The Dead Man's Hand.....

No more New Zealand Bush Adventures...

If you are reading this post then I was finally dealt the 'Dead Mans Hand' and I am no longer with you. I don't know what it was that finally did me in...I'm writing this in 2023 so maybe it was the Covid's...perhaps I never made it home from a trip...or old age got me...maybe I fell fighting the Snegghhhrh-Klorgh Empire when they invaded Earth in 2028...

Herchhhhh 'knararr lethnarghhh (eat my death ray) you Klorghean bastards!!!

...Aces and 8's...the dead mans hand!!!

Regardless of what else was happening in my life I have always enjoyed tramping and the utter joy of being in the outdoors. Wither trekking across a flat South Island tussock valley, stoking the fire in a beloved hut, fording some serenely musical river, stopping to chat to some other tramper or crossing a high mountain pass I loved it all.

'...Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake..'

John understood how it was....

Nothing quite like a blazing fire at the end of a days walk...

My favorite destinations...well...there are too many to single out a particular place. Rakuira was a well loved destination over the years as were the tracks around Fiordland, Lewis Pass, Hakatere, Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson Lakes.

Awesome Stewart Island mud on the Rukuira Track...

My home park is Arthur's Pass NP...the first place I tramped and somewhere I continually returned too over the years. You are not a tramper from Canterbury if you have never slogged over the gravel to the head of the Waimakiriri Valley. I hope it was the last place I visited before departing the mortal coil..

The Upper Waimakiriri River from near the Anti-Crow River

Anyway...here are some photos of me out tramping over the years...notice the gradual grey coloring the hair in direct correlation to the expansion of the body. Getting old is a bitch as someone once said...its was Phil Collins BTW at his Christchurch concert back in 2019...

One of the first modern tramps I went on ...East Howdon Valley, Arthur's Pass NP in 2013

Hanging out in John Tait Hut in Nelson Lakes National Park in 2016

On the Milford Track in December of 2018...

One of my favorites Otamahua/Quail Island in Lytellton Harbor, 2020

At the lovely Packhorse Hut, Kaituna Saddle, Banks Peninsula in 2018

On the Lakehead Track in Nelson Lakes

So all that needs to be said is thanks for being a part of my journey over the years its been a real pleasure to have you along for the ride. 

May your lunches be dry...your woodsheds ever full...and your huts empty!

Adieu.....

Where have you been Jon?

...and why no recent posts....

I haven't posted much for the last couple of months as I have been out of commission as I was receiving treatment for cancer. I am hopefully past the worst of my recuperation now so have started going out for some tramping trips once again. I'm starting out slow so the trip reports you will see are going to be short walks, day trips and possibly some short over-night trips.

Contemplating a crossing of the new course of the Hawdon River

To that end I recently visited Godley Head on the Port Hills to walk the Godley Head Loop Track. I also made an aborted attempt to visit Hawdon Hut after the recent storms but was thwarted by too high rivers. 

Me visiting the Godley Head defense installation recently...

I have plans for some more multi-day trips for later this year including hopefully a trip to Rakuira/Stewart Island, the Routeburn Great Walk and more adventures in Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes National Parks. I am also trying to advance my project to tramp all of the tracks in Arthur's Pass NP as I have set up a new blog specifically about that park. 

Welcome to my tramping blog

Welcome to my tramping blog NZ Bush Adventures!

Hi there, my name is Jonathan Moake.

Me crossing Travers Pass, Nelson Lakes NP in 2018

This is the first post for my new blog about tramping, hiking, camping, DOC huts, MTB riding, tramping food, backcountry skills, equipment, the environment, mountaineering and other outdoor concerns.

Jon Moake, at Ryde Falls in the Oxford Forest Park

 A little bit about me: Jon Moake

 I am a tramper (that's hiker/rambler to those from the US/UK) in my 50's, and I live in Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand.

Spenser Mountains, Lewis Pass SR, from the Lewis Pass Tops

I have been visiting the forests and mountains for many years, with particular attention to the parks and forests close to Christchurch, my home town. My tramping trips range from one day right through to longer periods up to a week.

One of our iconic mountain huts, Mid Robinson, Victoria FP

After an extended break from tramping I have decided to get into the outdoors again. This blog will be a record of my experiences. I have tramped extensively throughout both the North and South Island, from the Central Plateau volcanoes south to Rakuira/Stewart Island.

Torrent Bay, tramping the Abel Tasman Great Walk in Sep. 2017

My main stamping grounds include Arthurs Pass National Park, the Canterbury Foothills, Lake Sumner Forest Park,  Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve all around an hours drive from my home.
I also enjoy tramping on the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula which are right on my doorstep.

On the summit of Mt Herbert in 2020

Lyttleton Harbour and Canterbury from high on Banks Peninsula

Further afield I love exploring Nelson Lakes NP, Kahurangi NP and the Abel Tasman NP.

The Cobb Valley Tent Camp, Kahurangi NP (2020)

Its a pleasure to have you on this journey with me.....let's see where we can go!