IN THIS EDITION…

• SPECIAL ONCE ONLY – DUSKY TRACK HIKE
• Hiking New Zealand update
• Guide Profile – Jaron
• Personal Encounter – Ball Pass Alpine Trek
• Win a Hiking New Zealand Merino top

Special departure – Dusky Track hike

Make 2009 your year for a real adventure and join us for a hiking expedition into Dusky Sound.

For those keen hikers who have tackled all of our hiking safaris, this is designed for you! You will spend five days hiking from the shores of Lake Hauroko across exceptionally mountainous country to Supper Cove at the head of Dusky Sound. Definitely not for the faint hearted, deep mud and flooding on parts of the track are common, and as the small group will need to be self reliant for the whole trip, pack weights will be up to 20kgs at times.

This is an opportunity to experience one of the world’s most pristine and rugged areas of wilderness on nature’s terms. The party size will be limited to six plus guide(s). The detailed itinerary is being finalised, with the departure scheduled for February 2009, starting and finishing in Queenstown. Five days hiking plus two transfer days, all food, hut fees, transport, including boat and helicopter included.

To register your interest please email us and we will send you the itinerary as soon as it is finalised.

Winter fast approaching

Who could believe another fantastic summer season is coming to a close already? We’ve enjoyed a fabulous summer in New Zealand – the weather has been astoundingly sunny and there have been plenty of memorable moments in the outdoors yet again.

Our new Great Hikes and Adventures brochure for the 2008-09 season is now available. This year we’ve added our short hike options available on the West Coast. Email or call us if you’d like a copy. You can also request one on our website.

We recently enjoyed an energetic end of season weekend at Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula. We ran, cycled and mountain-biked our way from Diamond Harbour to the reserve, then relaxed amongst the naturally regenerating native forest.

At the Hiking New Zealand base, we’re saying farewell to Regan, who’s been guiding hiking safaris since the 2002-03 season, and also been Senior Guide in charge of operations since 2005-06. Regan leaves us to pursue a career in Air Traffic Control in September. He’ll be keeping a close eye on us though and will probably drop in for morning tea regularly. Thanks for your hard work, Regan.

Don’t let winter detract you from being adventurous – we have some great winter options including the Abel Tasman Track and awesome skiing and snowshoeing adventures.

Hiking New Zealand team

Jaron – Guide / Kayaker / Wind-up toy

Jaron Frost has spent all of his career working in the Outdoor Instructing and Adventure Tourism industry and at just 24 years of age he is one of the youngest guides we have had working for Hiking New Zealand.

Boundless levels of energy are one of Jaron’s many attributes. On Jaron’s trips clients are served a hot drink of their choice whilst still in their sleeping bags in the morning - Jaron’s way of ensuring the transition from a deep slumber to another day of adventure is comfortable and not too traumatic. What a guide! As well as being the first up each morning he is always the last to bed as well, so you could say he is a morning and a night person. At our recent end of season get-together, when looking for a gift for Jaron, it was a decided that a wind-up toy would have been ideal – operating on the same system as he does - simply turn him on in the morning and switch off at night, so he can recharge!

Jaron’s outdoor interests include rock climbing, white water kayaking and rafting. But not all of Jaron’s recreation time is spent outside. Jaron was until quite recently a competitive “Line Dancer”, competing all around New Zealand. Being light on his feet obviously serves him well both on the dance floor and out in the mountains. If you are lucky enough to have Jaron as your guide, make sure you ask for a lesson (and don’t forget to switch him off at night!).

Personal Encounter

Mount Cook and the Mountaineering Pastry Chef
by Anthony Benson

For inexperienced mountaineers the guided Ball Pass Alpine Trek provides an opportunity to experience Mount Cook at close quarters.

It isn’t necessary to hire a guide, indeed anyone can climb Ball Pass. Just like anyone can, if they wish, pick a fight with Mike Tyson. However I imagine it’s a much more enjoyable experience fighting Iron Mike if a guide with an ice axe has been hired in advance.

Our expert on the trip, Martin, greeted me along with the other clients: Simon, his wife Sandra and sister Lindsey at the guiding base at Lake Tekapo.

A thorough equipment check resulted in me borrowing everything from long johns to gloves. I set out to attack the mountain, unperturbed but slightly sickened by my vivid pink hat and lime green gloves.

The first part of the trek ran parallel to the Tasman Glacier. This bleak glacier is covered in rock and ends in a grey iceberg ridden terminal pool. The existence of this pool means the glacier will start to recede more rapidly.

If the hugely popular west coast Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are the Posh and Becks of the glacier world, the Tasman would have to be Jason Donovan. Receding. Quickly.

After lunch at Ball Hut, we made the challenging but rewarding ascent to the impressive Caroline Hut. It consisted of eight comfortable bunks, two gas stoves and a wood burner that heated the place so well that I was sweating in my borrowed long johns.

As the evening unfolded the weather set in. Tucked up inside the hut we were all suitably impressed when out of some dirt, three carrots and a peanut Martin concocted a very tasty lentil curry.

The following day we ventured out across the ice slopes to a peak overlooking Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley. Along the way Martin carefully demonstrated how to self arrest (stop) when falling down a mountain, backwards and upside down.

That night there was very little wind and so we could appreciate just how active the mountain really is. Between the powerful avalanches of crashing snow and rock there were loud cracks and groans. This is a landscape that is still very much taking shape.

The next morning we fastened harnesses, strapped on crampons and marched away into the dark. After traversing across an ice field we reached a saddle - Ball Pass. Here the ridge continues up to the summit of Mount Cook. The day was so still it almost looked climbable, just like Mike Tyson doesn’t look all that big on the telly. Fat even.

We descended steadily, Martin expertly guiding us across scree slopes, rocks and ice. Once in the Hooker Valley the walk levelled out into lush green vegetation alongside the Hooker River.

In my mind the success of any excursion is defined by three things; the guide, the people, the scenery. If any one of these is weak then the whole trip can change from great to rubbish.

Touring the Himalayas guided by Michael Palin should be a great trip, but with Trinny and Susannah along for the ride no doubt criticising Palin’s choice of chino and my borrowed long johns...well...I’m sure the excursion would be miserable.

In this case though, Mount Cook provided a dramatic backdrop, Martin provided expertise and energy to the group, and Simon, Sandra and Lindsey provided fun, easy-going company.

I’d do it all again in an instant.

© Anthony Benson, 2008

Anthony joined the Ball Pass Alpine Trek on 23 December, 2007. He receives a FREE Hiking New Zealand merino for his story.

If you have been on an adventure through Hiking New Zealand and would like to have your experience published in an upcoming newsletter please let us know. Send your story to:

info@HikingNewZealand.com

We will be giving away a free merino top with every experience published in our Hiking New Zealand Newsletter.

Your story is valued – it’s a great way to inform other travellers about adventures in Aotearoa.