#15 - Great Comments, Mini-Hut Replicas, More Huts To Be Booked, & Lots More.

Author

Jub Bryant
November 28, 2024

And we are back with the 15th NZ Hiking Newsletter, sent every Thursday (yes, it’s now 11.19 pm on Thursday night as I finish this).

I'll let you know what’s going on in the hiking scene in New Zealand, along with other related bits and pieces I find interesting.

Alright, let’s get into it.

🦉 When The Comment Sections Drops Wisdom

The comments section on the internet can be a minefield. But sometimes you come across one, leading you to start believing in humanity again. A couple of weeks ago, this article was published on Wilder Life. It talks about how the basics of Search and Rescue work in New Zealand.

If you weren’t aware of the background, it would seem like the article is sweet, you might remember something and move on with your life.

But I saw this comment from Tania Seward in response to the article being shared on Facebook, and it got a lot of love so I thought I would share it here:

“SAR operations and funding are quite a bit more complex than this story covers and it would be good to see the Wilderlife story updated to reflect this.

Depending on the circumstances of the rescue, sometimes the bill is picked up by ACC, travel insurers, or Health NZ. Other times, they are paid for from Police or RCCNZ operational budgets.

LandSAR are one of a number of organisations providing SAR services in NZ. There is also the DOC SAR team at Aoraki (who are paid), Amateur Radio Emergency Comms, Avalanche Dogs, FENZ, and many others. Harbourmasters, commercial fishing vessels, private helicopter operators and even airport fire and rescue teams contribute to SAR on a regular basis. Coastguard and Surf Life Saving NZ volunteers regularly assist with land-based searches if there is a chance the person/s may have ventured into the water.

Dementia is just one type of cognitive impairment which may lead to someone going missing. Autism, intellectual disability or traumatic brain injury are other examples.

RCCNZ currently manage over 1000 SAR incidents a year, Police about 2500.

About half of all SAR incidents are resolved without a rescue being required. For land-based SAR operations (trampers and climbers), about 90% of beacon-activated rescues are completed within 6 hours. Without a beacon, 90% are completed within 17 hours.”

Between the article and the response from Tania, most people will have a much better understanding of SAR afterward. I’d love to see one of the NZ outdoor publications commission a long-form article from Tania on the topic.

🛖 15 More Huts Made Bookable

Another 15 huts (mostly in Arthurs Pass and Nelson Lakes - see the list here) now need to be booked in advance. It’s an interesting time to announce these changes with summer kind of having already started?

But of the 950 DOC huts, that brings the total of bookable huts to 55. So overall that’s less than 6% of huts. Which when it’s put like that, seems pretty reasonable.

What if 10% had to be booked in advance? That still seems reasonable…but for me, 20% seems like a lot.

So I guess if in a few years there are 100 or so huts that are bookable I shouldn’t complain (I probably will).

There are plenty of reasons to make a hut bookable, especially if they’re over-subscribed, but the main criteria DOC uses is:

  • Is the hut high-use or experiencing overcrowding regularly?

  • Is it used by less experienced or first-time trampers?

  • Is it popular with families?

  • Is it close to larger urban centres?

  • Is it vehicle accessible or close to a road end?

If the latter four get a yes, the answer to the first question is usually a yes. DOC are certainly looking for more revenue sources which is great, let’s hope they don’t get carried away when they start to see the cash flowing in and charge for everything.

$1 long drops anyone?

😹 Hiking Funny

After having a wee giggle about the below, I started down the rabbit hole on the topic…but have decided this isn’t a situation I’m likely to find myself in. And if I do, I’ll be hiding all evidence.

🗒️ Other Track News Etc.

  • If you haven’t seen Kemi & Niko’s mini-hut replicas before, you’ll need to check out their Instagram page! The detail is epic…and they make for an awesome gift for all hikers. There was a great article and 22-minute interview with them on RNZ recently which I recommend.

  • It’s the final weekend to get out and clean up the DOC hut network for November’s Love Our Huts campaign. If you’re looking for a weekend mission, check out the huts on the list and maybe head in and spruce one up? I’ll be heading into Skipper’s Canyon.

  • A survey is open (until December 16th) to help DOC understand what the strategy for the Conservation Management Strategy on the West Coast of the South Island could look like in the future. It’ll take no more than 5 to 10 minutes of your time (unless you write heaps and heaps). For more info and the survey, this page has all the things.

  • Project Tongariro’s Mahi Aroha Summer Programme is open for bookings. It’s a fun way to have new experiences on the Central Plateau. With 25 events available, there’s something for everyone to explore, protect, and enjoy their local natural environments. January’s events are bookable here.

  • If you’re heading to the Abel Tasman Track, you’ll no longer have to get your feet wet (or wait for low tide) thanks to the new $320,000 Kākāwera/Torrent River bridge, which apparently is also going to be a highlight of the track. This replaces the bridge that was damaged in August 2022.

🎁 A Couple Of Competitions To Enter

  • NEW Win an awesome Sarah Liesl Print of a famous NZ location (go Mueller Hut) - enter here (closes November 30th)

  • Wilderness Wonders with Real Meals - enter here (closes March 31st, 2025)

  • An Awesome Prizepack with Racers Edge Wanaka - enter here (entries open until December 2nd)

🧔‍♂️ What I've Been Up To...

Breast Hill Peak views are the best.

I went to Breast Hill Peak (Lake Hawea) and Liverpool Hut (Matukituki Valley) last weekend. I’ve been to them before, but they’re both awesome. Breast Hill, like all of the hikes around Lake Hawea is underrated and is an epic alternative to Roys Peak…with a lot fewer people.

It happens every time, but seeing Roys Peak full at 7 am en route to Matukituki Valley is bonkers. And it was still 90%+ full at 3 pm. Bonkers.

Have a great week, hike it up.

As always, reply to this email (or message me on Whatsapp +642041702764) with anything and everything…I’m happy to chat.

Chur,

Jub

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