A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.
How to camp during Covid-19
Kiwis are set to face their first summer camping alongside Covid-19, but what will it look like?
University of Sydney epidemiologist Professor Alexandra Martiniuk has shared guidelines on a safe holiday with Stuff.
“Travel there with your family in your own family vehicle, with all adults or those 12-plus double vaccinated two weeks ago, at least,” she said.
“At the campground you have enough physical distance between you and the campers next to you, so that would be at least a couple of people’s length, or longer. Much longer would be better.
“The ideal thing would be you’ve got your own toileting and shower facilities, that’s rare I know. Where you get the blurring is a lot of people go to these campgrounds because they like to socialise.”
Toilets and showers will likely be the most shared facilities, and though most are well ventilated, Martiniuk warns against lingering.
“Don’t hang out and chit chat with all the girls, just get the job done and get back outside,” she said.
University of Canterbury modeller Professor Michael Plank recommends camping closer to home, if possible.
“It’s possible an outbreak could start amongst tourists at a campground and then spread to locals. Remote areas often don’t have good access to healthcare,” he said.
Soldiers train on Heaphy Track
Soldiers have ditched their military camp to have a crack at Aotearoa’s longest Great Walk.
Bravo Company, from the 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, took on the 78km Heaphy Track in 24 hours as part of their Exercise Rua programme.
Beginning at Kōhaihai, the soldiers tramped with little rest in the gruelling challenge.
“I knew I was fit enough, but I really had to push myself after the first 50km,” Rifleman Private Carl-Jacques Reinecke said.
Read the full story here.
Mountaineer rewarded after gemstone discovery
A mountaineer who discovered a treasure trove of gemstones has been given a $290,000 share of the find.
The climber uncovered the metal box of emeralds, rubies and sapphires buried in a glacier on France’s Mont Blanc in 2013.
The gemstones had been there for around 50 years, after an Indian plane crashed in the area in 1966, killing 117 people.
The climber handed the treasure in to authorities, and has now been awarded half of the stones.
He plans to renovate his apartment with the money.
The Guardian has the full story
Dog rescued from volcano in Mexico
A dog has been rescued from the highest peak in Mexico.
The mixed-breed pup, named Canelo, had reportedly followed a group of hikers up the volcano, Pico de Orizaba, where it remained for almost a month.
Climber Hilario Aguilar worked with members of High Mountain School to rescue the malnourished dog, whose photo and location had been posted on social media.
“In the photos that were uploaded, he appeared malnourished, with a lesion on a little leg and very red eyes due to the solar radiation due to the height,” Aguilar said.
“After five thousand meters, the ultraviolet rays and the reflections of the sun in the snow could have left him blind.”
Canelo was placed in a backpack with his head protruding from the top, and carried down the volcano.
Read the full heartwarming story here.
