Wilderness December 2017

WILDERNESS VISITED the Tongariro Alpine Crossing over Labour Weekend to see how the new four hour parking restrictions were being enforced. Despite some confusion, most walkers adjusted fine. That’s understandable. The majority of those who walk the track – 75 per cent – are international visitors knocking off a must-do experience. But as we discover in our feature ‘Limiting appeal’ on p78, the restrictions are the first step to placing a cap on the number of people who do the crossing on any given day. What’s more, the TAC is being viewed as a test case. If the measures taken there are successful in limiting the number of walkers, then we can expect to see them rolled out to other crowded tracks around the country. I guess we…

Inspired by bird watchers I congratulate Helen Arthurs and her family on the commitment and resulting satisfaction they achieved from their year of bird watching (‘A big year’, October 2017). It was refreshing to read about an ordinary family that embraced a unique challenge and followed it through, gaining knowledge of birds, their habitats, and general awareness of how to work together as a team to reach a goal. I particularly enjoyed reading how they increased their target number of birds seen by 50 per cent, to further stretch themselves. I hope other readers are inspired to set outdoor goals for their families from reading this article. - Marianne Libeau - Marianne receives a Peak to Plateau Kailash 1/4 Zip LS worth $160 from www.peaktoplateau. com…

GET YOUR PHOTO PUBLISHED HERE TO RECEIVE AN OPINEL NO.5 FOLDING KNIFE WORTH $20. Learn more about Opinel at ampro.co.nz . Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz…

After becoming struck by the growing quiet of Fiord-land’s forest, an Auckland tramper has launched a project to bring back the birdsong. Michael Fisk, a regular to Fiordland, wants to create a trapping network in eight Fiordland valleys, but he needs help to bring it to fruition. “The place gets quieter and quieter,” Fisk said. “Vast areas of Fiordland don’t get any conservation work at all, so we’ve got to take matters into our own hands.” Working with DOC, Fisk has completed a six month trapping trial in the Cozette/ Camelot Valley, west of Te Anau, which has 20 whio/ blue ducks. Fisk and a group of volunteers installed 250 self-resetting traps along 13km on the valley floor. The traps, which target rats and stoats, recorded 750 hits in six…

Aspiring Hut will be closed from April 9 until mid-June next year for earthquake strengthening work and other maintenance. The 38-bunk New Zealand Alpine Club hut is just a two hour walk from the road end in Mt Aspiring National Park’s Matukituki Valley, making it a popular destination. Alpine Club general manager Karen Tait said the work was being undertaken when the weather would be best and avoided the high season. The hut, built in 1949 from schist, will have its stone work strengthened. The job requires the roof to be temporarily removed. The hut will be unavailable while the work takes place, but the adjacent campsite and toilets will be open.…

The authors of the Canterbury-Westland Alps Guidebook are calling for information ahead of a second edition, set to be published next year. The guidebook details the mountains between Aoraki/Mt Cook and Arthur’s Pass national parks, providing a record of expeditions and detailed route information. Co-author Geoff Spearpoint said the second edition needed to include changes that have occurred in the 10 years since the first edition was researched. The authors are requesting information, such as: » Errors and omissions in the first edition » Changes to access » Existing routes that have become easier or harder, and new routes “Any information or comments would be greatly appreciated,” Spearpoint said. The guidebook is produced by the NZ Alpine Club and Canterbury Mountaineering Club. For information on the area east of the…