Thank you for the Old Ghost Road 10th anniversary issue (December 2025). It prompted me to walk the trail in January.

Would you believe it, I had the great pleasure to meet Marion (Weasel) Boatwright on the trail with his wife Carol. Marion is the visionary who made the dream a reality. I spent each evening in the huts hearing incredible stories of the building of the Old Ghost Road. What good, kind people they are.

Marion and Carol also played at the Rough and Tumble Bush Lodge at the end of the trail. Amazing. Guitar, violin, harmonica. They intend to play there often, so you may well get a treat if you are at the lodge.

If the walk is on your to-do list, I can highly recommend it. 

 – Stephanie Atwell

– Stephanie receives an Earth Sea Sky Offcut Cap worth $119 from www.earthseasky.co.nz. Readers, send your letter to the editor for a chance to win.

Exploring Denniston Plateau ‘bittersweet’

Thank you for publishing ‘The last plateau’ (December 2025), in which Scott Burnett explains what will be lost if the proposed open-cast mine on the Denniston Plateau is approved. 

Recently, I organised a Nelson Tramping Club trip to the plateau. The trip had the dual purpose of exploring this unique area and raising awareness about the mining proposal.

Our group followed the Deep Stream Loop route described by Burnett, into the area where part of the proposed mine would be. The area was every bit as special as Burnett said. We saw stunted mānuka and rātā, purple orchids and red carnivorous sundews. There were fascinating sandstone rock formations, and beautiful pools in the river which were glorious for swimming. As we ascended, views opened up in all directions. 

We carried an anti-mining placard and took photos of our group with it. It was bittersweet exploring such a special place and knowing the very real threat it is under.

I like to imagine an alternative future for the plateau in which it is fully protected and opened up for visitors to experience with a network of tracks and signboards. Perhaps that would allow more people to gain an appreciation of its true value. I encourage all trampers and outdoor enthusiasts who value our precious landscapes to get behind this important issue. 

         – Michele Cunningham 

Great Walk1200 resources

After reading the ‘Fun with challenges‘ (March 2026) about walking every track in the Hūnua Ranges, I thought I would share my experience, which I hope will inspire people from Canterbury to walk and add kilometres towards the Walk1200km challenge.

When I moved to Christchurch in 2017 I could see the Port Hills, and quickly discovered an amazing outdoor playground within minutes of the city centre.

I also found two useful booklets by Mark Pickering: The Port Hills: The complete guide to all walking tracks and mountain bike trails and Christchurch and Canterbury Walks: Over 100 walks, short strolls and day tramps.

I challenged myself to complete all of the walking tracks between Godley Head and Gebbies Pass in the Port Hills booklet. I kept records of each section completed by highlighting them. When my motivation was low, I would scroll through the booklet and find a section not done and make it my objective for an outing.

I also started doing the same with the Canterbury Walks booklet. This made me explore the region and discover tracks I would not have known otherwise.

I am registered to Walk1200km, and the Port Hills remains a favourite area to add kilometres to my tally.

                      – Brigitte Masse

Back issues in the backcountry

I have been a Wilderness subscriber for the past 16 years. This year I decided to combine my Walk1200km goals with sharing my entire back catalogue with others.

I plan to take my magazines to huts in the Nelson and Tasman area and leave them for others to enjoy. I started by dropping off 10 magazines to Captains Creek Hut, in Mt Richmond Forest Park. Rather heavy on the way in, but worth it for the training gains.

            – David Short