Letter of the month

A magazine for everyone

I’m writing to share how much I enjoy Wilderness.

I bought a subscription for my husband in 2020 but it was I who got hooked on the magazine.

But sometimes an inner voice says ‘why are you reading this? You’re not a real tramper!’

I tell this self-critic it’s wrong because I’ve been inspired to do many things via Wilderness. I completed the Walk1200km challenge; I was part of an extended family group from 7 to 73 that climbed Mt Manaia; and an article about trails in the Waitākere Ranges has prompted our family to visit more often, including sometimes with other families.

Every issue excites me about being active in nature. Whether we’re experienced trampers tackling mountains or enthusiastic novices pounding the pavement, what matters is that we all enjoy being active in nature and that’s more than good enough.

– Gretchen Carroll

Gretchen receives a Mountain Equipment Ground Up sleeping bag liner worth $130 from www.outdooraction.co.nz.

Readers, send your letter to

the editor for a chance to win.

Gretchen receives a Mountain Equipment Ground Up sleeping bag liner worth $130 from www.outdooraction.co.nz. Readers, send your letter to the editor for a chance to win.

The difference a few years make

I have been up and down the Dart Valley to Daleys Flat on the Dart Track a few times since the slip occurred that created a lake at Sandy Bluff in early 2014.

We were in Glenorchy at the time of the slip. There were two strange things about that Saturday morning: the jet boats weren’t running on the Dart River – odd for a summer’s day; and there was very little silt coming into the lake and the river was running low. An hour or two later we heard of the massive slip.

In 2014 the lake behind the slip was large, well over 3km in length.   In 2018 it was considerably smaller – maybe 2km. And this year there is no lake – just a braided river. It’s a good thing the lake was never named.

It remains a magical part of New Zealand.

– Caroline Stewart

Drink up

Regarding ‘You need much more water than you think’ (August 2023), unless I’ve misunderstood biology, I think the author’s advice in the section ‘Basic rules of hydration in the hills’ should state that pale yellow urine indicates you are getting enough fluid, not the other way around.

It was interesting to read that when exercising, you need up to one litre of water an hour. I recently did the Papatahi Crossing (23km) in Remutaka Forest Park and took two litres of water. It took me 13.5hr (I lost the trail on the eastern side and forgot to account for the fact that I’m 18 years older than the last time I did it) and I’d run out of water when two-thirds of the way through. After that, I fell quite a bit. My heavy pack probably didn’t help. Even so, I now think a lack of hydration was a contributing factor.

– Nick Ryan

An orchid slip

I subscribed to Wilderness after reading the excellent ‘The orchid hunters’ (August 2023).

As an Aussie lover of the orchid family, I couldn’t help but notice a small error in the article. The species listed as Corybus trilobus is actually Corybas trilobus. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be keen to update the article online and let people know.

Fun fact: A closely related genus in this helmet orchid group is Anzybas (pictured), named after our two countries.

– Andrew Spanner

Actually, you may get shot by a hunter

In ‘How stuff works’ (July 2023) the question was asked, ‘Is there actually a chance I’ll get shot by a hunter?’

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association chief executive answered, “You’re probably more likely to hurt yourself getting out of the car at the trailhead.”

That may be so, however, my partner and I have been scared by hunters firing bullets in our vicinity three times in our tramping careers.

Once, years ago, we camped at Waiuta for the night. On dark, hunters were ‘spotlighting’ our tent and bullets were fired around the deserted town.

We reported this to DOC at Reefton.

In Mt Aurum Reserve, we were climbing through beech forest onto the face of Silverhorn when shots were fired at us across Stoney Creek from Ben Lomond station.  We yelled out and quickly put on bright clothing, but it gave us a scare.

The third time, we were picking wild raspberries in a DOC reserve when bullets pinged seriously close. Fallow deer had been in the area and hunters were shooting them within the reserve’s prohibited hunting area. We gave them a lecture they won’t forget.

Thus ‘licensing, permitting and training’ does not necessarily prevent poor behaviour amongst some hunters.

– Carol Foote