Tabla de contenidos para January 2024 en Wilderness

WALKSHORTS A popular programme of events outlining the nature of the Central Plateau returns in January. Mahi Aroha is a joint project by Project Tongariro and DOC. This year, almost 30 conservation-focused events are offered around the region from Taupō to Ohakune. Project Tongariro CEO Kiri Te Wano said Mahi Aroha is about loving our backyard. “We live in an incredible space in the Central Plateau; these trips and events are encouraging us all to get out and appreciate it.” Amongst the 30 events are familyfriendly nature tours, a hike up Mt Tihia, picnics in Paengaroa to learn about plants, nature-themed watercolour classes, whio and kiwi avoidance training for dogs, and guided heli hikes into Kaimanawa Forest Park. Special walks on offer range from the Waipāhīhī Botanical Garden to the…

WAYPOINTS MORE THAN one third of Aotearoa is protected as public conservation land. There are national parks, conservation and forest parks and hundreds of smaller reserves. This impressive system has evolved since the first reserves were established in the 19th century, and the sheer number and type of conservation land can seem bewilderingly complex. As an example, take reserves: we have scenic reserves, historic reserves, one national reserve (at Lewis Pass), nature reserves, recreation reserves and scientific reserves – all with varying levels of protection and access conditions. Scientific reserves, as their name implies, are protected for their scientific significance – geological, biological or ecological. They tend to be small (10–100ha). Examples include the Wilderness Scientific Reserve, which protects the best surviving remnant of bog pine (Halocarpus bidwillii) in the…

OFF the BEATEN TRACK The sidle route along the Waingawa River's true right, as it slithers through a deep and treacherous gorge separating Pukeamoamo Mitre from the rocky pinnacle of Bannister, has been called the worst track in the Tararua. To the north, the range is known for its narrow ridgeline and rocky steps. What better challenge to entice two yo-pros into the hills for a three-day mission? As Mat and I strapped on gaiters at the Kiriwhakapapa Campsite, it began to rain. It was 7.30pm on a Friday, and we were headed to Blue Range Hut for the night. The initial five minutes were along an old bush tramway before we were confronted by our first challenge: the Blue Range. The climb was steep and slippery, undeniably Type II…

WILD TRIPS Access to the Kaimai Ranges and its great range of day and multi-day trips is available from many road ends. One popular circuit, which involves a night at Te Whare Okioki, starts and finishes at the end of Whakamarama Road. The circuit features a healthy forest, bubbling and picturesque streams, a comfortable hut and tracks that volunteers work hard to keep in good order to be enjoyed by people of all abilities. At times the track follows old logging tramlines – a legacy of activity over several decades. Fortunately, more drastic plans for the destruction of Kaimai forest were stopped in the 1980s thanks to a concerted conservation effort involving many people. After leaving the car park, pick up the Leyland O'Brien Tramway Track heading southwards. This soon…

A three-season tramping tent that won't break your budget $799/ 1560G / 2.58 M2 Features: This is a freestanding, two-door, two-vestibule tramping tent. The foot and fly are 1200mm 15D nylon ripstop, while the mesh inner is a 15D ‘No-See-Um’ nylon. Pre-bends in the DAC Featherlight NSL aluminium ridge poles create more livable space, as does a cross pole, which extends the apex. There are three gear storage pockets. A ‘burrito bag’ allows quick packing. 4/5 Pitching: Coloured pole tips, looped paracord pegs and a simplistic design ensure quick and easy pitching. The fly's grounding attachments are easily adjustable, and there are ample guys and pegs for adverse conditions. Care must be taken to tension the fly evenly as a depression can form between the cross pole and ridge poles,…

UPPER Usually made from quick-draining and super light synthetic materials. Expect plenty of mesh panels and a breathable lining to help keep feet cool and dry. FIT A good fit is vital for foot stability over uneven terrain. It is also essential for comfort. Some models may stretch and soften once broken in – and even while they're being used, as they adjust to swelling feet. But, a shoe that is uncomfortable from the start, will remain uncomfortable. Midsole Technical midsoles are made from various shock-absorbing materials that also help rebound and propel the user through their stride. Midsoles often include a plate to protect the underfoot from stones and other trail debris. OUTSOLE Wide-spaced, dirt-shedding lugs are common. But don't just look for shoes with the most lugs –…

POETRY IN MOTION I have used the last two years of Walk1200km to maintain my fitness, mainly around my local streets. In 2022 I felt the benefit by walking the Queen Charlotte Track, and in late 2023 I completed the Paparoa Track. This completes my set of Great Walks. I have always found photographs don't fully encapsulate my walking experiences, and I have been inspired to write this poem, named ‘Paparoa Track’. Warden watches vistas vanish Hut filling with rain-crowd fug Wood and coal stoke conversations Dehy rated, Soup and noodles by the mug Europe sent a high-tech biker Plumber, tiler; local reps. Notwithstanding each relaxing All had conquered countless steps Bunks were bagged and muscles stretched Dark at nine all feigning sleep Soon for-real the bunkroom snored Those with…

1. PESTO PASTA Mix a bag of pasta with basil pesto, fresh cherry tomatoes (keep them at the top of your pack), feta and sliced pepperoni. 2. STEAK WITH BUTTER AND GARLIC Freeze a cut of steak before heading out and it will defrost over the day. Bring a small container of butter and diced garlic. Fry the steak on your cooker and put the garlic butter on top to melt. If you're feeling extra posh, wrap a potato in tin foil and nestle it in the embers of the hut fire. 3. AMERICAN HOTDOGS These are simple and super if kids are along. All that's needed are some long buns, pre-cooked sausages, and two resealable bags filled with a bit of mustard and tomato sauce. Cut the corners off…

WALKSHORTS TRICIA AND ADRIAN “We share a passion for tramping,” says Adrian. “Our journey took a significant turn when we began building our own campervan, envisioning it as the means for our trips. “I had an engagement ring and was awaiting the perfect moment, which came when we decided to hike to Pouakai Tarns after finishing the van. “With my experience as a parttime video content creator, I have always wanted to make a video that is personal and dedicated to us, and I secretly documented our Aotearoa travels with a plan to make a proposal video. “I wanted to end the video with the Pouakai Tarns as the backdrop, nestled against Taranaki Maunga, which would be a reminder of our climbing interests. The journey began at 4am on a…

Technology partner Samsung is a lifestyle brand, formed from transformative ideas and technologies, yet with human-driven innovation designed to help people thrive. Whether it's mobile phones and wearables, televisions and connected home appliances, the company's aim is to make sure everyone is more connected to the things and the people they care about. With the busy and stressful lives people live today, staying active and healthy is more important than ever. Whether it's a quick jog or a relaxing walk, Samsung's devices – such as the latest Galaxy smartphones, Buds (in-ear headphones) and Watches – will help to de-stress after a long day. Samsung's New Zealand head of brand marketing, Simon Smith said: “Samsung is proud to be partnering with Wilderness and the Walk1200km challenge in 2024. It's a great…

SPEARGRASS is painfully familiar to any tramper who has blundered into one while being too hasty through the tussock. The leaves of most species are rigid with sharp points that can easily pierce trousers, gaiters and skin. It's been suggested this is a defence against browsing birds, such as moa. However, some introduced pest animals can overcome these defences. Pigs can uproot entire plants to reach the tasty taproot. And it is the taproot that provides a clue to the relationships of speargrasses – they are in the same family as carrots. Indeed, Māori ate the taproot of smaller plants, called papaī. There are around 40 species of speargrass, 38 confined to New Zealand and two to Australia. Scientifically they are Aciphylla – needle-leafed. Another colloquial name is ‘Spaniard’. Speargrasses…

WAYPOINTS Wild FILE OTUIHAU WHANGĀREI Falls is an alluring place. The falls cascade over basalt cliffs and offer incredible views from three platforms and a serene spot for picnics and relaxation on a hot day. Even more intriguing is their historic cultural significance as a sacred site and favoured eeling spot for local Māori. Starting from the main car park are loop walks, including a short 30-minute option. The falls are in view all the way around. There is a pathway behind the waterfall and a pool below to swim in; however, caution is advised for both. Thanks for the initial preservation of the area go to Archibald Clapham, who bought the land in the 1920s to prevent a commercial watermill being built there. Later, this natural gem became a public…

GRADE DIFFICULT DISTANCE 66KM TIME 5–6 DAYS. » As a map, BX15 is as fine a piece of wall art as could be wished for. The Sierra Range blends into the névé-clad Kā Tiritiri o te Moana – the Main Divide of the Southern Alps – in an arabesque curve and culminates north of Aoraki Mt Cook with impressive swathes of glaciers, the fingers of which splay down into the rocky ridges and bush of the west. Only one permanent settlement occupies this sheet – Fox Glacier township – and there are few roads and fence lines on the alluvial plain alongside the Cook and Fox rivers. It's the map that captures the zenith of the land of mountains. For several years an earlier edition of this map adorned my…

Skier, kayaker and jack-of-all-trades adventurer Nick Pascoe went from Mt Aspiring to the Tasman Sea with two friends via skiing, glacier travel and packraft. Here's what he took. SKI KIT I took lightweight gear that's still bomber and reliable. On my feet I had the DPS Skis Pagoda Tour 105, paired with an ATK Freeraider 14 tech binding for easy uphills and good downhill stability. Total weight of skis, bindings, boots and skins was 9kg. ALPINE GEAR We had crampons and ice axes for the gnarlier alpine terrain. I'm a fan of Petzl's no-frills performance gear: Lynx crampons and Gully or Nomic ice tools. A lightweight 60m rope and crevasse rescue kit were our insurance policy for crossing glaciated terrain and getting out of the mountains. We took a slim…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $17. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. Learn more about Real Meals at www.realmeals.co.nz.…

WALK1200KM GET A TRAPLINE Predator control groups are on a nationwide mission to make Aotearoa predator free and return the bush to its endemic species, including birds, bats, frogs, wētā and other insects. This is a great motivator. You can contribute by walking a trapline – and watch the kms add up! predatorfreenz.org DITCH THE CAR New year, new challenge – why not reduce your emissions while you're elevating your health and counting the kilometres? Or if you already use public transport, get off a few stops early. And don't let the rain stop you – recent research shows the increase in negative ions in the air after rainfall is great for your mood. So is not being stuck in traffic and saving money – and the planet. Check out…

BEING AN OUTWARD BOUND instructor isn't an average day job. It's not even a day job. It calls for diversity, skills and life experience. Kate Gloeggler is one, and her CV is certainly not ‘average’. Gloeggler studied dance education in Germany, worked as a canoe guide in Canada, at Outward Bound in Germany, and as a dance teacher for youth in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago. Born in Germany, she first travelled to New Zealand after high school and fell in love with the land, the sea and Māori culture. She has been at Outward Bound NZ for nearly four years, and says living and working at Anakiwa ticks many boxes. “I live among an incredible community of friends and like-minded people. We are all here because our work is so…

Out there: MARK WATSON Mark is a long-time Wilderness contributor and has four books to his name including one on Te Araroa. He recently completed a 51,500km bike-packing odyssey from Alaska to Patagonia with his partner Hana Black. Mark's photo: Central Darran Mountains The image was taken in Cleft Creek in the Central Darran Mountains after crossing from Turner's Biv via Mt Makere. In moody weather we descended tongues of snow and smooth rock slabs. Anticipating that my companion Tom was going to be skylined against the white of the snow, I waited in position until he was suitably in frame. I shot wide, at 24mm, to capture scale and depth. The photo is composed around the rule of thirds, and strong diagonal lines draw the viewer's eye through the…

WILD TRIPS GRADE EASY DISTANCE 5KM TO HUT TIME 2HR TO HUT. BJ34 is the eighth most popular map in the country, and the only one to include a volcano, a hot lake surrounded by glaciers, a wilderness area, three ski fields, pristine swimming holes, several lahar paths, beech forest, mad scoria fields, secret sly grogging routes, the last spike of the North Island main trunk railway, a derelict prison, two alpine club huts, 50+ ski club lodges, a gondola, an army training area (with live firing!) and a 1920s haunted chateau. But, you know, I'm biased – it's my backyard. That map list makes it hard to decide which trip is the best. For trampers, I reckon it's Rangipo Hut on the eastern flanks of Ruapehu which, at 1560m,…

WILD TRIPS BP33 covers the grand terrain of the southern Tararua Range astride the Wellington, Horowhenua and Wairarapa regions. I love the interlacing of the headwater streams, small blue lines snaking down from the green ridges, spurs and ribs of the tops, gathering force as they become larger blue lines, often merging – for this is one of the most celebrated features of the Tararua Range – into gorges, marked by striated black symbols that carry a certain warning. And that's just the topography. Then there are the lines representing tracks and the small black squares that show huts and their promise of shelter. The Featherston map is full of history, too. Sayers Hut is the oldest remaining hut in Tararua Forest Park, although greatly altered since the Sayer family…

IN THE CHANGEABLE outdoor environment, even the best-laid plans can go awry. The following scenario shows decision-making in action. The situation When a group comprising an adult and six teenage girls started from their hut on the last leg of their tramp one morning, the wind was much stronger than forecast. The first part of their route was very exposed and some of the girls were quite light. Before they set off, the adult briefed them about the conditions and showed them how to pair up to support each other. Before they even reached the most exposed section, however, the wind was so strong that the adult turned the group back to the hut. STOP The first response to any emergency is to STOP: Stop, Think, Observe and Plan. In…

Best for bikepacking and fastpacking $1319 / 1710G / 2.7M2 Features: This is MSR's first bikepacking-specific tent. It has extra-short folding DAC alloy poles and a waterproof stuff sack, designed for direct mounting onto handlebars. The tent's design is popular and much imitated, and furthers some of the classic Hubba Hubba features with plenty of leg- and headroom and larger vestibules for gear. 4/5 Pitching: It's a fast, uncomplicated pitch, easily managed by one person except in high winds. On level ground the tent has a uniform tension and is well supported. The ground-level tabs that the pole ends lock into are alloy, making them virtually indestructible. As with previous Hubba Hubba 2s I have used, the fly has a tendency to touch the inner at the tent ends and…