⛰️#29 - Tararua Love, Tongariro Stats, Spot The Hikers, ❤️-Warming Story.

And we are back with the 29th NZ Hiking Newsletter, sent every Thursday/Friday.

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.

🥾 The Tararua Is Getting Some Press

Having grown up being able to see the Tararua Range in the distance, I feel a little bad having explored so little of it.

The Tararua Tramping Club published their latest newsletter, thanks to Derreck Field. It’s a long read, but some awesome tidbits in there. Including:

• The mention of $116,000 raised for the year. It’s impressive how many different sources of funding they have, many, if not all, which he names.

• Due to overcrowding, both Nicholls & Dracophyllum huts, which are part of the Te Araroa are potentially getting some tent sites next to the huts.

• The Greater Wellington Backcountry Network (GWBN) has 265 members. 204 are keen to volunteer which is cool. In the last eight months, 30 of these volunteers have been activated. 204 of 265 sounds impressive, but 30 out of 204…there’s a whole lot of room to move volunteer wise it’d seem.
  
  Read the full newsletter.
  
  Some other bits and pieces from the Tararua:

• ThePost.co.nz had a small write-up about the GWBN crew who went in and spent 5 days giving Tutuwai Hut a spruce-up.

• There are some cool snaps of the recent work on Waitewaewae Hut here.

• Here are some epic black and white snaps from the Tararua.
  
  The Tararua are getting some good loving.

😹 Hiking Funny

🗒️ Other Track News Etc.

• There’s been an update of stats from the counters on the Tongariro Crossing (source). Shoutout to Colin Baker for sharing. A couple of points:

  • The Mangatepopo counter recorded 9% more activity vs. the same period last year.

  • 33 hazardous weather alerts vs. 24 in the same period last year.

• If you’re after a lower-cost stove (often in low supply…in Queenstown at least), Macpac has released v2 of their Micro Stove (affiliate link) for $55.99 members price. People loved v1 (before it was recalled - I can’t remember the reason 🙈), so no doubt this will be a hit. It’s crazy how pricey the MSR stoves are in NZ.
  
  p.s. I do work for Macpac, but they’ve got no idea I’m writing this newsletter (as far as I know).

• If you’re in the Christchurch area on March 16th, consider popping by Kirwee to see the pre-fab building site for Brass Monkey Hut. You’ll get to see what goes into making a hut, and there’s a chance to get your hands dirty with some varnishing, followed by lunch. Check out the details here and make sure to RSVP with Ollie.
  
  p.s. The photo above is from the updates provided by Ollie at the site where Brass Monkey Hut is going to be installed - more details here.

• If you’re after a heartwarming story, this video fits the bill. Seven Sharp are on the scene to give the Southland Search & Rescue team a brand new Ford Ranger to help tow their equipment in the new trailer they’ve fundraised for.

• I was biking to work the other day for the first time this year in the dark. I had my bike lights going, but I took a look at myself and realised I was wearing all black clothing. Whoops. This made me feel even sillier after seeing a post earlier in the week.

  
  The Alpine Rescue Team posted four photos where two people are in the same spot but are marked differently. It’s a great way to showcase the difference that bright clothing makes if a search party is looking for you. I did appreciate the comments in the second photo too.
  
  You can click on the link above, but I’ll post them here as well with the same captions (note: I spelt colours the proper way).

  
  

• There have been reports of a man with odd behaviour section hiking the Te Araroa. He’s on the trail northbound between Lake Hawea and Tekapo. Since the first report was posted, there’s been a few more threads that have popped up. It sucks people have to go through this in the backcountry :(

  • The first thread describes the situation

  • A nice follow up from Milford Road DOC Ranger, Thomas Robinson, about what to do in such situations.

• Some DOC Visitor Centre hours seem to be in flux a fair bit at the moment (e.g. Tongariro). If you’re planning to visit a DOC centre (maybe hiring a PLB/buying hut tickets/needing track info), call ahead to confirm they’ll be open.

• Scroll to the fourth photo in the Instagram thing above. This was taken nearly two weeks after the Takahe were released in the Dart Valley (cheers Bradley for the lead). Having not heard of any Takahe sightings in the Greenstone, it’s nice to see some spotted here…even if it’s not been long since they were released.

🧔‍♂️ What I've Been Up To...

Nothing much for me with some family stuff going on…that’ll change this week. It was nice to get a few runs in along the beach in Waikanae.

This weekend I’ll be heading out on a loop that’ll be new to me which is fun. Hopefully it’s not too cold overnight!

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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