Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2022 i Wilderness

I ENJOYED READING Shaun Barnett’s story in this issue ‘Memorable nights’ (p56) where he recounts the nights he’s spent in huts or tents that have left a lasting impression. It certainly brought back a few of my own memorable nights in the wilderness. There was the trip to Pahautea Hut in Pirongia Forest Park which started with our group splitting up for some inconceivable reason to walk in by different routes. What do you know? My group got lost (at the trailhead!) and spent eight hours battling it out to the hut. The night was made memorable by the fact someone carried in a cask of wine and playing cards and the arduous tramp was relived over and again in ever greater tellings. There were a few sore heads for…

I’M WALKING FOR MY HEALTH AND FOR MY DAUGHTER Kiwi expat Shane McGee is showing his daughter that Perthes disease won’t slow them down. By Ricky French Shane McGee is a Christchurch native but has been living in Brisbane since 2000. Five years ago, he had a hip replacement due to Perthes disease, a hip disorder that develops in children. His four-year-old daughter Isla has now also been diagnosed with the disease. “She’s not supposed to be walking much right now, but I want to show her that she’ll be able to,” he says. “The good news is that it developed when she was young. Isla should be 100 per cent better in about a year and won’t require surgery.” McGee says he’s always recognised the mental and physical health…

The route to the bivouac begins at Morrison Footbridge over the Otira River, just off SH73. It then follows Te Araroa Trail before turning south, following Paratu Stream. Travel up the stream is relatively easy, just make sure to stick to the true right fork at the 560m contour. At around 800m, the route leaves the main flow of the stream and continues on to Waharoa Saddle (975m) following the northernmost tributary. There are views from the stony saddle to the Otira and Lake Kaurapataka. From the saddle, the track follows a rooted and gnarled path up to the Aicken Range, climbing to Pt1364. Travel is fine on the ridgeline and there are views into the Deception Valley and the surrounding mountains. Things get more rugged at the 1400m contour,…

From Poads Road, walk 1km through farmland to the Tararua Forest Park boundary and the junction to South Ōhau Gorge. Waiopehu Track branches steeply uphill to the right, with a 300m climb over 2km to gain the junction with Six Discs Track. It takes about 90-minutes to get to this point. The signpost at the junction also indicates it’s four hours from here to Waiopehu Hut but it’s more like three hours. From here, it's a long, gentle climb up Waiopehu Ridge. Unlike other Tararua tracks, the path is mostly littered with leaves rather than being riddled with roots. It's bush pretty much the whole way, so views are in short supply, and it can feel tedious. The site of the original Waiopehu Hut (1928) is about 1km from the…

INSULATION There are two insulation types: Down: The best for weight and bulk. Most down is now treated with a water-resistant coating to maintain loft and prevent clumping when wet. Check the label to make sure the down is dry treated. Synthetic: A good option for prolonged damp conditions, lower budgets or where weight is less important. The bags are heavier and less compressible than down for the same warmth rating but are durable, easier to wash and they’ll be warmer when wet through. High-end and budget synthetic bags are available. FILL POWER The fill power (or loft) of a bag indicates the insulative quality of the down in the bag. Bags with high fill power numbers, e.g. 850FP, use less down to achieve the same warmth as a bag…

EDITOR Alistair Hall alistair@lifestylepublishing.co.nz CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Matthew Cattin, Ricky French, Kathy Ombler CONTRIBUTING GEAR EDITOR Mark Watson ROVING EDITOR Shaun Barnett WALKSHORTS Aaron van Delden NEWSLETTER EDITOR Matthew Pike COLUMNISTS Pam Hutton, Rachel Davies, Heather Grady, Izzie Thompson ART AND DESIGN Pelin Hall pelin@lifestylepublishing.co.nz CONTRIBUTORS Sam Harrison, Blake Hornblow, Cara McDonald, Lee Johnson, Kim Hobson, Anna Welch, Lachlan McKenzie, Katrina Meggett, Dave Mitchell, Kerry Moor ADVERTISING SALES Cherie Final cherie@lifestylepublishing.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS Andrea Cowan subscribe@lifestylepublishing.co.nz Phone: 09 5702 658 PUBLISHER Alistair and Pelin Hall…

Even if you only walked half an hour up the Te Kinga Track, the trip to Lake Brunner/Moana would have been worthwhile just to see the spectacular podocarp trees in the lower forest. Panels are set and describe the guardian kings of Te Kinga: tōtara, miro, kahikatea, rimu. The largest have diameters of over a metre at the base and are hundreds of years old. The track can be roughly divided into three sections, broken by lookout points. A 20-30 minute walk following the contour of the lake comes to a bench with a view out across Iveagh Bay on the northeastern arm of the lake. Beyond this first rest stop, the track climbs steadily and can be muddy. Gaiters are advised. Tangles of supplejack clog the spaces between the…

The eastern Kaweka Range rises from forested foothills into steep mountains, which reach 1700m. It’s high, hard, rocky country, often snow-bound in winter, and seemingly utterly unsuited for grazing sheep. Yet that’s what pioneer farmers did, late in the 19th century – back when fortunes were earned off the sheep’s back – and it’s during this era that the Iron Whare was built. ‘Iron’ Whare seems a curious name for the region’s oldest hut, because the original hut didn’t have any iron – except for the nails. The roof was malthoid, a type of bitumen coated paper or felt often used in the pioneer days because it could be rolled up and transported on horseback (or human back). The hut was constructed in the mid-1870s by Jack Frost Turner, the…

After the Lake Dunstan Trail in Otago opened in May 2021, it became possible to combine this stunning lake edge track with the equally scenic Cairnmuir Mountain Trail for a spectacular loop from Clyde. The Lake Dunstan Trail begins amongst the beautifully restored schist buildings of Clyde’s historic town centre. Pedal across the 85-year-old Earnscleugh Bridge, noting the domed rivets connecting its red wrought iron framework, and the trail starts immediately. It’s on the true right of the river and climbs beside the dam to the edge of Lake Dunstan. We crossed Annan Gully, lined with willow and poplar trees, then a series of bridged creek crossings followed by a 150m climb over Hydes Spur to Halfway Hut Creek. Beside the lake sits Halfway Hut. It was built by Greek…

Adds up to 5.3°C of warmth, use as a standalone bag on warmer nights, drawstring hood, boxed foot-end and double stitching, machine washable. 125g. www.ampro.co.nz Adds up to 8°C of warmth, use alone as a warm-weather bag, box foot, drawcord hood, machine washable. 248g. www.southernapproach.co.nz Adds warmth, comfort and cleanliness. Polyester microfleece fabric, machine washable. 400g. www.outfitters.net.nz…

SOLO INSPIRATION I loved reading the story ‘Wāhine doing it for themselves’ (February 2022) and was left feeling inspired. As a solo mother of an eight-year-old son, our love of the outdoors, tramping and adventure has been an increasingly solo (but beautiful!) experience together. With no friends who share this interest, I have had to overcome a variety of worries and doubts to tackle increasingly long and challenging tramps alone. This has not been easy, and I have often been consumed with self-doubt about my capability, bearing the full responsibility for my son’s safety and overcoming all the ‘what ifs’. My son and I have recently completed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Equipped with enough survival gear to conquer Everest, we achieved this challenging hike with a huge sense of accomplishment…

MENOPAUSE occurs when a woman stops menstruating, roughly between the ages of 45 and 55. The transition, called perimenopause, can last up to 10 years. During this time of hormonal change, women can experience many symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, sleep difficulties, mood swings and anxiety. Experiences are unique; a woman may have all or just a few of these symptoms, in varying levels of intensity. Theories and therapies for what affected women can do to help themselves, including a call to exercise, are prolific. Health and wellness media service, Everyday Health Group, says ‘brisk walking’ is one of the simplest, lowest-cost aerobic exercises for menopause that you can do. “One of the best ways to fight menopause symptoms is to get moving,” it says. “Walking at…

Wilderness WALK 1200km 10km THE DEVILS RAMPARTS tower high above Devils Den Bivvy, which, despite the name, is a neat two-person hut perfectly situated for a weekend adventure. It can be approached three ways: up the Nina Valley, over from Slyvia Tops, or from the Doubtful River, all off the Lewis Pass Highway. The route over Slyvia Tops is an easy alpine traverse with views over the surrounding ranges and is the most spectacular of the routes. Those views have to be earned with a steep grunt up from the Nina River to gain the tops, but if the weather is fine this is a ‘must’. There are plenty of tarns to refill water along the way. From the bivvy itself, a steep side trip leads to The Devils Ramparts…

There are various routes to Crosbies Hut. The Te Puru Track (from the Tapu-Coroglen Road) is a good option during or after heavy rain; while it can get quite muddy, there are no stream crossings to negotiate. It’s a relatively short trip of about four hours to the hut, although fit parties should manage it in less time. It’s also a good option for family groups with kids. Starting at 448m, the first section of the Te Puru Track promises the least uphill, making it a worthwhile contender for an overnight mission. Parking is limited, so it’s advised to arrive early or arrange to be dropped off. From the access point at the summit of the Tapu-Coroglen Road, the track follows a rolling ridge through native bush, gradually gaining in…

At the back of the Crown Range summit car park, a wide orange-poled track begins ascending to the ridge. It zigzags high above the Crown Range Road showcasing panoramas of the Queenstown basin and the back of The Remarkables mountain range. Views south, of the Gibbston Valley, also open up. Further up, the gradient eases and a beautiful unmarked viewpoint is reached just north of the track at Mt Hocken (1375m). From here, the track ascends to Rock Peak via a wide marshy ridge above Tyre Gully. A DOC signpost marks the route to Tuohys Saddle and there’s an option to climb 60m west to the summit of Rock Peak. Turn right for a short grunt to the summit radio tower, where there are panoramic views from the Pisa Range…

I suspect I’m not alone in owning a closet full of packs; one for every type of adventure. Some of them date back a few years but are too cherished to be passed on or disposed of and, like old photographs, they each help elicit memories of specific adventures and moments in the hills. My pack museum also reflects the changing technologies and trends of the outdoor industry, as well as my own approach to outdoor recreation which over the years has seen me undertake bigger adventures while maintaining an increasingly minimal approach to equipment and pack weight. Every pack tells a story, here are a few of mine. 7 years old THE SMALL BLUE FRAMEPACK I don’t recall the brand of my first pack, but it was a blue…

AS YOU GET OLDER YOU APPRECIATE A PACK THAT ADAPTS TO YOUR BODY. What did you hope to achieve with Gone Bush? I wanted to celebrate the places, adventures and the people I’ve met, and my experiences of growing up. I don’t consider myself a famous or heroic person, I just wanted to talk with normal people about my normal life. And the time was right. The ultimate thing is feedback, with people contacting me to say that the book has reconnected them with places and characters they’ve enjoyed meeting along the way. How do you reconcile your love of solo adventuring with the love of people which is conveyed in the book? Some people assume I’m a loner, heading off into the bush on my own, but you meet…