⛰️#37 - Tararua Metro Map, Hut Build Video, Sneaky Basic Hut Update, & More.

And we are back with the 37th 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.

Quick note: With the hiking season coming to a close (Great Walk season ended April 30th…so it’s a good chance to stay in those huts in May), I’m not sure what the plan will be in terms of publishing content weekly. I’m open to ideas if you have any…but for now, let’s get into it.

🗒️ Track News Etc.

• When I opened this video it already had 127,000 views (now 149,000). That’s a lot of eyeballs that are now aware of the soon-to-be-opened new Brass Monkey Hut. The video maker, Scott, creates videos on interesting building projects and this ticks the brief. I think it took Scott a bit out of his comfort zone but he captured what goes into the hut build well as well as some of the personalities involved. Great watch.

• The Lake Marian Track, one of the popular walks for people road tripping to Milford Sound, is closed until ~May 30th. It’s getting a new viewing platform, which I’m guessing is a result of its increasing popularity. Press release here.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is cool when used for the greater good. I think it’s fair to say that the new A520-AI traps are by making pest control more effective and cost-efficient…despite the $1030 price tag per trap. This article shares some good info about the traps and why they work. I like that the flaws in the traps are pointed out, but they also aren’t settling and will be improved over time.

• Benjamin Piggott chatted about hut bagging on RNZ. The interview doesn’t get out in nature too often (from what I can tell), but it’s a handy chat. Interview here (11 mins).

• Bogdan State created an awesome Tararua Metro Map showing some of the signature routes and peaks through the Tararua Forest Park. If you have any idea what GitHub is, he’s released the code and things here.

• Save The Kiwi shared the great news that they released 232 kiwi into the wild in Tongariro National Park, Taranaki Maunga, and Wellington over the last 10 weeks. A lot of work went into translocating them from Sanctuary Mountain Maunatautari in the Waikato which you can read more about in this NZ Herald article.

• A family had to be rescued in dark, cold, windy conditions from the Pouakai Range last week. Details here.

• There was some positive news snuck into the Federated Mountain Club newsletter: “We've also been advised by DOC that plans to introduce charges for basic and bivvy huts from 2025/26 are on hold, to first understand the implications of a review of the visitor network that is underway, including impacts on basic and bivvy huts.” For now, phew.

• It’s not all sunshine and lollipops for the body when you’re hiking a bunch. This is a pretty well done wee video of the pros and cons on your bodi’s health after hiking longer distances. I’m sure there are flaws in the video, but lets’ not nitpick too much.

😹 Hiking Funny

🎁 A Couple Of Competitions To Enter

• Rugged Ram’s Ultimate Giveaway - enter here (entries close May 8th)

• Zempire’s Mother’s Day Giveaway - enter here (entries close May 6th)

• Arc’teryx Winter Weekend Giveaway - enter here (entries close July 8th)

🧔‍♂️ What I've Been Up To...

After a solid recovery week, I was up for a couple days of adventuring near Lake Ohau. What a cool spot! I’ll head back up that way again (even if it’s just for the Ohau Lodge nachos). We did two loops:

1. Dumb-Bell Lake Loop (full post on Chur New Zealand)

2. Gunsight Pass Loop (full post coming soon)

Dumb-Bell Lake had lots of variety as it took us on a portion of the A2O cycle trail, the Te Araroa, Ohau Ski Field Road, and the unmarked (though partially marked) trail to get to the lake. Awesome route.

Gunsight Pass is a little more well-known as the divide between the North Temple and South Temple Tracks. The tracks make for great family walks, and if you’ve got some good off-track experience, going over the pass is super cool. With the wind blowing a few smaller rocks off the tops towards us, we should have had helmets with us. Next time.

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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