Letter of the month

Emotional visit to Tweeddale memorial

The May 2022 article ‘Gone but not forgotten’, included the story of my uncle Lester Tweeddale, a police constable who died in 1969 while trying to climb Mt Holdsworth. An unofficial memorial to Lester was built on High Ridge in 2019.

It had been a plan of mine to visit the memorial site with family ever since it was built but the idea of tramping up to Mt Holdsworth with little experience was daunting, so when a good friend offered to be a guide we all jumped at the opportunity.

One day in March, we set off before dawn from Masterton with everyone excited and determined to reach the memorial.

We walked along High Ridge, taking in the beautiful scenery, and with the sun beaming down. When we came across Lester’s memorial, we were all speechless. We’d not known Lester in life, but we all felt him to be a big part of our lives.

I’d like to thank John Rhodes for making the memorial cross and Joe Nawalaniec and Franz Hubmann for placing the cross in a beautiful spot overlooking Isabelle Creek. Without these wonderful people, I may have never experienced this special moment.

Once walked, never forgotten.

– Kim Squires

– Kim receives a pair of Crocs Classic Clog worth $89.99 from www.crocs.co.nz. Readers, send your letter to the editor for a chance to win.

Finding a quiet mattress

In reading ‘2023’s guide to sleeping mats’ (April 2023) I think one important consideration has been omitted.

I’ve owned a variety of mats and have learnt the hard way that one of the most important considerations is how noisy it is. I say ‘the hard way’ because it wasn’t something I initially considered. I am a light sleeper and a side sleeper at that and turning over in the night on a noisy mat does not make for a happy wife/tramping companion!

In a crowded hut, it becomes an issue for others too.

Currently, I am using an Exped Ultra 7R mummy mat which is certainly one of the quietest I have used while still remaining reasonably light and warm.

– Trevor Geddes

View from Helen’s window

On a visit to the village of Bealey Spur, my partner Vanessa and I stayed with Helen Nutgerem, the sole permanent resident. We also climbed the Bealey Spur Track and I was inspired to write this poem.

In the South Island of New Zealand
Just down from Arthur’s Pass
Lies a tiny place called Bealey Spur
And Helen’s patch of grass

From the windows, views to die for
Mountains tipped with snow
A gigantic braided valley
The river tentacles flow

It brings back distant memories
Of adventures I love most
Goat Pass, Klondyke, Waimak
Traversing coast to coast

Early March and already
There’s a cold nip in the air
Wood burner gently glowing
We’re cosy in our lair

An early glass of cider
A hearty bowl of soup
An evening game of ticket to ride
Snuggled in our coup

Tomorrow we’ll go hiking
Into the hills behind
Breathing in the mountain air
Worries left behind

Trampers huts and holiday cribs
Visitors come and gone
Helen lives here all year round
A population of one

Tuesday is the census
The number’s grown to three
Smallest settlement in the land
Vanessa, Helen, me

– Andy Reid

A fantastic campsite

We love reading Wilderness and it’s always great to find old copies in huts. We had a trip last month which I wanted to share. The photo shows our camp high up on the Isobel Glacier after summiting Mt Tyndall in Mt Aspiring National Park. It was a big day with over 2000m ascent from Aspiring Flat but so, so worth it for an incredible alpine sunset.

– Jonny Hopkins and Morgan Eriksson

Missing mapping app

I was surprised to see that NZ Topo50 was off the list of map apps in the review ‘Which navigation app should you use?’ (April 2023). I use the app for both hunting and tramping and particularly like the fact it can be used offline. It is also created and used by a New Zealander who is always responsive to queries. I’ve noticed this app has been the most used by other people we have met at huts.

You may want to cover this next time.

– Rachel Clan

Wilderness’s reviewer, Mark Watson, responds: ‘I figured there would be feedback asking why people’s favourite nav apps were not included.     

I haven’t used Topo50 for a few years and decided to focus on newer apps or those that had stronger points of difference. The main NZ topo one I did include (TopoGPS) is the official app for NZ SAR. There is room here to cover more apps and I will do another round  in the near future.’

How much would you spend to walk Te Araroa?

Here are some of the responses to the story ‘How much does it cost to walk Te Araroa?’ (April 2023). We cited one walker who spent $16,000:

‘Mine was about the same. But I ate well and enjoyed my time in places like Hanmer Springs, Te Anau, Wānaka and Queenstown. You can do it a lot cheaper – it is down to what experience you are after on your TA.’ – Dean Scott

‘I spent $10,000 just on the North Island but my mindset was ‘treat yourself’ and I lived quite well, ate proper food the whole way and showered regularly – unlike most others.’ – Megan Fieldes

‘The price of an average (small) car. In terms of life experience, a bargain.’ – Adrian Harrison

‘I did TA and a lot more in 2017. I am not sure how much the trip cost but I guess somewhere around $10,000–$12,000.’ – Páll Helmut Guðjónsson