Tramping adventures over the Winter months...
Winter has once again gripped us and with the first snowfall of the year still visible on the foothills my thoughts turn to some winter tramping opportunities.
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| There is usually snow on the Southern Alps over winter |
For the last couple of years I have run a winter tramping program with an emphasis on day walks and short overnight hut visits. Prior to 2020 I didn't get out that much in the winter months but instead tended to go for local walks in Christchurch. If you only tramp during the warmer months you are missing out on some great opportunities to get outdoors.
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| The local Port Hills were my usual destination prior to 2020 |
Tramping in the winter has some disadvantages but a whole lot of positive points as well. I find it thoroughly enjoyable...
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| On top of Mt Herbert in July 2020 |
I thought we could have a look at the process I use to choose a winter tramping destination, some factors to consider when planning and winter tramping equipment. I will also discus my plans for the next couple of months from June through September 2022.
Why go tramping in winter?
There are a number of excellent reasons to go tramping over the winter months so let us take a look at them.
1. Less People:
Most people are fair weather trampers and only go out over the summer/autumn months. This means you will see a LOT less people if you go tramping in winter. If you are like me you probably find the hordes of people you meet outdoors a bit irritating at times...it is a lot busier out there than it used to be.
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| Jon had 20 bunk Manson-Nichols Hut to himself |
Over winter you will often find yourself on a track or in a big hut by yourself which can be interesting.
2. Less bugs:
We all have a love/hate relationship with Sandflies...they are a natural part of the environment but can be a total nuisance. If you go exploring in Winter you will see less of them or none of them at all. The cold, frosty weather makes them go dormant.
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| Cold, frosty weather at Lakehead Hut = no sandflies at all!!! |
3. For the challenge:
Winter tramping requires a higher level of skill both in the planning stage and out in the bush. It can be colder, wetter & windy over the winter and you need to take this into consideration before heading out. A winter trip can require greater self reliance as you need to think through your actions carefully and might find yourself alone for a lot of the time. Winter also means you get to play with ice/snow tools which can be fun...
4. Because it uses inactive time...
Since I have started going on winter trips I am making better use of my time. Previously there was a long period of inactivity from May through October when I did few outdoor trips. I could do an awful lot of tramping, walking and bag a lot of huts over those months.
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| I bagged Waiuta Lodge over the Winter of 2021 |
5. Keep fit and healthy for summer...
Obvious really...if you keep tramping and walking over the winter and spring it is much easier to stay in shape for those summer time Great Walks or long multiday adventures. You could go to the gym and work out...or just keep tramping. I know which one I prefer!
So you can see there are many good reasons to fight off the winter Sloth and get amongst it.
Criteria for good winter destinations:
So...what makes for a good winter trip? I have a number or criteria I work with so lets go through them to clarify how I make a selection of destinations for my adventures.
a. There must be a hut at the end of the track...
I really enjoy camping but lets face it...New Zealand is not the ideal country to be camping over the Winter. It can be really cold, wet and windy here in winter and with our temperate climate snow may fall at any time. These factors are manageable but there is a better solution...
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| Winter is not ideal for camping...Kerr Bay Campsite |
We are really lucky in that we have over 1200 backcountry huts to choose from ranging from two bunk dog box bivy's right up to the 80 bunk monster that is Pinnacles Hut. There are a great number in the higher alpine areas of the country but there are also many in valley bottoms or in easier to reach locations.
You really have a great many to choose from for your winter sojourn
b. Safe from avalanches, heavy snow and floods:
New Zealand is a high alpine country especially in the South Island where I live. Many areas are prone to avalanches, sudden snow storms and flooding over the winter months. While you might be able to make it to the hut you also need to be able to make it home.
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| Avoid avalanche prone areas over the winter months |
c. Close to the track end:
Personally I only go to huts that are 2-3 hours from the road end over the winter months. I do this so if weather conditions deteriorate I will be able to make it to the hut safely even in bad weather. I know I can push through rain and snow for this amount of time without getting into real trouble. Leave those longer trips for the warmer months...
d. Overnight trips not multiday tramps:
I only plan day walks and overnight trips over the main winter months. This allows me to keep experiencing the outdoors without undue harm to myself or others. That said I have done multiday trips at the start and end of winter to places like the Abel Tasman NP, St James Walkway huts and huts on Banks Peninsula. You just have to be very careful with the selection of your destination.
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| Abel Tasman Coastal Track is beautiful right through the year |
You can easily sustain yourself for about 24 hours in a backcountry hut provided you take appropriate equipment. If there is a fire or heating source and you have fuel you can multiply this by a couple of days. It is not as easy to sustain yourself past this time period without experience, skills and top notch cold weather gear.
e. Choose a good weather window:
Most of the time I am tramping by myself or with Karen so I have a bit of leeway when it comes to when I go tramping. If the weather is going to be bad it is much easier for me to cancel a trip at short notice. I will go tramping on cold, windy and wet days but for safety reasons I choose not to go out in really bad weather.
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| Not a desirable ending to a winter tramp... |
The thought of appearing on your nightly news as "lost tramper' makes my guts heave. NOOOOOOOOooooo I say...!!!
These criteria make it appear that your destinations are limited but there are at least 20 huts/tracks just in Canterbury that meet all my requirements. If you look a bit further afield the number multiplies significantly.
Base camp trips:
It is in the name really...base camp. A base camp trip is one where you have a base of operations and head out for short day trips from there. Winter is an excellent time to go to a base camp and in the past decade I have done this in Arthurs Pass NP, Kaikoura, on the West Coast, Nelson Lakes and in Tasman District.
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| On a day trip up the Pororairi River, Paparoa NP |
You can stay in a motel, hotel or lodge on a base camp and take advantage of low winter rental rates, heating and electricity. There is nothing like a warm shower after a day trip and a motel etc. is always easier to heat than a backcountry hut.
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| A camper van is a mobile base camp trip...Mt Aspiring NP |
In 2022 Karen and I will be doing a base camp in Punakaiki on the West Coast. We are staying in a motel there and have a number of day trips planned into nearby Paparoa National Park. This is an excellent location for the outdoor minded tourist with many wonderful tracks in the area.
Are special skills required over Winter?
It depends....
If you are staying on the valley bottoms, low foothills and easier tracks you probably don't need any specialist skills to tramp over the Winter. A good knowledge of fire starting, self sufficiency in the bush and general tramping knowledge will be fine.
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| Hawdon Valley...snow on tops but not in the valley! |
If you are going into an alpine area this will not be enough to keep you safe. Even the most hard core alpinists and climbers are hesitant about winter trips. In winter the risks associated with alpine travel are higher. You will need to have excellent navigation skills, avalanche knowledge, ice and snow skills and the ability to survive in a harsh environment.
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| Robert Ridge Route..only alpine specialists should be here in winter |
You should be aware of the freeze/thaw cycle as this can dictate water levels in rivers and streams. In winter most water will freeze on a very cold night. As the sun rises the next day and melts the frost the water is released into waterways. The flow rate of a river in the morning and afternoon can be strikingly different. A slow gentle stream in the early morning might be a raging torrent by the afternoon so plan your route accordingly...
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| Snowmelt off Mt Rolleston increases river flow rates |
If you do not posses good alpine skills don't go above the bushline...its as simple as that!
Winter equipment load-out:
Basically you are going to be using your usual equipment with a couple of important additions. These are more clothing, warmer clothing and sleeping gear, extra food and ice and snow tools.
Winter tramping gear...
The type and amount of clothing you take in the winter will vary slightly from your normal summer gear. As it is colder and wetter you might carry long sleeve tops as opposed to short sleeve. Your jackets and insulation layer will be heavier weight for extra warmth. You might also carry supplementary items like down jackets and insulated gloves that would not be needed in Summer.
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| Cold morning at Lakehead Hut, Nelson Lakes NP |
In the summer month a light weight sleeping bag or quilt will usually be the norm for tramping trips. Especially in huts anything heavier will be too much and leave you sweating and uncomfortable. This is not the case in winter...it can get real cold even in a hut over the winter. If there is no heating or fuel the hut will be like a walk in chiller. This is the time for that -5 degree sleeping bag.
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| My Exped sleeping bag is good to -5 degrees |
If you are going above the bushline (or in some cases into the bush) you might need to carry special ice and snow gear. Ice axes, crampons, avalanche transceivers and poles are all potentially needed over the winter. If there is ice/snow and slopes you should be wearing crampons and have an ice axe in your hand. You need to know how to use this stuff so go do a snow skills course.
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| Ice axe and crampons come into their element in Winter |
Make sure you have the appropriate gear for the conditions and know how to use it all. Think about taking multiple items of critical gear like warm hats, gloves and socks to deal with wet clothing issues.
Winter meal planning:
Winter tramping expends a lot more energy than summer tramping so you need to up your food intake to compensate. You might want to take more food than usual, heavier food and more carbohydrates. Load up with good quality food that will give you extra energy but with a minimum of extra salt, sugar and weight.
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| Soups, desserts and extra snacks up your calorie intake |
Obviously don't go overboard as weight saps energy on the track but do think about adding warming soups, more hot beverages and extra snacks to your menu. A hot Cup-O-Soup at lunchtime or a hot brew will help enormously with keeping you fit and happy. Longer nights mean more time spent in hut or tent so pack extra fuel and tea/coffee so you can enjoy a drink in your pit.
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| Hot soup is great with your dinner in Winter |
I generally find using freeze dried meals works best over the winter as they are quick and easy to make and the light weight compensates for added clothing etc. I generally eat single serves but in the winter you might want to think about taking a regular sized one (2 person serve) for the added calories.
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| Choose hearty carbohydrate laden food in Winter |
Take extra gas for your stove in winter...you will need it for extra drinks, warm water for cleaning and hot food. Remember that melting snow will use a lot more gas as you have to turn it to a liquid before you can warm it.
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| Take more gas than usual over the Winter months |
My winter series for 2022:
Planning is well in hand for my 2022 Winter Series and in fact I have already done one overnight trip to Lake Daniell. I have a number of trips lined up for the coming months and weather permitting I hope to visit both new tracks and old favored haunts. Here is what I have in store from now to September.
May:
I undertook a mid winter trip to Otamahua/Quail Island with Karen in early May and a solo trip to Lake Daniell two weeks ago. I walked into Ryde Falls in Mt Oxford Forest Park for the first time in nearly 7 years. I also completed the penultimate section of the Christchurch 360 Trail and hope to knock the bugger off over the next couple of months.
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| Lake Daniell is an excellent winter tramp |
It is nearly the end of the month so I'm not sure I will get anything else crammed into this month (I re-covered a Christchurch 360 Trail section last weekend...).
June:
Karen and I are heading to Punakaiki in mid June and we will be staying in a motel and doing some walks in the area. We will walk the Pancake Rocks and Truman Tracks and are eyeing up the Punakaiki-Pororairi River Loop if weather permits.
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| The Pancake rocks are striking over winter... |
Winter is a good time of the year for this type of trip...base yourself somewhere and do walks in the local area.
July:
I will be going to either Woolshed Creek Hut in the Hakatere Conservation Area or somewhere in Nelson Lakes NP for a weekend overnight trip. There are only a couple of suitable huts in Nelson Lakes as there is a high danger of avalanches in that park. Lakehead, Coldwater and Speargrass Huts are all accessible even in the winter.
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| Woolshed Creek Hut in the Mt Somers area |
Another alternate would be an overnighter to Rod Donald or Packhorse Hut.
August:
I have planned a multi day trip to walk the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. I will be walking from Anchorage to Totaranui over four days staying at Anchorage, Bark Bay and Awaroa Huts. This is the only section I have not covered on my vlogs so I will be filming while I am there.
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| I shall be crossing the tidal estuary at Awaroa in August |
A trip to Abel Tasman is ALWAYS on my plans for winter as it is a fine destination right through the year. I have visited the park every year for the last five doing something or the other...
September:
Karen and I are going on another camper van trip this time to the Catlins south of Dunedin. I am really looking forward to this as I have wanted to visit the Catlins for more than a decade now but just never got down there.
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| We will be visiting Cathedral Cave in the Caitlins |
We will be using a Britz van like last time (August 2021) and have a full program of walks planned for while we are there. It should be awesome....
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| Our Britz Van from 2021 at the Buller River |
In between these trips I will be doing some day trips to local locations...it will all depend on the weather so I'm hoping for some decent weekends over the next four months.
To sum up...I think a lot of people are daunted by the thought of winter trips when in fact they can be as safe as and easy to organise as any summer trip. You just need to ensure your planning, organisation and outdoor skills are up to the task. Caution is the most important word...do not be overly ambitious and pay attention to the real world conditions you might face.
Have fun and safe winter travels..!!!
