A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.
Costs would outweigh benefits when it comes to building a walking trail and cycleway through West Coast’s Glacier Country.
An $80,000 study into the viability of a 114.5km track from Okārito to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier concluded that it had the potential to be iconic, but that it would cost too much to build and maintain.
TRC Tourism Pty Ltd estimates that building costs would reach $57.2 million (in addition to $1 million annual maintenance costs), but the benefits would only amount to $51.3 million.
However, Dale Burrows, chair of the South Westland Wilderness Trail Trust, said the economic benefits had been underestimated, adding: “It is not about gearing up for when the glaciers disappear, it is something we can add to the experience of the natural untouched environment we all enjoy here on the regular.” Read more at Stuff.
We can now walk Abel Tasman Coast Track in full
Those planning to trek along New Zealand’s most popular coastal walk will be delighted to hear they can now do so end-to-end.
Abel Tasman Coast Track had been badly damaged in storms, leaving significant sections inaccessible. Fixing the damage has offered some real logistical headaches for DOC, but they’ve succeeded in getting it re-opened in time for the summer season.
Only the high tide track between Anchorage and Torrent Bay is still closed, due to “rocks the size of Volkswagens” sitting at the top of a dangerous slip. But the low tide option is open as usual. Read more at RNZ.
Climbers’ cameras found in glacier after 85 years
Back in 1937, two well-known climbers, Bradford Washburn and Bob Bates, were flown in by plane to begin the very first ascent up Mt Lucania, Canada’s third highest peak.
But poor weather not only hindered their plans of ascent, but also marooned their plane in Walsh Glacier, where it had landed.
They managed to climb the peak, but decided to walk 100 miles back to civilisation, abandoning their heavy gear (including their cameras) as they did so.
In the glacier it lay, until this year when an expedition party went on a needle-in-a-haystack mission, estimating how much the glacier had moved in that time, and actually managed to locate the gear.
Conservators are now trying to recover the photos. Read more here.
From three to 1300…
Two weeks ago we reported how virtually no one was interested in a $90k per year DOC job vacancy to look after West Coast wilderness.
Well since the department has broadened its net to include international applicants, it has been flooded with applications for the role of Biodiversity Supervisor in Haast.
More than 1300 people from 26 countries have applied, though DOC will need to carefully sift out those unsuitable for the role, as some applicants misread the job description, thinking they’d be caring for rare fruit, rather than our national bird! Read more here.
Seal found 30km from the sea
A Northland farmer had quite a surprise when he spotted a fur seal on Mangakahia Rd, Pakotai, some 30km from the ocean.
David Wilson took a photo and reported the sighting to DOC, but they were unable to find the creature.
“They’re hoping somebody else spots him and reports it to them or that he makes his way back,” Wilson told New Zealand Herald. “They don’t really want him out and about here as he could get attacked by dogs or get run over if he’s on the road like that.” Read more here.
