Table of contents for Januaury 2018 in Wilderness

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE are heading up Wanaka’s Roys Peak Track after a significant upgrade, with reports of queues forming at the top of the track as people vye to snap the views. The track is one of New Zealand’s most popular day walks, attracting 58,000 people between November 2016 and July 2017. In September, it was named one of five new Great Day Walks in a joint DOC and Tourism NZ promotion. But it has suffered growing pains, with the car park regularly overflowing onto Mount Aspiring Road. After a three month redevelopment, budgeted for $500,000, the track reopened in November. The number of parks has doubled to 100, the car park has been sealed and the road has been widened to cater for overflow parking. A toilet will also…

There are 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments in each foot. That’s a lot of things working to keep you balanced. Footwear that is too tight will restrict the movement that’s required to help you balance. And if too loose, you’ll miss out on the support and strength offered by your footwear. Here’s a simple way to get to know your feet a little better while working on ankle and foot strength. WHILE BAREFOOT: 1. Start with feet about hip-width apart 2. Try to lift just your toes. Don't cheat and rock back. Keep your weight evenly on your feet 3. With your toes lifted, see if you can spread them apart. 4. Try putting them down one at a time from pinky to…

Cover up Cover your legs, arms and hands before moving onto the scree slope – you need to protect your skin in case you lose control and need to self arrest. Gaiters will also keep small stones out of your boots. Dig in to go up When going up a scree slope, scuff your feet and dig your toes in to get a firm footing. Sturdy shoes or boots will help with traction. Only transfer your weight when you’ve got a secure footing. Lean back to go down To head down, face outwards and kick your heels in on every step. Leaning backwards will help with balance, as will a walking pole. Follow the path of least resistance Going across in a switchback style saves energy and gives the rock…

There is a serious need for all tourists to help fund and pay for the preparedness of rescue teams. AFTER A 37 YEAR INVOLVEMENT WITH MOUNTAIN RESCUE, I’ve come to realise a couple of things. Firstly, New Zealand Land Search and Rescue is manned by highly skilled and experienced people who can operate in any environment and all but the most severe conditions. It’s equal to any search group in the world. Secondly, it’s unique in that nearly all LandSAR operatives are volunteers. Though police, medics, pilots and helicopter operators are paid to participate in search and rescue operations, LandSAR personnel provide their time and skills for free. But there are costs to the volunteers, who must be tested and meet rigorous skills and competency standards, supply much of their…

Exped Synmat HL M $229, 365g Features: The Synmat HL is the lightest full-length insulated mat on the market. The tapered design and 20 denier nylon fabric reduce weight without sacrificing durability and comfort. The micro-fibre synthetic fill is laminated to the upper and lower sides, maximising loft when the mat is inflated. The fill and 7cm inflated thickness provide three-season warmth. 5/5 Fit: The Synmat HL’s tapered design makes it relatively easy for a sleeper’s legs to slip off during the night, so those who are less concerned about minimising weight or who wriggle during their sleep may prefer a rectangular design. At 183cm, the regular size is long enough for most to have their whole body off the deck. 4/5 but once you do it is quick and easy…

How poles help Over a day’s tramping, walking poles can reduce the weight put onto your knees by several tonnes. Correctly adjusted, they improve posture, breathing, speed and stability. Ascents, descents and river crossings are safer. Fatigue is reduced. ONE OR TWO? Two poles is best – they help with balance, stride and reduce the load on both your legs. Shaft The shaft is generally composed of three or four telescoping or folding sections and made of aluminium (cheaper) or carbon (lighter, more expensive). LENGTH ADJUSTMENT Some poles are fixed length – offering extra strength and durability, but requiring careful selection to ensure the correct size is bought. Variable length poles can be adjusted to suit the terrain or the user. Each pole section is secured with external clamps or…

STRIKING ROCK FORMATIONS found on the Round the Mountain Track on Mt Ruapehu were created when lava erupted onto extensive glaciers on the volcano during the last ice age, according to new research. Dr Chris Conway completed the research as part of a PhD, co-supervised by Victoria University and GNS Science. When lava flows onto a glacier it chills rapidly, but when the ice retreats with changes in climate, it reveals the lava, frozen in interesting formations. Conway spent three summers exploring the mountain to find evidence of where the lava and ice interacted. “The evidence was overwhelming,” he said. “We discovered thick lava flows, up to 80m high, with glassy, fractured surfaces on numerous ridges located next to deep valleys.” When the lava cools quickly against the ice it…

ANTHONY BEHRENS WALKED the South Island section of the Te Araroa trail with his partner Fiona Burleigh two years ago and said he was looking for an alternative route for the North Island leg. “We aren’t fussed on the North Island TA route – the Manawatu area is two-thirds road walking, and it’s nothing like the South Island in terms of the incredible landscapes,” Behrens said. Dubbed ‘Spine of the Fish’ after the Maori legend that the North Island was a fish, hauled out of the sea by Maui, Behrens’ new route is an intrepid option requiring weeks of isolation. It runs through the Tararua Range, onto the Ruahine Range, through Kaweka Forest Park, Whirinaki Forest, Te Urewera, along the coast of the Bay of Plenty to the Kaimai Range…

Beach hopping Orokawa and Homunga Bay, Orokawa Scenic Reserve, Bay of Plenty North of Waihi Beach, a track follows the coast, winding through regenerating bush to two magical bays which are as close to perfect as you can get. Crystal-clear water rushes to a wide sweep of sand fringed with ancient pohutukawa trees – ideal shade on a hot day. Orokawa Bay is first and from here a side track from the beach leads to the 28m William Wright Falls (30min return). Between the beaches, the track winds over bush-clad bluffs and rocky cliffs with superb ocean views along the coast and out to White Island. At Homunga Bay, small streams drop from a steep bluff onto the beach, creating an ideal shower to rinse off after a swim. The…

Start off right In the days leading up to your trip, increase your water intake. Drinking upwards of 2.5 litres a day for one to two days prior means you’ll be starting off well hydrated, and will be better able to cope with a hot day’s tramping. Know the route Check the map for probable water sources before leaving home, and prepare for the possibility that small side streams have dried up completely. It’s better to carry extra water than rely on a chance encounter with a water source. Don’t sweat it out Avoiding excess sweating will go a long way towards preventing dehydration. Wearing a hat on a hot day will help shade your head and reduce sweat output. Similarly, appropriate layering will help regulate body temperature. Small sips,…

Sometimes, tramping breakfasts call for a bit of wow factor, like the time my other half carried in a watermelon for me. This recipe is much lighter, but just as delicious. Make sure you use a non-stick pan or a good amount of oil for cooking. PROFILE Serves One (times recipe by number of people you want to feed) Prep time 5min Soak time Overnight Cook time 5-10min PIKELETS 4 tbsp buckwheat flour 2 tbsp ground sunflower seeds Pinch cinnamon 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup water Oil to cook At home, mix all ingredients except water and place in a small container. When ready to cook, add water and mix well. Heat a frypan with a little oil and spoon in dollops of the mixture, spreading out slightly with…

“After a 1080 drop you don’t need to set your alarm clock – big flocks of kaka will wake you up” A good, fortunate life Ken Bradley, Fiordland National Park FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, the valleys and passes of Fiordland have been Ken Bradley’s office. From guiding on the Milford Track in the 1970s, to working on maintenance crews on the Dusky Track, developing the Kepler Track, and managing the Fiordland Great Walks, Bradley has been a central figure in the development of the park. He says enhancing the wilderness experience for others has been deeply rewarding. Bradley spent his teens in Te Anau and first walked the Milford Track in 1968 when he was 16. Little did he know he would be managing the track 25 years later. Back…

IT STARTED BEFORE I STEPPED OFF THE BOAT. Skimming the deep blue waves, a New Zealand storm petrel escorted the DOC vessel Hauturu on our journey to Hauturu/Little Barrier Island. Thought extinct for more than 100 years, the seabird was rediscovered in 2003 and its only known nest site is on Little Barrier. It was the first of many encounters with Aotearoa’s rarified flora and fauna that I would experience over the next 24 hours. Rising 722m out of the Hauraki Gulf, with access tightly restricted, Little Barrier has a mystique that few locations possess. The extinct volcano pierces the skyline of the Pacific, and beneath its rich green canopy, it harbours iconic species such as kiwi, tuatara and kakapo. “It’s as close as you can get to what New…

Teva Hurricane XLT $149.90/594g (m), 436g (w). Features: Velcro closure makes these sandals a cinch to get into and out of. The webbing straps are comfortable, though somewhat bulky due to the Velcro. A nylon shank offers excellent torsional stability, without affecting forefoot flex, which is generous. The overall construction is soft – including the rubber outsole which provides good traction (and mud shedding) on every surface, including slick rocks. The colour scheme – the sole and upper is all the same – is funky and adds appeal to a product category that is often unsexy-looking. 4/5 Fit: The sandal comes in full sizes only and the size 9 was just slightly too large for me. The strapping, though secure, couldn’t be tightened as much as I would like and…

Why measure so many feet? People kept saying to me there’s a German foot, an Italian foot, an English foot. No there isn’t. They’re all the same. There’s narrow feet, there’s wide feet. But you can’t tie it to a country. That was one reason, to dispel that myth. The next reason was to look at foot shapes. Once you’ve measured that many feet and you’ve had them through your hands, you become pretty tuned to what’s normal. Using that research, we were then able to build our lasts – which is the basis for every boot and shoe we make. What did you learn about how boots fit our feet? When you stand up, the feet elongate. Sometimes they get wider, sometimes they get narrower, sometimes they get longer.…

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…

PINNACLES HUT in the Coromandel reopened on December 20, but will close again for six weeks from mid February, as DOC continues to repair the main access road. The 80-bunk hut is the biggest in the country and had been closed since March after heavy rain washed out Kauaeranga Valley Road and tracks to the hut. A slip and a bridge have been washed out, closing other access tracks. The work was meant to be completed by December 20, but the hut will again close from February 14 to March 30 as repair work continues. Repairs have also been made to the hut. But FMC executive member Anthony Behrens questioned why the hut doesn’t remain open to backcountry trampers using alternative routes. Behrens walked passed the closed signs and stayed…

Conservation status Endemic, classified as ‘recovering’. Features Dabchicks are dark brown-black on the upper parts and paler on the underside. The head is dark and glossy, streaked with fine swept-back silvery feathers. During the breeding season, the chest and neck front turn a beautiful rich, rufous red. Both sexes are alike, but juveniles have black and white striped markings on the head and neck. Chicks also ride on the parents’ backs for the first three weeks. CALL Adults give short chattering calls during the breeding season and occasionally when alarmed. Nesting They’re rather unique in that they breed year-round. Prior to mating, a pair will indulge in elaborate courtship dances involving preening, rearing, head-turning, shaking and displays of diving. Nests are a loose pile of aquatic vegetation anchored to pond…

A one thousand calorie snack. It’s either something that would call for gnashing of teeth and anxious hand-wringing from the health police, or a gift from heaven while you’re on the track. For a group of Auckland University Tramping Club members, it’s what they rely on for energy on their 23-day summer trips. “Show me this 1000-calorie piece of joy,” I said. At this point, the AUTC trampers had been on the track for a long time and only had a small amount of food in reserve (notably a lot of peanut butter). They’d turned up at the NZ Alpine Club lodge in Arthur’s Pass a day early, camped out, and regaled me with stories of hilarity and promises of fatty-pants snacks. After so long on the track, they only…

IN OCTOBER, SOMEONE RELEASED SIKA DEER INTO NORTH TARANAKI FOREST. In an anonymous letter – signed, it claimed, on behalf of six Taranaki hunters – they told the Department of Conservation they had loosed ‘at least 30’ into the formerly deer-free block in reprisal for the department’s use of 1080. They threatened that more would follow until DOC stopped using the poison. Ordinarily, DOC keeps schtum about such ‘liberations’ – renegades are easily kindled to copycat – but this time, director-general Lou Sanson went public. A DOC staffer’s vehicle had just had a window smashed in. Weeks before, a wheel flew off a contractor’s vehicle after the nuts had been undone. Checks revealed two other vehicles had been sabotaged. That, on top of an incident in which someone left 1080…

THIS IS MEMORY-MAP’S NEWEST GPS software, allowing users to view topo maps on map-capable Garmin GPS units. While it’s not the cheapest product of its kind, it includes a number of relevant, easy-to-use features. Additionally, it comes packaged with Memory-Map’s desktop software for use on a PC, Mac, Android or iOS device. It’s a great combination, allowing users to plan trips, print maps, draw and upload routes and waypoints to take along on their GPS or smartphone, and download data after the trip to review or save – all with an easy to read, scaleable topo map background. My favourite features are the ability to preview and explore the terrain in 3D and see elevation profiles in Memory-Map on my computer. Confirmed and maintained DOC huts and tracks also show…

Fuel types Gas stoves are simple, convenient and inexpensive to run and maintain. Many gas-powered models now have regulators or use inverted canisters to provide consistent output and improve efficiency in alpine or cold environments. Liquid and multi-fuel stoves burn almost any flammable fuel. MAINTENANCE Gas stoves seldom require maintenance, whereas liquid fuel models should be cleaned and serviced regularly to ensure optimum performance – it’s possible to do this yourself. Ignition Push-button ignition is convenient, but not infallible, so always carry matches or a lighter. Liquid fuel stoves often need to be primed and can take practise to light. BOIL TIMES There are many variables to take into account when testing boil times: air temperature, wind, altitude and burner size. Even the quality and quantity of gas has an…