⛰️#63 - Bring Back The Biv, Tongariro Gets The 🤑, Track Rafts, Charlie Ruck, & More.

And we are back with the 63rd weekly NZ Hiking Newsletter.

Something that‘s humoured me over the last few weeks at work (Macpac) is seeing all the TA hikers coming inside with the hoods of their sunhoodies on.

Just take the silly thing off inside!

Anyway, as usual, 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.

🗒️ Track News Etc.

• Can a community save Evangeline Biv? This one gets a bit confusing (hopefully I don’t create too much fake news). In 2021 Evangeline Biv (Lake Sumner Forest Park) was removed as it had slipped off its piles (after a renovation in 2019). Since then, comms about the bivs status has been sporadic…but it seems as though DOC has sent it to be used as some kind of information booth…and it’s not going back to the original area to be used in the backcountry.

  That pissed a lot of people off, no more than Craig Benbow who has invested time in following up the bivs status over the last few years.

  Now, after getting an agreement with both DOC and the Backcountry Trust, there’s a chance to have some form of biv near the original site (there’s no chance the original one will be reinstated). That’s a way off yet, but man, it’s awesome to see the dedication of people like Craig fighting for our huts.

  If you live in the Canterbury region, do some reading up on the recent posts on this Facebook page for all the details (there’s some juicy email threads too🍿) and vote in the FB poll about what you’d like to happen to the biv.

• Tongariro National Park Gets Moola. That's $3.5 million from the International Visitor Levy funds to go towards restoring fire-damaged areas. The 3,000 hectares that were burned will be restored based on science, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori. Here’s hoping the 3.5 million is used efficiently, and we can see the fancy spreadsheets showing the costs at the end. More details here.

• Experience The Longwoods With Naomi (must read). If you’ve heard of the Longwood Range, in Southland, it’s likely from a Te Araroa hiker who still has nightmares about the mud. I haven’t experienced the range yet, but after reading Naomi Arnold's fabulous writing in this piece for NZGeo.com, it sure felt like I was in the mud.

• Track Rafts Working A Treat. I bet Naomi wishes there were track rafts through the Longwood range, like there is now on the Makahika Track (Manawatu - also part of the Te Araroa). Thanks to volunteers and RNZAF, amongst others, at least 60 of the planned 150 track rafts have been installed. These will ensure people stay on the track and will give the surrounding forest a chance to thrive once again. More details and photos here.

😹 Hiking Funny

🗒️ More Track News Etc.

• 5 Rescued Off Mt Taranaki. A group of five were lucky to make it off Mount Taranaki last weekend. The call for rescue came through at 2.15pm, but it wasn't until a brief weather window between 6 and 7 pm that they were evacuated off the mountain. There’s no word what went on up there but with (after the rescue, current status unknowon):

  • one in critical condition

  • two in a serious condition

  • two are in a moderate condition

  It must have gotten just a little hairy up there. More details here.

• Motatapu Track Reroute. The Motatapu Track (Otago) has had a 350 metre reroute after a section of the track between Queenstown and Wanaka was deemed at risk. There was a slow moving slip near the track, which I first heard about in April last year (thanks to this post/photo). But it’s now been sorted which will make everyone more comfortable going forward. Press Release here.

• Take Back The Track. Sarah Gibbs has been sharing her story after she was assaulted on a multiday hike in Australia recently. The police response was lacking but social media kicked off (in a good way), and Sarah has been able to share her story widely. As a result, I now know about the efforts behind Take Back The Track. I found this all out from this interview on RNZ with Sarah.

• Why Is That Hut Painted That Colour? It’s awesome companies like ColorCote and Resene sponsor backcountry hut projects as per the video below (Facebook video here). How should we decide what colours are on the roof of a hut?

• LandSAR Volunteers Missing Out. I was surprised to learn that Land Search & Rescue (LandSAR) volunteers get no ACC coverage for mental health (PTSD) and the like after rescues. Because they're volunteers.

  If a police officer attends the same site as a LANDSAR volunteer, and both come away with PTSD, the officer gets coverage…the volunteer doesn’t. Though they get lots of support in other ways to help it still seems like legislation could be tweaked for the better. I'm far from an expert in this, so this article provides a bit more info.

• Video Of The Week. If you need some lazy Saturday morning viewing…check out this video from Charlie Ruck. A young lad exploring the outdoors around the country, and producing awesome videos. He's just 19 years old, and producing epic films. Yes, you can tell he is inspired by Outdoor Boys.

🧔‍♂️ What I've Been Up To...

It was another local weekend, with a couple of shorter adventures with a trip to Ben Lomond Saddle, and then one up part way to the Mount Crichton summit. The latter is a tough day/overnight trip that most people tend to fail a couple of times before they get to the summit (for all sorts of reasons).

This weekend should involve an overnight trip to a place that I’ve been to before, and has become a lot more popular in the last couple of years.

Will it have changed?

TBD.

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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