACCESS The main blade can usually be accessed with one hand – use your thumb to slide it out of the handle. Smaller Swiss Army-style pocket knives usually require two hands. Locking mechanisms Most folding blades, especially those that can be opened one-handed, will lock into position so they can't accidentally fold onto your fingers during use. It's also common for other tools to lock into place. SERRATED VERSUS PLAIN BLADES Straight-edged blades provide accurate and clean cuts – perfect for slicing anything from rope to cheese. Serrated blades are…

Was illustration always going to be your career path? I have always enjoyed drawing. As a kid I used to draw in the dirt around our house, and never stopped. I eventually got into advertising due to this, so I think I've been lucky in many ways, because the ability to draw is a gift. Why were you overseas for so long? When I first went to France I fell in love with it. I also entered into a long-term relationship that lasted most of those 30 years. Eventually I became art director at an advertising agency and then formed my own. But finally, arriving at near retirement, I decided New Zealand was a kinder place to grow old in. What sparked the highly specialised field of nature illustration? In…