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Letter of the month

Bananas over gear

On the topic of storing outdoor gear (‘Where gear resides’, August 2023), I own numerous banana boxes which I find far better than the large plastic storage containers for the following reasons.

1. Banana boxes are free.

2.They’re more compact and stack better than plastic containers.

3. Banana boxes ‘breathe’ which means if a gear item is stored damp it will dry. 

4. Banana boxes hold lots of gear. They are big and strong enough to hold several of my snow shoes in one box, my tents, alpine and rock equipment. They’ll also hold sleeping bags in their net storage bag.

5. The boxes are easy to label.

6. They can be put straight into the car for trips away.

7. They’re recyclable. When you no longer need your banana box, just put it into the recycling bin. 

– Tom Hu

Tom wins three pairs of Thorlo Classic Hiking socks worth $135 from www.thorlos.co.nz.

Hunting and tramping 

I’m a hunter and really enjoy Wilderness – there’s more info than traditional hunting mags. It’s always interesting to read ‘What’s in my pack’, and there are some great articles on new places to explore. The gear guide to three-season tents (November 2023) omitted the Macpac Duolite, which is much cheaper than the others shown. It’s durable and a product from a New Zealand company. 

– Will MacKenzie

– A note to readers, Macpac declined our invitation to participate in the tent guide. – AH

Room for all (featured image)

It was great to see the article about the father and his Down Syndrome son tramping (‘Hiking the Hooker Valley’, October 2023).

We have taken our son Leroy (pictured, also with Down Syndrome) on many expeditions. He struggles where fine footwork is needed, and sometimes with the ability to visualise the destination. But his fitness is fine, and he pushes us on a good track.

Sometimes the backcountry population can seem a bit uniform. Many of the facilities are taxpayer-funded, and it behoves us all to invite new (and different) people to share in the activities that we love.

– Wynford Lewis

Our routes, your trips

We discovered Leith Hill, near Castle Hill, thanks to Wilderness (July 2023). While the photos in that issue were of a snowy ridgeline, doing the walk on a sunny Labour Weekend was a different experience: we encountered conditions more akin to a moonscape. We started on a lovely loop directly from Castle Hill Village. When we reached the high point, we left the track and headed up the ridge. It’s definitely a puffer! At the top were great views of the Craigieburn Range. 

There appears to be a viable scree run as a (potential) fast descent, but having left the gaiters at home, we opted to go back the way we went up. It’s a great half-day walk relatively close to Christchurch.

– Leah King

 – Leah receives a Real Meal dinner. Readers, when you do a trip that has been published in Wilderness, let us know to receive your prize too. 

A superb generational challenge

I was born to walk, and my greatest loves are hills, flora and fauna.

I’m impulsive by nature and the idea of ‘having to’ or ‘must do’ doesn’t appeal. However, Wilderness – the best magazine on the newsstand – has been a perfect gift to give and to receive for years. Therefore when the Progress Tracker fell out of the October 2022 issue I decided to give the Walk1200km challenge a whirl.

The timing was perfect as fitness would be the key to enjoyment for my planned Kepler Track trip – a family tramp booked after my niece’s March wedding in Te Anau.

We moved from Darfield to Richmond last year. I’m in my 8th decade and have tramped many tracks and climbed a few lesser mountains, so I happily achieved the bulk of the 1200km by simply walking out the door and into the hills behind our home. 

Thank you so much for this inspirational idea. Encouraging everyone to use their limbs is simply the best.  A superb generational challenge.

– Rosemary Ford

Where there’s smoke …

Personal safety is your responsibility, a statement that is ingrained into every outdoor enthusiast. We are advised always to carry a PLB in case circumstance requiring life preservation occur.

DOC has said smoke alarms are to be installed in backcountry huts by the middle of 2024. However, four-bunk huts and bivies are not getting alarms. What is the logic for not including these structures?

Two lives were lost in Te Urewera when the four-bed Parahaki Hut burned to the ground. 

Fire and Emergency NZ supports DOC installing smoke alarms in backcountry huts, and believes they should be installed in all sleeping areas. The outdoor fraternity, who use the huts, were not invited to participate in the discussion. When news of this project was released to the media, the Federated Mountain Clubs’ president commented on its folly.

So, what are some alternatives? Return to hut users the duty for their own personal safety. Encourage individuals to carry a small smoke detector/alarm with them; extend the hearth in front of the woodburner/open fireplace; or simply do not light the fire.

– Roel Pootjes