Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Wilderness

The search for ever lighter gear and packs to carry it in can be ridiculous. Cutting your toothbrush in half? Spending thousands on lightweight gear to fit into that new lightweight pack that's incapable of carrying more than 10kg? Sometimes, the key to a lighter pack is to get smarter. The heaviest thing most of us carry is our tent. But what if you had a shelter that weighs a third of your tent, but can still keep you dry (if not as comfortable)? I'm talking, of course, about a bivvy bag. This lightweight one-person shelter is gaining in popularity as more people recognise the benefits and gear manufacturers make ever more refined options - lighter while being more spacious and comfortable. In his feature, 'The beautiful bivvy' (p54), author…

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.…

I'M DOING IT TO BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL The Walk1200km challenge has shown this family they don't need their car every day. Natalie Ridler's three-year-old daughter doesn't even blink about walking to kindy in torrential rain. “Nina doesn't know I'm doing a challenge, she just knows we walk,” Natalie says. While the 1km from their Rotorua home to kindy goes on Natalie's Walk1200km progress tracker, it's the life lessons being passed on to her daughter that matter most. “Being a good role model was at the heart of my decision to do the challenge,” Natalie says. It's about learning that you don't need to use the car every day, that there's no such thing as bad weather and that you can have fun in your own backyard or out…

WAYPOINTS MUELLER HUT, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Nicknamed the ‘highest backpacker hostel in New Zealand', the fifth incarnation of Mueller Hut squats on the snowfield beside twin long-drops. It was opened in July 2003 by Sir Edmund Hillary. As a youngster, Hillary had come here on a family holiday, ascending the modest slopes of Mt Ollivier on the Sealy Range. It was his first ‘real' mountain. About thirty years ago I camped on the ridge leading to Mt Ollivier, hungry for adventure. I was kept awake all night by the thunder of avalanches sifting from the hanging glaciers of Mt Sefton into the Mueller Glacier below. A stay at Mueller Hut is the most popular overnight trip in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park. From the car park at White…

Start by crossing the Mangahao Lower No 2 Reservoir, an engineering feat and part of the early Mangahao Power Scheme (1924). Then, follow the large orange triangle into the bush and sidle the Mangahao River to reach an arched bridge within an hour. The ascent to Burn Hut begins immediately over this bridge. After an hour, there's leatherwood scrubland, before the track ascends gently over Pt798 and swings south-west towards Burn Hut, at 750m. The track is overgrown but scenic, with the stark peaks of Dundas Ridge on the southern horizon. Burn Hut is 5.5km from the track start. It's classified as ‘basic', so it's free. But this hideaway has everything. There's an annexed entrance to remove footwear and wet jackets, two tables, large double-latched windows letting in plenty of…

Wilderness WALK 1200km 100km MOST of my childhood was spent in the rural town of Bright-water, 20km southwest of Nelson. I walked to school with the peaks of the Richmond Range in front of me and, in time, Richmond Forest Park became my first tramping playground. The park map was the first I owned, the first to become graffitied with black lines as I marked off completed tracks. I spent hours poring over that map. One possible trip stood out as the ultimate: a complete, solo traverse of the Richmond Range. I envisaged starting at Mt Riley, walking south along the range's spine and finishing down the Red Hills Ridge near St Arnaud. When I first started dreaming about this trip I wasn't skilled in off-track navigation and I hadn't…

1- GSI STAINLESS STEEL MINI ESPRESSO SET $125 You're never more than a few minutes from your morning espresso with this lightweight stovetop espresso maker. Packs small and brews fast with a double wall cup to keep your coffee at the perfect temperature. www.outdoorestore.co.nz 2- LEDLENSER ML4 RECHARGEABLE LANTERN $99.99 This ultra-compact portable lantern provides 300 lumens of light. It's ideal for camping, hunting or angling. Five light functions, 45hr burn time and mounting hook. Five year warranty. 71g. www.ledlenser.co.nz 3- THE NORTH FACE KATAKA FLEECE $180 Warm, light and quick-drying - ideal for when you don't know what the day may bring. Made with 100% recycled polyester fabric and a non-PFC DWR finish. www.thenorthface.co.nz 4- JETBOIL SUMMIT SKILLET $119.95 Compact and lightweight nonstick aluminium skillet releases eggs, pancakes, and…

FICKLE FIBRE On long trips, it's important to have fibre to stay regular. However, in high endurance activities like trail running or bikepacking, your body can't easily process complex fibrous foods so stick to simple carbs. EARLY & OFTEN Ever hear the saying drink before you're thirsty? Same for fueling. Snacking often throughout the day keeps your fire burning to stop “banking” and avoids the big full after a massive meal. MAKE IT COUNT When packweight matters, every gram is important. Pick foods that give more bang for your back in calorie, fat, and protein to gram ratio. FAST VS. SLOW BURN Pack foods that give long burn energy (nuts, chees, meats) plus quick burn (dried fruit, bars, gels, candy). Eat the slow burners at easier points on trail to…

STOVE TYPES There are four types of stove: Multi-fuel: Liquid and multi-fuel stoves burn almost any flammable fuel - including white gas, kerosene and even regular canister gas. They are environmentally friendly as the fuel bottle can be re-used. Canister stoves: Simple, convenient and inexpensive to run and maintain. High-performance models have a regulator which provides consistent output for the life of the canister and improved efficiency in alpine or cold environments. Gas canisters must be punctured before recycling at a waste management centre. Personal cooking systems: These stoves use a specially designed pot that attaches directly to the burner. All components nest inside the pot for easy packing. They have built-in wind resistance and guick boil times. Alternative fuel stoves: These can burn twigs, fire-starters, alcohol and more -…

LETTER OF THE MONTH WORTHWHILE DIVERSION ON CASEY HUT TRIP I enjoyed the Casey Hut story (July 2022), and would like to add to the experience. About 500m west-south-west of Casey Saddle, as shown on the article's accompanying route map, is a 30m waterfall. It is well worth visiting and is accessed by a gorge narrow enough to have trees fullwidth overhead. Water tumbles straight from a rock face much higher than the falls. The fall is visible and audible only when you are literally directly below it. It adds around 40 minutes to the trip. - Mike Cornwall PREPARING FOR RESCUE The ‘Short little guide to getting rescued' (June 2022) was a good article. I am a long-time Search and Rescue volunteer, starting in 1981 and still volunteering. I…

Rats rule Ulva Island, and DOC says efforts to stamp out the pest since February have failed. The island is a sanctuary for native birds and achieved predator-free status in 1997. Located just 800 m off Rakiura/Stewart Island, Ulva is within swimming distance for rats - and until now, incursions of the pest have been successfully thwarted. In February, though, a dead Norway rat was found in a trap on Ulva, and in June a spokesperson for DOC said the department would consult with the Raki ura community over plans to handle this situation. By early July, the consultation process was yet to begin. Ulva Goodwillie, who operates walking tours on the island, believes the rats should never have been allowed to get out of control. “The last big incursion…

A couple of hunters got a little more than they bargained for at Rockslide Hut in Ruahine Forest Park. “A half-metre round, heaving mass above one of the bunk beds” is how Backcountry Trust's Megan Dimozantos described the German wasp nest reported by the hunters. It was the largest wasp nest she had seen but not the largest ever recorded. That title goes to a 3.7×1.75m nest found in Waimauku, Auckland, in 1963. The nest was removed by DOC during inspection flights in the northern Ruahine Range in April. DOC Manawatū supervisor Kelly Hancock said people should avoid wasp nests in or near huts and tracks, “and contact DOC as soon as possible, so we can deal with it”. Most of DOC's wasp control was done in response to reports…

And here are some of the best of the rest… . Thanks to everyone who entered!…

WILD TRIPS Wilderness WALK 1200km 32km The new Mataketake Hut has opened up some excellent tops travel on the Mataketake Range, north of Haast and just south of Lake Paringa, breathing new life into the little-used Haast to Paringa Cattle Track. The cattle track was built in 1875 by Haast farmers to move stock (over a two-week journey), and it is still quite robust today aside from a few places where it has slipped or slumped. It offers fast travel, punctuated by the occasional windfall or side stream. Access the route from SH6,40km north of Haast, where there is a modest roadside car park. The route begins on the well-benched, wide and very gentle cattle track, and within an hour you're at a bridge over the Moeraki River. A side…

WILD TRIPS This loop can be walked in either direction, the crux being the steepness of The Puffer. Some prefer to climb it, others to descend it. We're going clockwise here. The trail begins at the North Egmont Visitor Centre and leads to the Camphouse at the road end. Several trails converge here, with the left-branching North Egmont Summit Track being the one to look for. The track is a 4WD road leading to the translator tower and begins with a moderate ascent up a long switchback that reaches a spur and, above the bushline, into blanketing leatherwood scrub. Mountain and surrounding countryside views begin to open up. It's a climb up the spur for about 1.3km to a stream, and then an easterly turn to climb an adjacent spur…

1 SOUTH OF TE ATUAOPARAPARA, Ruahine Forest Park “On one of the highest sections of the Ruahine Ranges, epic views of the Central Plateau volcanoes and there's tarn water close by.” 2 MITRE / PUKEAMOAMO, Tararua Ranges “The highest spot in the Tararua Ranges, There's spongy tussock to sleep on and it offers relatively easy access.” 3 BALL PASS, Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park “An iconic route and location facing Aoraki's Caroline Face. There are small rock pools or snow melt for water.” 4 GILLESPIE PASS, Mt Aspiring NP “A classic route through magnificent country. Snow melt for water.”…

Profiles Serves: 2 Time: 10-15 minutes Cost: $7 INGREDIENTS potato parsnip smallcarrot ofcabbage ofbroccoli Japanesecurrystockcubes(look for S&B Golden Curry brand) ofprecookednoodlesHokkien, rarnen, udon) Water METHOD Half-fill your pot with water and bring to the boil. As the water heats up, dice the potato and parsnip. Add the stock cubes to the boiling water and press them so they break down. Stir well to dissolve. Tip the diced vegetables into the pot, ensuring the water level covers the ingredients. Simmer everything for at least five minutes, or until the potato is just cooked. Meanwhile, chop the carrot into half moons and the broccoli and cabbage into small bites. Add to the pot with the noodles, stirring gently to break up the noodles (this will probably take at…

IFMGA guide Andy Cole Andy CoLe is chief guide at Aspiring Guides. He's aLso a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association and president of the New ZeaLand Mountain Guides Association. ‘“What's in my pack' depends on the job or activity, but I Love ski touring, so I'll show what I take on a day trip with friends and whānau rather than guests.” HEADGEAR A merino Mons Royale beanie with a Buff to hold it down. For the uphill, a well-vented basehall cap, but I don't get too precious because it's bound to blow off at some stage. Julbo non-polarised sunglasses allow viewing of device screens - especially my avalanche beacon screen. Sunglasses are essential because goggles will fog. Wrap-around styles are best and protect your face on…

The Backcountry Trust is recruiting volunteers, and information sessions will be offered throughout the North Island in July and August. Backcountry Trust volunteers maintain huts and build tracks on DOC land. The sessions are a first for the trust and will be fronted by Megan Dimozantos, Backcountry Trust's North Island project manager. “They will provide an open forum for people interested in volunteering with the trust to gather all the information they need, see what questions other people have and potentially meet other people to do projects with,” said Dimozantos. An estimated 12,000 volunteer hours went into completing about 60 projects in the past year, including general building and maintenance, painting, roof replacements and track cutting. Dimozantos said the projects were a chance for volunteers to give back to the…

Summiting Everest is the achievement of a lifetime for many mountaineers. But who would know that the world's highest peak is littered with rubbish. Helping remove this rubbish is Tsewang Nuru Sherpa. He's from the Everest area of Nepal and, to him, it's personal. He also knows the issue isn't unique to Everest, and believes his research into the Garbage Deposit Scheme (GDS) - in which Everest climbers pay a US$4000 deposit that's returned only if they bring back at least 8kg of rubbish - could also have implications for wilderness areas in New Zealand. “One of the best practices that we see with waste management in the Everest area is that it's mostly local-based,” he explains. “(New Zealand's) Department of Conservation does a phenomenal job with caretaking national parks…

A recent symposium in Christchurch German scientist Sir Julius von Haast (1822–1887) was a big man in both stature and deed. Born in Prussia, Haast came to Aotearoa in 1858. After being appointed provincial geologist, he settled in Canterbury. celebrated his life on the bicentenary of his birth. An explorer, geologist and scientific polymath, Haast certainly made his mark in New Zealand. As well as travelling extensively around the mountains of Te Wai Pounamu / the South Island, Haast unearthed moa bones and made many important natural history discoveries. Samples of his collections were sent around the globe to prestigious museums, and the world's largest eagle was named after him. While Haast wasn't above blowing his own trumpet and occasionally claimed credit for the work of others, his numerous achievements…

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” I ask my partner in front, on his first experience of tramping in the New Zealand backcountry, as he veers off the barely discernible track. He looks at me like I'm crazy and points to the faint outline of what could be a track meandering into the undergrowth. “I'm following the trail,” he says. “No, the trail is straight ahead. Can't you see the orange triangle?” “What orange triangle?” I point to the bright orange three-sided marker nailed to a tree, stark against the green foliage. “That one right there, 20m away, on the tree. About head height.” He squints in the direction I am pointing, confusion on his face. “No.” He walks on another 5m. “Can you see it now?” He shakes his head and…

OUTDOOR RESEARCH ALPINE ASCENTSHELL BIVY $599.99 Alpine bivvy with waterproof/breathable 3-layer AscentShell Pertex Shield Air Diamond upper, 40D TPU laminated floor, step-in opening, seam taped, mesh star-gazing and ventilation screen, one pole, two peg loops, one guyline loop. 528g. www.bivouac.co.nz OUTDOOR RESEARCH HELIUM BIVY $299.99 Waterproof/breathable 2.5-layer Pertex Shield upper, 40D TPU laminated floor, clamshell opening, mesh ventilation and star-gazing screen, seam taped, one pole, two peg loops, one guyline loop. 459g. www.bivouac.co.nz TREKMATES SQUALL $299.99 Waterproof/breathable upper with 5000mm hydrostatic head and 10,000mm HH floor, head and foot poles, zippered opening with mesh panel, six pegs, sleeping mat fits inside. 980g. www.gearshop.co.nz SIERRA DESIGNS BACKCOUNTRY BIVY 3000 FROM $299 Waterproof/breathable 60D nylon with 3000mm hydrostatic head, u-shaped opening, fits mattresses up to 5cm thick, mesh star-gazing and ventilation panel,…

The coastline on Topo50 maps represents the mean high-water level. Contour lines are the orange/brown lines on the map that indicate the 3D shape of the land inside the coastline. In time you will be able to use these to picture the map as a 3D image. CONTOUR LINES Contour lines indicate height above mean sea level at a set distance. On the Topo50 map series, contour lines are 20m in altitude apart, and every fifth contour line is darker. These darker lines are 100m apart. Somewhere along these darker lines you will find a number - 100, 200, 300 etc that indicates the line's height above mean sea level. STEEPNESS A slope will be steepest when contour lines are close together, and less steep when they are further apart.…

FEATURES: This is a partially windproof, highly breathable, insulated shell designed for active use. A high stretch polyester shell and lining encase Patagonia's FullRange synthetic insulation, which is throughout the garment, including the hood. There are two handwarmer pockets and a generous chest pocket into which the jacket can be stuffed. A carabiner loop lets you clip it to a harness. Both fabric and lining are partly recycled. It's super light and packs up small. 5/5 FIT: It's a stylish jacket designed to be closefitting. I'm a small in most brands and a small in this fitted me perfectly, with just enough room for a thick mid-layer underneath. The sleeves are cut close with a stretchy cuff, but are not restrictive, being long and loose. The stretchy hood is snug-fitting…