My tramping plans for the 2021/2022 season...
I have been working on my annual trip plan..I do this each year to give a focus to the tramping adventures I would like to undertake over the coming year.. I set out a plan of all the trips I would like to complete and then start organising around the plan.
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| I spent a frosty night at Lakehead Hut earlier this month... |
Despite all of our best efforts (...or worst efforts from all the anti vaxxers, anti maskers, deniers of history, conspiracy theorists, fascists and the Orange Buffon who shall not be named...) Covid continues to blight the world. This has started to have a real impact on New Zealand...financially but also socially, mentally and physically. We are a funny, cloistered little nation way down here in the South Pacific and we need that pressure valve of trips overseas and incoming tourists to ease our isolation...
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| We are isolated from the world...for good and bad!!! |
Although we can still move freely about the country I am finding that more and more services are unavailable as they relied on the tourist trade to stay in business. A good example is my recent planning for the Heaphy Track later this year...
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| Brown River is the northern terminus of the Heaphy Track |
Almost all of the transport, accommodation and service providers have cut services as there is not enough domestic demand to keep them afloat. This made it very, very difficult to plan the trip. I believe the longer the borders are closed the more services will be affected.
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| Karamea is becoming more difficult to access on public transport... |
Unfortunately we have no other choice...countries which have opened their borders to business/tourism/repatriation are now suffering dearly and this is not what we want to happen here. We have to stay strong, hunker down and weather this storm as best we can...
My 2021/2022 tramping plan:
Anyway...here is the tramping plan I have developed for the next year...
July 2021:
August 2021:
- West Coast Stewardship Land: Waiuta Hut and Big River Huts, early August, over night (2 huts) (Winter Series 2021) Cancelled due to Covid lockdown
- Campervan Trip 2: Upper West Coast visiting Karamea, Westport, Punakaiki, Hokitika late August, day trips (Scotts Beach/Nikau Walk/Cape Foulwind/Pancake Rocks/Extended Hokitika Gorge/Treetop Walk) (Postponed until late September after Covid lockdown)
- Banks Peninsula, Rod Donald Hut, late August, day trip (Winter Series 2021)
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| Karen and I are heading for the Upper West Coast soon.... |
September 2021:- Arthur's Pass NP, Hawdon Hut, early September, overnight (Winter Series 2021) (Cancelled due to Covid lockdown)
- Aoraki-Mt Cook NP: Hooker Valley Track, late September, day trip (1 hut) (Campervan Trip II substituted...)
- Aoraki-Mt Cook NP: Tasman Lake Track, late September, day trip (end of the Winter Series 2021) (Campervan Trip substituted...)
- Banks Peninsula, Rod Donald Hut, late September, day trip (Winter Series 2021) 18th September
- Campervan Trip 2: Upper West Coast visiting Karamea, Westport, Punakaiki, Hokitika late August, day trips (Scotts Beach/Nikau Walk/Cape Foulwind/Pancake Rocks/Extended Hokitika Gorge/Treetop Walk) 20-26th September
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| Looking up the Hooker Valley to Aoraki Mt Cook... |
- Nelson Lakes NP: Braeburn Track (Lake Rotoroa), 14 October, day trip (enroute to Abel Tasman NP) Cancelled instead did the...
- Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Tawa Walk and Circle Loop Track, 14 October (enroute to Abel Tasman NP) Completed
- Takaka Hill, Riwaka Resurgence, 15 October 2021 Completed
- Abel Tasman NP: Wainui to Whariwharangi + Whariwharangi to Totaranui (then Anchorage) and Anchorage to Marahau, 15-17 October, multi night Completed
- Arthur's Pass NP, East Hawdon Valley: late October, overnight (I haven't been to the East Hawdon since 2014 so it is time I returned. I will probably camp up the valley near the bivy) Not possible due to prior commitments
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| Hoping to get back up the Poulter River in 2020... |
November 2021:- Banks Peninsula, Packhorse Hut from Kaituna Valley, 6th November Completed
- Lewis Pass National Reserve, Lewis Pass Nature Loop Walk, 12th November Completed
- West Coast Stewardship Land: Waiuta Hut and Big River Huts, 12-14th November (Rescheduled Winter Series 2021) Completed
- West Coast Stewardship Land: Prohibition Mine visit, 13th November Completed
- West Coast Stewardship Land: Gold Discovery Loop Walk, 13th November Completed
- Banks Peninsula, Mt Herbert, 20th November, day trip (possible trip with my partner Karen) Completed
- St James Conservation Area, St James Walkway: November, multi-day (?). A possible trip with my partner Karen and/or
- Nelson Lakes NP, Nelson Lakes camping with day trips, Brunner Peninsula Walk & Forest Loop: mid November, day walks
December 2021:
One of the advantages to the Covid lockout has been slightly easier access to the Great Walk network. These were previously almost the exclusive domain of international visitors. This has of course been off set by more Kiwis walking these tracks and the awful DOC Great Walk booking system...it is a real pig to use!
- Kahurangi NP: Heaphy Track: 29 November to 5 December, Great Walk, multiday Trip (4 huts) Completed
- Arthur's Pass, Mingha-Deception Route: mid December, overnight (3 huts)
- Canterbury, Little River Rail Trail: date 20/21st December, MTB day ride
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| The Little River Rail Trail at Lake Forsyth |
January 2022:My workplace has mandated that we must take a week of annual holidays over the Christmas break...personally I would rather use the time elsewhere but there is not much I can do about it. Therefore....tramping/camping time up some remote valley for Jon!!!
- Lake Sumner Forest Park, Harper's Pass Track: five days from the Otira River to Windy Point (10 huts possible) or Arthur's Pass NP, Poulter River Ramble II: three days camping up the Poulter River, multi day (3 huts)
- Arthur's Pass NP, Sudden Valley: mid January, overnight/day trip (1 hut)
- Nelson Lakes NP, Lake Angelus/Angelus Hut: 20-24th January, multi night (1 hut) ( I have booked Angelus Hut for this trip...)
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| Robert Ridge and Lake Angelus here I come... |
February 2022:
- Craigieburn Forest Park, Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track: mid-late February, multi-day (3 huts)
- Fiordland NP: Routeburn Track:26th February-4th March, Great Walk, multi-day trip (4 huts)
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| I'm hoping to finish the Routeburn Track in February 2022.. |
Any trips from March 2022 onwards are only aspirational as I cannot predict what may happen that far out. Who knows what the future holds for us...we might find ourselves locked down once again as the subsequent Covid strains become more and more virulent. Weather and sickness have also played havoc on my tramping plans for the last couple of seasons.
March 2022: (Possible trips TBC)
- St James Conservation Area, Boyle Settlement-Hanmer via St James Cycleway: early March, Partial TA Section, multi-day trip (6 huts)
- Mt Aspiring NP: Greenstone-Caples Tracks: Late March, multi-day trip, (8 huts)
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| I am booked to walk the Kepler Track in early March 2021 |
April 2022: (Possible trips TBC)
- Richmond Forest Park, Te Araroa Trail: a section through the Richmond's possibly Pelorus Bridge to St Arnaud, date TBC (up to 12 huts depending on the route...) or
- Paparoa National Park, Inland Pack Track: date TBC, multi-day trip
May 2022: (Possible trips TBC)
- Hakatere Conservation Park, one of: Rakaia River- Rangitata River or Rangitata- Lake Tekapo or Tekapo- Lake Ohau- all TA Sections, multiday trip OR (??? huts)
- Kahurangi NP, Lake Matiri or Mt Arthur Tablelands, multi-day trip (??? huts)
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| I hope to be visiting Lake Tekapo on the Te Araroa Trail... |
June 2022:
- some winter trips TBC.....mostly day walks but I will try for a couple of overnight trips as well.
So what do we have...camping, a Camper van trip, two Great Walks (Heaphy and Routeburn), several multi-day hikes, some overnight trips and some day walks. I am hoping to emulate the success of last season with a swag of huts bagged and some new parks visited.
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| Jon at the Rainbow Reach end of the Kepler Track in 2021... |
...right...lets get her done!!!
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