Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Wilderness

We've heard of the classic Macpac Minaret and the four-season MSR Access … But what about the Ross Sea Party Tent? The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-16, conceived and led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, was an attempt to make the first ever land crossing of Antarctica. Another group, the Ross Sea Party, was responsible for laying supply depots across the Ross Ice Shelf for Shackleton and his men to use on the second half of their journey. The Ross Sea Party arrived at McMurdo Sound on the Aurora and began to unload. Unfortunately, the ship was blown out to sea with the majority of the equipment still on board, leaving a party of ten men on the ice. The Aurora was forced to return to New Zealand without them. Only…

WALK SHORTS A historic whaling site and area of early Māori occupation at Cutters Bay in Te Whanganui Port Underwood, Marlborough, can now be visited by walkers and cyclists. The 206ha area, mostly covered in pine, was bought by overseas investor Huimei Investment Pty Ltd in 2018 under an agreement in which Huimei agreed to protect the area and provide public access. Walkers can start at the whaling station end and walk to Robertson Point on the headland, or amble along the Whangatoetoe Bay foreshore. Cyclists can access the existing forestry road along the ridge. In 1839 Captain Daniel Dougherty and his Irish-American wife Sarah, née McAuley, settled in the bay to run a whaling station and a grog shop. Their daughter Ellen became the world's first fully registered nurse…

I HALVED MY BODY WEIGHT WALKING WAS NOT the driving force behind Luke McLeod's weight-loss journey – at least not at the start. “I moved to the West Coast a few years ago and fell in love with the outdoors here. I often went camping and fishing and found myself wishing that I could tramp into remote areas or climb mountains as I enjoyed the solitude of nature.” A Christmas photo of himself prompted Luke to undergo bariatric surgery. He knocked 40kg from his initial 171kg and became serious about exercise. Then, he looked for a way to track his efforts. “I saw Walk1200km and thought it'd be a good way to keep myself accountable, as well as working towards a goal that coincided with my desire to get outdoors…

WHERE THERE ARE plants, there are weevils. These remarkably successful creatures live in almost every habitat, from the Arctic to the subantarctic, from tiny, isolated islands to sprawling metropolises. There is also a lot of them for weevils make up the largest family group in the animal kingdom. There is a staggering 97,000 species worldwide, with 1500 calling Aotearoa home. It means that there are 15 times more weevils than mammals in the world (there are 6400 mammal species) and seven times as many weevils as birds in Aotearoa. So, what are weevils, and what are they up to? Weevils are a type of beetle. They have large, soulful eyes, a trundling gait, and an elongated snout called a rostrum. Most weevils are vegetarian, and many species rely exclusively on…

THIS NETWORK of tracks is accessed from Awa Awa Rata Reserve at the end of McLennans Bush Road. Ridge, Alder and Opuke tracks are easy and wellformed and can be used to link up with Scotts Saddle Track higher up. All variations are signposted. Alder Track (named after a plantation of alders) begins on the south side of the reserve behind the toilets and is a gentle 20min climb to Ridge Track. From there, turn right and head north along the ridge, through European larch and mountain beech tawhai rauriki forest, past Pt800 to the junction with Scotts Saddle Track – about 45min. At the junction it's decision time. Return to the reserve car park or continue part or all of the way to Scotts Saddle. It's popular to climb…

REMEMBRANCES “HERE, GIVE ME YOUR PACK.” “What? You can't do that!” “Yes, I can. I've carried packs for my kids.” And off Shaun strode, his own huge pack laden with camera, tripod and who knows what else, my pack cradled in his arms, surging up a typically gutbuster-steep Tararua ridge, still faster than woeful me. I really did feel sick, but oh, the ignominy. We made it to the hut just on dark. But tramping with Shaun Barnett wasn't about having a strongman on hand for that day in the hills when you get ill. He'd be the one keeping the hut tidy. The one stocking up the wood supply ready for the next visitors. The thoughtful one, always working out plans B, and D, for safety or to make…

TENT CARE When you break camp, sweep or shake out the floor and remove anything that could cause a puncture. Thoroughly dry the tent after use and remove any dirt from the fabric. Avoid leaving the tent pitched in direct sunlight for days at a time as the fabric is susceptible to UV damage. If this can't be avoided, cover it with a cheap fly or tarpaulin. WIND STABILITY Three-season tents can be vulnerable in high winds because they tend to be steep-sided and have less pole support. Take care when using them in exposed places. ZIPS YKK nylon coil zips in no. 3 or no. 5 size are common. No. 3 zips are okay for weight and space savings but may wear out quickly, especially if used in sandy…

WILD PEOPLE A NEW ZEALAND film shot in Canterbury showcases iconic landscapes on the big screen – and brings the legendary ‘Canterbury panther’ to life. Bookworm also brings Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood back to New Zealand, alongside young UK talent Nell Fisher. Wood plays washed-up American illusionist Strawn Wise, who ventures into the wilderness with his estranged 11-year-old daughter, Mildred, in search of a mythical beast. The film is co-written and directed by Kiwi Ant Timpson, perhaps best known for launching the Incredibly Strange Film Festival and the national film competition 48Hours – and more recently for producing Mr Organ. It is a shift away from Timpson's earlier genre films being more a nod to those of his childhood, such as The Adventures of the Wilderness Family…

WAYPOINTS IN THE HEART of the Darran Mountains lies one of Fiordland's gems, Adelaide Saddle, a journey brimming with adventure, beauty and discovery. The journey starts at a swing bridge across Hollyford River on the Moraine Creek Track, about 1km from the end of Lower Hollyford Road. Tent Flat, reached after about 3.5 hours of traversing lush rainforest, marks the onset of the real adventure. Self-navigation becomes key as you tackle creeks, scrub and occasional cairns to the base of Apirana Peak. The moraine extends from the bushline to Lake Adelaide. Instead of negotiating massive boulders, however, walk along the west side close to steep granite walls. This route leads to a ledge on the west of the lake and grants relatively easy access to the lake head – a…

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK THERE is no point in trying to keep boots dry when heading to Colenso Spur. On the 4.5km approach, the Makaroro River is crossed numerous times, and by the time the orange triangle high above the river is spotted, your boots will be soaked through. I'd been dropped 3km up the Makaroro River at the northern end of Wakarara Road, having left my car at my intended exit point further south. The plan was to travel south for 13km along some of the most impressive tops in the Ruahine Range. I am far from the first to traverse the range. Somewhere near the base of Colenso Spur is a stone memorial to William Colenso, the first Pākehā to cross the range in 1847. He made an…

Bellamy Art NELSON ARTIST MICHELLE BELLAMY started painting and drawing early in life. “I grew up in an arty household,” she says. “Mum was a medical and botanical illustrator, and Dad was a painter and songwriter. We had lots of books and discussions about art, and in the evenings we'd listen to the radio and draw.” Her parents also did a lot of hiking. “We went into the Cobb Valley and Nelson Lakes area a lot,” she says. “When I was about 14 I did a few paintings of local landscapes in the Mt Robert area and sold my first painting in a gallery in Nelson. It was then I realised I could earn money from painting.” Bellamy works as an artist full time. “I get to explore areas I…

SKILLS IF YOU ARE PLANNING to tramp the tops, it's vital to be able to respond to white-out or grey-out conditions. I have seen a clear blue sky turn to a grey-out with barely 20m visibility in 15 minutes. White-out conditions occur whencloud merges with snow until everything looks the same. It's very disorienting. Even the perception of up and down is distorted. Plan: Planning is everything. Carry warm clothes and an emergency shelter, check the weather forecast and study the map. Do you have the gear and experience to be safe in these sections if the weather turns? If not, go somewhere else. Weather forecast: Consider the weather forecast and what effect this will have over exposed sections. Think about how to respond if the weather closes in early,…

MOISTURE MANAGEMENT Feet can sweat up to a cup of water a day and the primary purpose of a tramping sock is to keep feet dry by drawing moisture away from the foot and into the lining of the footwear, where it is released into the air through the wicking process. CONSTRUCTION Socks should fit snugly and stay put when they're on. Elasticated arches and ankles provide a tight fit and prevent socks sliding forward and bunching around the toes. The weave – in various thicknesses and knits – creates airspace against your skin to help keep feet dry and move moisture into the boot lining. SEAMS CHAFE-FREE SEAMS LIE FLAT AGAINST THE SKIN TO REDUCE PRESSURE POINTS AND RUBBING. COMFORT PADDING IS PROVIDED IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS THE…

Auckland Tramping Club (ATC) and the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC) have had an association dating back to 2016, when Hawaiian Airlines commenced flights between Honolulu and Auckland. Flight attendant Jeanne Furukawa was an active member of HTMC and joined ATC to tramp with them whenever her schedule permitted. Since then the association has grown, and HTMC members join the ATC regularly for summer tramping in the South Island. This year the ATC returned to Hawai`i for their third hiking adventure with the American club. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: → Hiking Oahu's rocky coast to the north-west corner of Ka`ena Point. The point is enclosed in a predator-free fence (based on the one enclosing Zealandia), which protects the nesting Laysan albatross. → Hiking Koko Crater with its huge rock arch. HTMC…

FROM WAITAANGA ROAD South, head southeast along a well-formed farm track for 3km to the entrance to the Waitaanga Conservation Area and the track proper. This is just off the farm track on the left and over a stile. Then, follow a historic logging tramway through regenerating kāmahi. It's almost level, with numerous small footbridges and six swingbridges that cross Waitaanga Stream. In some places there is encroaching vegetation and occasional windfall. Take care as there are sleepers and some large railway spikes that'll trip the unwary. Robins and pīwakawaka are near-constant companions. The track meanders south-easterly for the first 4km, then curves to the northeast. There's a small clearing at 8km and a larger clearing with Te Rerepahupahu Falls Hut another kilometre on. The hut has four bunks, kennels,…

TRAVERSING THE TARARUA RANGE For Isla Ashby and Louise Hammersley, connection is more important than competition by LEIGH HOPKINSON Isla Ashby and Louise Hammersley were inspired by an all-girls’ trip in the Tararua Range. It redefined tramping as they knew it and revealed the unique dynamic of tramping together as women. During a Federated Mountain Club Youth Expedition Scholarship, they spent 14 days traversing the two main ridgelines that run the length of the Tararua Range, from Mangahao Dam south to Jumbo– Holdsworth and north to Herepai Hut. In essence it was two journeys for the 22-year-olds: navigating the physical landscape, and unpacking their socialisation within the male-driven norms of tramping culture. To cement matters the pair made a short film about their trip, Traversing the Tararuas, in which they…

Features: This jacket is available in several bold colours and black. It is filled with 800FP water-resistant down inside a lightweight 20D ripstop shell. It has elastic binding at the waist and cuffs, an adjustable drawcord at the waist and a long–lasting vislon zip. There are two hand pockets and two large interior pockets, one of which includes a carabiner loop and into which the jacket can be packed. The jacket is DWR treated for water resistance, and the down is RDS-certified (responsibly sourced). 4/5 Fit: The torso is boxy with a comfortable, close fit in the arms and a cosy hood. At a lean 1.76m, I'm size small in most garments, and this jacket's length was just right for me, but it might be too short for tall people.…

ECOLOGIST Dr Mike Joy is renowned for encouraging the nation to face uncomfortable truths behind our supposed clean, green marketing image – a message not everyone has been receptive to, including politicians at times. Joy continues to take every opportunity to deliver his message about the country's endangered freshwater ecosystem, and does so in his new memoir: The Fight for Freshwater. Why did you write this memoir? I feel kind of awkward about it, in that Kiwi way, but I still wanted to tell my story. To get it out there before the dairy or agricultural industries try to shut me down or make out that I'm a university boffin who has no real experience of life. But as the book shows, the opposite is true. Was it challenging to…