The thrill of discovery outside
THIS MONTH, I’ve been reminded just how much tramping and getting outside is about discovery and experiencing something new. Of course, every tramp involves discovery in some way or another, whether it’s walking a track for the first time, staying in a hut or finding a quiet corner to sit and reflect amongst nature. But the meltwater lake found on Mt Ruapehu takes discovery to a new level. The lake appears most summers, but seldom, if ever, as early as it has this year. With climate change melting glaciers faster than ever before, it’s a phenomenon we’re likely to be seeing more of on the high slopes of Mt Ruapehu. You can see the dramatic photos on p54. And then, on p48, we find how tramping the Heaphy Track offers such diversity…