Curious to examine its route notes and preparation advice, we charged ChatGPT with planning two Canterbury tramps for us. Was it a great question?  

Planning a tramp once meant long evenings with a dog-eared map, scrolling through trip reports and calling that mate who knows every hut in the backcountry. These days, many hikers are trying something far less traditional. ChatGPT can offer track suggestions, gear lists and even help pick a weather window, all in a matter of seconds. It sounds almost too easy. But is it a smart way to plan your next adventure, or a shortcut that could leave you high and very literally dry in the hills?

The cynical reader may have caught on immediately, but in case you didn’t: that introduction was written by ChatGPT, an idea I borrowed from a former colleague overseas who has also covered this topic. My prompt was to write ‘an intriguing introduction that is in line with Wilderness magazine’s tone of voice’. The level of its success I leave to the judgement of the editor. 

As you may or may not be aware, ChatGPT and other AI chatbots have been adopted by swathes of people around the world as on-hand advisors on matters from health to trip planning, including for tramps. 

As ChatGPT pointed out in the introduction, the ease of access to advice and information, served up in a single, palatable response, is highly appealing when compared to digging through Google search results and interpersonal interactions. 

Sceptics will be thrilled to hear that there are limitations, though, as I found when I put ChatGPT to the test and asked it to plan a couple of simple day hikes. But although I enjoy and prefer to conduct my own research, I can see where AI chatbots like ChatGPT provide value in planning a tramping trip.

Itinerary and route notes

I tasked ChatGPT to advise me on two simple outings: Woolshed Creek Hut and Mt Oxford. Let’s examine the former. 

The route notes ChatGPT provided regarding the general nature of the Woolshed Creek Hut track were accurate enough. It even included some useful bites of information such as a warning about wasps in summer. However, it omitted many interesting details about the route. 

For example, ChatGPT assumed that walkers would take the cliffside Sidewinder Track from the Blackburn Mine site down to the hut. The easier, family-friendly 4WD access track went unmentioned. As well, the cliffside track offers magnificent views up and down the gorge, but you wouldn’t guess this from ‘Track climbs gently over a low saddle, then drops into Woolshed Creek basin.’

ChatGPT described the leg from Woolshed Creek Hut to the Bus Stop as follows: ‘From the hut, cross the bridge and follow signs for Bus Stop Track. Track climbs steadily through beech forest, then onto open tussock ridges. Steeper final pinch to the Bus Stop Overhang – a large rock shelter in the cliff. Great place for lunch or a breather; views to the Rangitata.’

ChatGPT failed to mention either Emerald Pool or the longer, higher, narrower and bouncier wire swingbridge that is strung across the gorge just up the track from the hut, and did not mention a return side track that leads to a wonderful waterfall nearby.

Afterwards, I read the route description in Hannah-Rose Watt’s book Wild Walks Aotearoa; I am sure she will not be surprised to learn that her route notes are far superior to ChatGPT’s. For example, Watt warns readers that the return leg via the Bus Stop ends with a ‘knee-crushing descent’ to the car park; she also mentions Emerald Pools, the falls and the swingbridge.

Weather

I prompted ChatGPT: ‘What is the best day to go in terms of weather.’ The result? It provided a weather forecast based on Christchurch instead of the localised mountain or national park forecast, which can be found on NIWA’s weather website, for example.

Why did this happen? I asked ChatGPT: ‘Great question – and it’s actually a common limitation in most AI assistants, including ChatGPT, when you ask for weather-based trip planning.

‘Here’s why you got Christchurch city weather instead of a mountain-specific forecast for Mt Somers / Woolshed Creek Hut …’ 

It then explained that most AI models don’t have direct access to high- resolution mountain weather forecasts unless you or a connected plugin/tool explicitly supply them. That means it can’t include location-specific data from MetService, NIWA or MetVUW. 

This is a key limitation to be aware of. Simply falling back on the weather forecast for the nearest big town is dangerous. Any seasoned tramper knows that mountain conditions can be totally different to what’s happening in town, but inexperienced trampers may not.

Gear

While ChatGPT did me no favours in terms of weather advice, it did at least succeed in getting me packed and prepared for the weather when  I asked for a gear list.

To walk the Woolshed Creek Hut track in winter, I was advised to assemble a sensible layering system consisting of:

○ Base layer:merino or synthetic top and bottom

○ Mid-layer:fleece or lightweight insulated jacket

○ Shell layers: waterproof rain jacket + optional rain pants

○ Legwear:durable hiking pants (convertible optional)

○ Footwear: sturdy waterproof hiking boots (good grip at stream crossings)

○ Extras:warm hat, gloves, buff/scarf

○ Socks:moisture-wicking hiking socks + spare pair

One important omission was the failure to mention absolutely no cotton clothing. It also said a fleece or insulated jacket; in winter, both would be wise.

ChatGPT’s recommendations concerning food (two litres of water, sandwiches, trail mix, nuts, sweets, energy bars) and safety (a basic  first aid kit) were on the money.

ChatGPT can help recommend tracks to walk and explain why they’re good (for example, Mt Oxford Track: ‘A classic Canterbury day tramp with varied terrain: beech forest, tussock tops, and panoramic views over the Canterbury Plains; good training hike with a decent climb (1000m+ elevation gain); options to add on Ryde Falls for a waterfall detour.’ There was also a caution to ‘Expect steep tussock slopes and boggy patches. Fords to access the car park may require a 4WD post-rain.’ I think ‘boggy patches’ understates the amount of mud in winter.

In this regard, it complements ‘that mate who knows every hut in the backcountry’, particularly when you want to explore a new area or region.

I asked ChatGPT how it sources and compiles information to recommend hiking routes in New Zealand. It said its main source was DOC, followed by ‘regional tourism boards and councils’ such as ChristchurchNZ, and information available from tramping clubs and established blogs. It couldn’t use Wilderness as a source because the magazine’s online content is accessed via subscription.

What have we learned?

AI can be a handy hiking companion, offering quick inspiration, gear reminders and broad route outlines, but it’s no substitute for thorough research. Mountain weather demands location-specific forecasts, and track notes are richer when they come from people who’ve walked the route themselves. Used with caution and backed by trusted sources, tools like ChatGPT can complement traditional planning methods. The best trip prep still blends technology with human knowledge, experience and a dash of curiosity, ensuring you head into the hills informed, equipped and ready to embrace both the expected and the surprises along the way. 

(Yes, ChatGPT wrote the conclusion too.)