Tramping food: St James Walkway: Food for the trip

Tramping menu for the St James Walkway

Here is the food I am taking with me for my 5 day tramp around the St James Walkway this week. I have been tweaking my tramping food requirements as I look for variety and add a few more calories per day. I've added an extra snack per day as well as adding some extra drinks for re hydration.

The view from Ada Pass Hut veranda, St James Walkway

I try to keep to the "golden" 700gms of tramping food per day rule, this should provide enough energy to propel me on my way. The 700gm rule was thought up by the Peninsula Tramping Club (attributed to Geoff Spearpoint a notable member of that group) as a good average to aim for when planning food requirements.

Packed as a 24 hour 'ration'

I like to pack my tramping food in a 24 hour "ration", it is in a plastic bag and contains all the items I will use in a 24 hour period. This is very military but I find it keeps things better organised than the "everything in one big bag" method of tramping food rationing. 

Backcountry Cuisine have a 24 hour packed ration

My five day tramping menu:

Here is my five day tramping menu broken down into day by day rations....

Tramping Food: Day 1

Instant mash is one of my go to tramping meals...it can be paired with vegetables, meat, cheese, gravy, fish...basically whatever you want to chuck in with it. Super easy to prepare, just add hot water and stir...and packed full of carbs to keep you tramping. It is good for both breakfast and dinner..prepare it in its own plastic bag to avoid mess. 

Tramping food- Day 1

Breakfast:  At home (I often buy MacDonalds Breakfast on the way out of town)

Lunch: Crackers + peanut butter + electrolyte drink

Snacks: le snack + raisin's + Steak bar + Special K biscuits

Dinner: Cheesy spud + Spam n' vege's ( re hydrated and mixed together = yum!) + chicken noodle soup + Refresh sachet (orange)

Extras:  Water purification tablets + salt + pot scrubber + chewing gum

Nestle Iced Tea + tea ( 1 T sugar) (760gms total)

Tramping Food: Day 2

I will take freeze dried meals with me if he trip is going to last for over three days..it is hard to argue with the convenience of these meals. I would much rather have 'fresh' food alas fresh food is very heavy and more difficult to prepare. The mashed spuds are to add some more carbohydrates to the main meal which did not have any pasta, potatoes or grains with it. 

Tramping food- Day 2

Breakfast:  Cream o' wheat + raisins + 1t sugar/milk powder + Tea

Lunch: Crackers + Pate + electrolyte drink

Snacks: Peanuts + Special K biscuit + scroggin pack+ Steak bar

Dinner: BCC Chicken a la King + mashed spuds + Miso soup + Refresh sachet (lemon/lime)

Extras: Puri Tabs + salt + pot scrubber

Nestle Iced Tea + tea ( 1 T sugar) (710gms total)

Tramping Food: Day 3

Tuna fish is the ambrosia of the gods for trampers especially if you get the type with olive oil added to it. Good for lunches and as a dinner addition. I prefer plain tuna unfortunately all the packet tuna we Kiwis can buy is weird...like peri peri spiced, with loathsome coconut or ground rhino testicles added...yeercckkkk!!! Just give us some plain tuna you arses!

Tramping food- Day 3

Breakfast:  Porridge +1t sugar/milk powder + raisins + Tea

Lunch: Crackers + Tuna + electrolyte drink

Snacks: Peanuts (honey roasted) + raisin's + steak bar + cheese quarter

Dinner: Chicken noodles w. beef and vege's + Spring vege soup + Refresh sachet (orange)

Extras: Puri tabs + salt + pot scrubber + chewing gum

Nestle Iced Tea + Cappuccino sachet + tea ( 1 T sugar) (730gms total)

Tramping Food: Day 4: Longest day on this tramp, 17 km's (6-8 hours)

At the end of a long hard tramping day I just want something quick and easy to prepare...freeze dried Spag Bol fits like a glove. You should never discount the reviving power of some drinks...tea, coffee, hot chocolate, electrolyte drinks and powdered fruit drinks..they are all good. I also enjoy a cup of soup in the late afternoon as a precursor to my dinner.

Tramping food- Day 4

Tramping food- Day 4 close-up

Breakfast:  Porridge + 1t sugar/milk powder + raisins + Tea

Lunch: Crackers + peanut butter + electrolyte drink

Snacks: le snack + raisin's + peanut M & M's + Steak bar

Dinner: BCC Spag Bolognaise + tinned herrings ( I like them) + Beef soup + Refresh sachet (lemon/lime)

Extras: Puri tabs + salt + scrubber + 3x fruit chews (candy)

Nestle Iced Tea + Cappuccino sachet + tea ( 1 T sugar) (720gms total)

I'm going to be buggered by the end of this day so just want something quick and tasty for dinner.

Tramping Food: Day 5: Last Day of the tramp (only Breakfast and snacks)

I sometimes eat freeze dried meals for breakfast but not on a regular basis, I usually go for the blander meals; Cooked Breakfast, Scrambled Eggs, Nasi Goreng (rice, veges and eggs) & Creamy Carbonara. I actually switched meals..I gave the Honey Soy Chicken to the TA trampers and had left over crackers and peanut butter for breakfast instead. 

Tramping food- Day 5

Breakfast:  BCC Honey Soy Chicken (2 serve) + tea (1T Sugar)

Snacks: Le Snack + raisin's + Nut Bar+ cheese quarter  (320gms total)

Tramping food- 5 Days + my lunch crackers

All up the food and sundries for this 5 day trip weight 2.7 kg's, or roughly 650 gm's per day.

Post Script: The breakfasts and main meals were fine but too many snacks taken. I ate my tinned herrings on my crackers on day three instead of the peanut butter. Loved the crackers which have now gone out of production....as usual! I had crackers and peanut butter for breakfast on the last day...they were tasty.

Both the Nestle Iced Tea and crackers are no longer available in New Zealand...more is the pity because both of them were excellent.

I ended up giving a bag of 5-6 snacks, one main meal and some drinks to a group of hungry Te Araroa Trail trekkers who were short of food. Better that carrying around useless weight and I like to help people out.

The Henry River Valley sweltering under 32 degree temperatures, St James Walkway

A combination of  warm weather, a trip shortened by one day and lack of appetite meant I didn't use all these calories.  I've adjusted my amounts and now take 2-3 snacks per day.

Orton Bradley to Mt Herbert: 8 February 2015

   Tramping on Mt Herbert

I'm preparing for my 5 day tramp around the St James Walkway, due to start in just over a week, so went out for a "conditioning" trip over the weekend. My original plan was to walk to the summit of Mt Herbert (919 a.s.l) along the Monument Track. This is a steep track from the high point of the Purau - Port Levy road, thus completing my goal to climb the mountain from all three possible sides.

A 2016 photo of the Purau Saddle car park: no bogans!

Unfortunately when I arrived at the car park at 7 am there were a couple of dodgy looking "car enthusiasts" (bogans/boy racers/petrol heads, etc. take your pick of names...) sitting there. After waiting for 20 minutes with no sign of them leaving I decided that I wouldn't take the gamble that my car would be broken into, instead I would change my plans.

So off I trotted to Orton Bradley Estate and climbed the mountain from there.

 

Entrance to Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate sign at entrance

Orton Bradley Estate to Mt Herbert

I started off from the familiar car park at Orton Bradley Estate, it was busy with several large groups of people camping for the long weekend. You are able to camp at the park from the 23rd December right through to Waitangi day, something to add to the "to do" list. 

Nice amenities for people staying: nice flat camp sites, water supply, a new ablution block and a central cooking/relaxation shelter.

Car park at track start, Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate track network and Mt Herbert

The summit of Mt Herbert is 5-6 hours return from the start of the track at the end of the public access road in the Estate

Waitangi weekend camping at Orton Bradley Estate

Start of track at Orton Bradley Estate

Orton Bradley Estate: Track through exotic plantation

There is an awesome looking outdoor adventure course in this stand of gum trees, you are able to access all of the low equipment but the aerial walkway is closed for random users. Go have a look if you are ever at the park, follow the track to the first large bridge, cross and you can see the equipment.

Orton Bradley Estate: Mature gum trees near outdoor adventure course

There are some nice bits of bush along the course of the valley, the track sidles back and forth through them.

Orton Bradley Estate, bush remnant on valley floor

Eventually you come to a stile and a farm track making its way up the valley, follow this till you reach the edge of the park and the start of the DOC estate.

Start of farm track up Orton Bradley Estate valley

View towards head of Orton Bradley Estate, Mt Herbert

At the end of the track you enter DOC land, the track is much less distinct from this point but is marked with the standard DOC orange markers as well as old markers set up by the defunct Walkways Commission.

Crossing into DOC reserve from Orton Bradley

Below are a couple of photos of the small bush areas you encounter along this mid section of the track. It is interposed with large grassy clearings and volcanic rock outcrops.

Mt Herbert Walkway: typical area of bush...

Dense bush on the Mt Herbert Walkway

You soon start to climb, the track sidles back and forth across the face of the hills, gradually gaining height as you go. It is not overly strenuous but can be hot and exposed on a nice day.Bring lots of water as there is no place to replenish till you reach the shelter! 

Mt Herbert Walkway: start of the climb to Mt Herbert shelter

First view of Port Hills from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Herbert Walkway: view from the 300 metre mark

Mt Herbert: above bush line, view towards Lyttleton

I just noticed I'm on a bit of a lean in this shot????? Here I am half way to Mt Herbert Shelter, a quick stop for a photo, snack and drink. It was still cloudy enough that I did not need to have my hat on.

Woohhh...! Jon on a lean on Mt Herbert Walkway

Stunning views from here head of Orton Bradley Estate

There is another track down the opposite side of the valley, this was going to be my egress point until I noticed the fresh three story high rock fall laying on the track...alright then, I wont go that way!

The track leads to the Tablelands which is a large flat plateau on the 300 metre contour, it is part of Orton Bradley Estate. There is a track up to the plateau near the start of the Mt Herbert track, it can be followed all the way to the summit if you like.

Orton Bradley Estate: track to the Tablelands

On the old farm track aka Mt Herbert Walkway

A zig-zag track covers the last 150 meters of altitude gain to the shelter, easy walking even with the high grass along it.

Mt Herbert Walkway: view of zig zag section... nearly at shelter

Mt Herbert Walkway: view down valley, Quail Island 

Mt Herbert Walkway: over grown track conditions

There is a connecting track at the top of the zig-zag section which leads around the back of Mt Bradley to Packhorse Hut. It is about 1.5 hours from this point to the hut. A round trip from Diamond Harbor to Gebbies Pass can be made using the hut as an overnight location, it would be a 8-9 hour trip in total. 

Mt Herbert Walkway: side track to Packhorse Hut

Mt Herbert Walkway: at the Packhorse track junction

Lyttleton Harbour from Mt Herbert Walkway



Distant view of Southern Alps, Mt Bradley from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Bradley from near Mt Herbert shelter

First view of Mt Herbert shelter

DOC track sign at Mt Herbert shelter

Birdlings Flat from Mt Herbert Shelter

The track to Packhorse Hut skirts the front of Mt Bradley before passing behind the rocky outcrop in the middle of the photo.

NB: 2016 Update: The track is now part of the Te Ara Pataka Walkway and has been cleaned up to make it suitable for novice trampers and MTB'ers. There are still some exposed spots but it is much easier to navigate and less overgrown. 

South towards Mt Bradley from Mt Herbert Shelter

View of harbour from near Mt Herbert shelter

I momentarily stopped at the shelter to use the toilet before continuing along the track towards the summit of Mt Herbert. Here is a view of the interior of the shelter, basic, but it does the job.

Interior Mt Herbert shelter

Interior Mt Herbert shelter

There is a track from Kaituna Saddle to Mt Herbert, access is from the gravel road between Little River and Port Levy. There is parking area on the saddle, the track takes between 2-4 hours to reach the summit of Mt Herbert. This is part of the new multi day walkway DOC is going to build from Gebbies Pass to Hilltop following the old "paper" road of the original Summit Road Society.

Kaituna Saddle, upper Kaituna Valley from Te Ara Pataka

Great views possible from inside the toilet at the shelter all of Kaituna Valley and South Canterbury. If you get outdoors often you grow to appreciate a fine "dunny view", allowing you to soothe both mind and body at the same time....

Mt Herbert: Awesome dunny views!

Kaituna Saddle, Kaituna Bush, Akaroa Range in distance

The track to the summit is about 10 minutes uphill from the shelter, you need to keep a good lookout for the DOC sign as the track is a bit overgrown and indistinct.

Diamond Harbour - Mt Herbert shelter track

Track to summit of Mt Herbert

Below are a series of photos taken from the top of the mountain, you have an almost 360 degree view from the summit.

Mt Herbert: view South West from Summit



Mt Herbert: view north from Mt Herbert

Mt Herbert: Port Levy from summit

Mt Herbert: DOC summit sign

Man made or natural destruction? Its hard to know but both the trig and the DOC sign on the summit were blown over. I read somewhere that they had 200kph winds up here in mid 2014 so I'm leaning towards the later...

Mt Herbert: Demolished trig marker

The large rock outcrop in the center-right of the photo below is The Monument. The track I wanted to tramp follows the ridge line, around the front of the crag and then joins up with the Summit walkway.

Monument Rock/Port Levy from Mt Herbert

Looking at the Port Hills from up here makes them pale into almost insignificance even though they are an intimate part of living in Christchurch.

Mt Herbert: Lyttleton Harbour and Pegasus Bay

Jon on the summit of Mt Herbert

This is my firth visit to this spot and it is always spectacular. Look at that awesome view, scenes like these are the reason I go on these tramping adventures, nature just takes your breathe away....and less than 45 minutes from Christchurch.

Head of Lyttleton Harbour, Quail Island from Mt Herbert

Mt Herbert: view towards Mt Bradley

View of all of Lyttleton Harbour, Canterbury from Mt Herbert

Port of Lyttleton from Mt Herbert

The side track to the summit of Mt Herbert is indistinct when walking uphill from the shelter-  keep your eyes peeled for the track sign. The track itself looked like an old overgrown 4 W/D farm track.

Mt Herbert Summit track cut off from Mt Herbert Walkway

Mt Herbert: track sign to summit

Mt Herbert shelter on its saddle

I stopped in the Mt Herbert Shelter for lunch, it is very nice and well maintained; appreciated as there was a cold wind blowing. In a pinch you could sleep in the shelter but it would make for a cold night as the saddle it sits on is very exposed. There is a water tank and toilets to the rear of the shelter.

Mt Herbert seen through Mt Herbert shelter window

Port Hills from inside Mt Herbert shelter

After a 30 minute lunch break I packed my gear and headed back down the walkway to the Orton Bradley Estate. Those beautiful views of Canterbury are right in front of you for the first hour down the track before you enter the bush. 

Mt Herbert Walkway: Heading back to the car park

Here is an exposed section of volcanic ash deposits, right by the track. We sometimes forget that the whole peninsula was once a series of very large volcanoes.

Exposed volcanic ash layers on Mt Herbert Walkway

At one point on the track, just as you enter a piece of bush you are able to see six DOC track markers leading onwards. I think it is a bit of overkill, though there are some big bluffs near the track so I imagine DOC doesn't want dead bodies cluttering up the place.

Mt Herbert Walkway: 6 track markers within 100 metres line of sight

Good shot of the contrasting areas of bush and dryland grass areas in this valley.

Bush remnants Orton Bradley Estate

Below is the only real stream you need to cross on this track, this is the stream from the head of the valley which meanders down through the Orton Bradley Estate. Not a raging torrent obviously!

Stream crossing Orton Bradley Estate

Another awesome trip, though not the trip I planned, it was still a good day. The highlight would have to be the awesome view of Canterbury from the summit, if you are ever down this way put this trip on your "to do" list. Grunting up the hills takes some effort but the track is easy walking otherwise.

Finally back at the Orton Bradley car park

Access: From Teddington follow the Christchurch - Diamond Harbour road to Charteris Bay. Turn right into Orton Bradley Park straight after golf course and find the group picnic area.
Track Times: 2-3 hours to summit of Mt Herbert, 2-2.5 hours to Mt Herbert Shelter, 2-3 hours return to Orton Bradley Estate
Miscellaneous:Steep track, suitable for those with good - moderate fitness. All weather access.  Mt Herbert is very exposed to weather, exercise caution in wet, windy conditions. Shelter for day use only, has toilet and water tank.