Walking away the grief

In October 2021 Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She had always been a part-time walker with me and at the age of 84 she was doing really well. Unfortunately, the cancer took hold rapidly and our walks came to an abrupt end. Seven months after her diagnosis she passed away. 

I was grief-stricken and unable to motivate myself to do anything but breathe.

I tried to start walking again, but seeing my shadow stretched out on the path before me, noticeably on its own, was too much for me to take.

Some months passed and my nephew kept asking if I wanted to go for a hike. He was trying to get me back into the world that I had previously loved, bless him. I tried but I felt like I didn’t have a reason. He got me out a few times but my enthusiasm was still only lukewarm. 

That was until I saw the October 2022 issue of Wilderness. Emblazoned on the cover was my challenge: ‘Walk 1200km in 2023’. 

I’m now into my fourth week of the challenge and I’m obsessed. I walk every day, even on my own, and listen to motivational music that Mum would love. I talk to Mum about the trees and plants. She wouldn’t want me to be so sad and I know she’s with me still; she just lost her shadow.

– Jenny Morris

– Jenny receives a miniature Cone Hut collectable worth $145 from artists www.keminiko.com. Readers, now is the time to join Jenny and thousands of others in the Walk1200km challenge to realise the benefits yourself. And send your letter, about anything you’ve seen in the mag, to the editor for a chance to win.

Pets and people

My friend Jan Musgrove and I had many reasons for starting Walk1200km in September 2021, and by July 2022, despite a bad bout of Covid and broken bones, we made it!

We live in a rural district with no footpaths and wear bright colours so that we can be seen.

Jan (pictured at right) broke both her tibia and fibula above the ankle; she walks to prove she can despite the plates and pins.

I’m determined to celebrate my 80th birthday with a bottle of champagne at Saxon Hut on the Heaphy Track in late 2023.

Cashew, the dog, loves us because we keep her fit – or is it that she keeps us fit? 

We’re doing Walk1200km again. It’s a wondrous idea – thank you Wilderness.

– Lynette Stuttz

A good read

The article ‘The Mystery of Miss Dorothy McHaffie’ by Hazel Phillips, grabbed my attention as it encompassed a lot of my preferences for outdoors reading.

It had a) a woman’s view; b) honest thoughts that naturally flow when on a solo trip; c) humour; d) researched history relevant to a New Zealander; e) trip-planning common sense; and f) it was about a person from apparently no privileged background.

It was fodder for conversation with outdoor buddies. Hazel, I’ll be opening my future glossy new mag at your articles first, in anticipation of a good read.  

– Nora Flight

I enjoyed the Dorothy McHaffie article. It was a beautifully written piece that, to my mind, was sad, happy, poignant and enlightening. I think many of us have gone off into the bush in times of trouble and contemplated life and, in my case, anyway, always come out with a fresh perspective and a sense of wellbeing.

Hazel’s piece brought back to me those feelings of melancholy but also of the joy and wonderment of Te Wai Pounamu’s environment. It was inspired writing.

– Mark Robinson

Te Urewera huts 

How disheartening to find the Te Urewera governing entity, Te Uru Taumatua, tearing down remote but structurally sound DOC huts with a vague promise to eventually, possibly, replace them with a handful of easily accessible, luxurious ones that will allegedly do more to “connect people to the whenua”.  

The outcome? Public access to most of Te Urewera is instantly limited. Our kids grew up on Te Urewera’s tracks. They have always been connected to the whenua. Now, as young adults, they have the confidence to navigate any trail, beaten or otherwise. New Zealand’s wilderness should be open to all New Zealanders. 

Let’s hope this is not the beginning of a very slippery slope.

– Wendy Clark

 #microchallenges a mission

I love Walk1200km and completed over 2000km last year.

I would like to participate in the #microchallenges but do not and never will have a Facebook, Instagram or  Twitter account, so I am not able to enter.

There may be others like me, so I urge you to make the microchallenges available some other way.

– Oli Thorp

– You can also submit #microchallenge entries by email. Write the #microchallenge you are entering in the subject line and email it to walk1200km@lifestylepublishing.co.nz.

Walking helps to cope

I turned 87 in February and achieved a total of 1508km in 12 months (finishing on October 2) following daily Walk1200km walks. 

It was a difficult year. My wife had a terminal illness and slept until 9am, so I walked early. My wife had a number of collapses and I picked her up, which led to a dodgy back. I also pulled a calf muscle, which slowed progress and led to a couple of weeks with no walking. 

My wife passed away in April and I was left drained, emotionally and physically. However, I began walking again. Going out two or three times each day helped me come to terms with my loss, and the total kilometres kept building up. 

It was a difficult up-and-down year but the challenge, which I enjoyed, helped me cope and I’ve registered again for next year. 

– Pat Sale