⛰️#40 - Route Creation, Trail Fun, 82-year-old Ernie, & Lots More.

And we are back with the 40th 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 with a…

Quiz

The drive between the two Routeburn Track trailheads (The Divide and Routeburn Shelter) is 324km.

Is the distance between the two Heaphy Track Trailheads more or less than that?

The answer is at the bottom of the newsletter.

🗒️ Other Track News Etc.

• Have you heard of Trail Fund? I’m surprised I hadn’t until now, but if you’re involved in track building/maintenance, you can apply for a grant to help you out (applications close May 30th). Founded in 2012, Trail Fund is a not-for-profit organisation that’ has given out $300,000 to over 50 clubs. They seem to go good!

• If you’re heading to the NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival in QT or Wanaka (national tour venues to be released soon), make sure to catch the film ‘Hut Keepers’ that’s premiering at the festival. It goes into the story of Permolat, why it was formed, and its work over the last 20 years. Details here.

• How good does Ernie go! At 82 years of age, he completed the Te Araroa in 142 days. That’s good going! There’s a nice write-up about Ernie’s journey and his hiking history on the WonderJournal. This quote from Ernie would likely hold all of us in good stead in the future, and who knows, enable us to hike the TA at 82.:

  • “Always a pleasant thing. I have a positive outlook on life and a great sense of humour. I do not worry about things which I cannot change, which are not my fault. I just accept it and go with it,”

• I guess it’s not a surprise, but there was an article on RNZ about the increase in the number of avoidable callouts Wanaka Search & Rescue have had to attend. The article does say:

  • “…lured partly by the influence of social media and websites.”

    Hopefully, Chur New Zealand isn’t involved in those stats 🙀 (touch wood). I’d like to think people would email me if they have any concerns/want info changed on the website, which has happened a couple of times.

• I came across this freeze dried salsa by Salsa Queen (US company)…someone should make this in NZ (maybe with a kiwi twist in the ingredients).

• The upgraded Anti Crow Hut in Arthur’s Pass is now open for biz. It took a good few trips and there’s a couple of bits and pieces to finish but with the fire ready to go and a woolshed of firewood, there’s nothing stopping you.

• (US Content) This is a nifty short interview about a new route established in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Dan Stenziano. Most of you reading this spend enough time looking at Topo Map apps/maps, so this is relatable and something we’ve all thought would be cool to do. It was a cool little insight. There’s a link to the YouTube video of the route on that link, which if you like, you’ll get stoked about the quality of the video below from Dan, again in the Sierras. I’ve never really thought about adventures in the Sierras…but maybe?

😹 Hiking Funny

Turns out there’s some science behind this phenomenon that’s pretty simple. This 5-minute YouTube video covers it nicely.

🎁 A Couple Of Competitions To Enter

• RockRidge NZ Gift Voucher - enter here (entries close May 29th)

• Remlite Launch Giveaway - enter here (entries close - unknown)

• Win a year’s supply of Em’s Power Cookies & Bars - enter here (entries close May 30th)

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

• Take Your Best Shot - Mammut Photo Comp - enter here (entries close July 15th)

🧔‍♂️ What I've Been Up To...

On Sunday I joined a few mates to celebrate a birthday on the Routeburn,

It was the emptiest I’ve ever seen that track. Granted, it’s out of season, and the weather was not looking the goods, but there’s normally always a fair few out there regardless. There was a light drizzle as we started, but once you’re in the forest we barely noticed it.

The waterfalls next to Falls Hut were pumping which was something different, and while we never got to see Lake Harris due to the cloud…once we got to the saddle there were some better views over the other side. That would be as far as we’d get, as it was time to turn around and head back home (via Mrs Wooley’s).

There’s never a bad day on the Routeburn.

🤔 Quiz Answer

The Heaphy Track wins with 449km. That’s a lot longer than I realised!

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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