Tramping Food: A couple of my most popular meal ideas....

Tasty vittles for Jon's tramping trips....

I find my posts about tramping food, tramping menus and food for the trail are usually the most popular pages on my blog. So I thought I would look at a couple of my favorite meals I like to eat when out tramping.

One of my homemade 24 hour ration packs...Chilli-Mac on the menu!

I tend to rotate freeze dried meals with homemade meals when I am out overnight. Freeze dried is light, quick and simple to make but they are quite expensive and the flavor gets tedious after awhile. Homemade meals can be cheap but usually require more cooking time and can be heavier. I much prefer the flavour of  homemade meals to freeze dried meals.

I do eat freeze dried meals..Outdoor Gourmet Thai Chicken Stir Fry

All of the following recipes get a regular outing when I go on trips into the outdoors...solid and well known meals which I know are quick to prepare, tasty and filling. Some are totally homemade while others are a mixture of commercial meal components with my own additions.

Recipes I use on my tramping trips

I'm talking about hot meals only and I have broken these recipes down into meal periods (i.e. the times when I actually eat hot meals) so breakfast and dinner really...

Breakfast meals for tramping trips:

 A lot of people just eat toaster pastries, muesli bars or breakfast biscuits etc. with a swing of water for breakfast but I think that sucks. I like a cup of coffee or tea in the morning and a sit down meal if time allows. My attitude is...I'm boiling water so I might as well make something hot to eat at the same time.

Muesli bars like an OSM can provide breakfast on the go....

....as can toaster pastries!!!!

I like to have a meal before I start walking each morning but it needs to be filling, quick and easy to prepare. I also like breakfast meals I can eat from the bag as this saves me doing too much kitchen admin when I could be tramping.

Enjoying a tasty morning brew on my hut bunk....

I find breakfast to be the most difficult meal to plan...it tends to get monotonous. I try to rotate recipes so that I have some variety in my menu...the same meal quickly becomes boring after 2-3 days and you are looking for something new.

My usual breakfast fare is good old porridge aka POG aka oatmeal with a mug of coffee/tea with sweetened condensed milk in it. I beef up the calories/flavor in my porridge by including cinnamon,  milk powder, fruit and nuts.

Note on measures: T= Tablespoon, t=teaspoon, 1 cup = 250gm's

Jon's standard porridge/oatmeal:

Porridge and coffee in Howdon Hut on the Routeburn Track, 2019

Recipe: One person

2 pkts instant oats (I like Uncle Toby's but any brand is fine)
2t sugar
2t milkpowder
1/4t cinnamon powder (optional)
Pinch of salt
1T raisins/craisins/sultanas/chopped prunes to taste
1T almond slivers

Place all dry items in a sandwich size zip-lock bag add, add 1 cup hot water and stir. Leave for 5 minutes for the oats to hydrate and eat from the bag. Quick, easy and no dishes to clean...beautiful!!!

Hot muesli with milk:

Recipe: one person

1 cup of your favorite muesli mix (I like Hubbards brand)
1/2 cup powdered milk
1t powdered cinnamon
1T raisins/chopped dates/chopped prunes/chopped apricots
Sugar to taste

Place all the ingredients in a zip-lock bag. To prepare; add 1/2 cup hot water and mix well, leave for 2-3 minutes to hydrate. This is a hot version of muesli with fat in the form of milk and added fruit. This is excellent to break the monotony of porridge every morning, eat it from the bag. 

Cheesy polenta/grits:

Cheesy Breakfast Polenta/Grits

Recipe:1-2 person
1 cup instant polenta/grits (250gms/1cup polenta mix to 1 litre hot water)
1/2t salt
A twist of cracked pepper
1/2 chicken stock cube
Pinch of paprika (optional)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (powdered Parmesan is good)
1/2 cup salami/luncheon/bacon bits etc. (optional)
Salt/Pepper to taste
Tabasco to taste

Place all dry items in a sandwich size zip-lock bag at home. To prepare; add dry ingredients to 1 litre hot water and stir into porridge like consistency. Leave for 3 minutes for the polenta to hydrate then fluff and eat. I source Italian instant polenta from a local store which just needs water+oil added and a 2-3 minute simmer time. Alternately you can find grits (basically the same thing...) at Bin Inn and health food stores. You can add some protein to this meal in the form of salami/luncheon/canned chicken/bacon bits etc. and splash in Tabasco for a fiery hit.

Loaded O-Meal Hash-brown Potatoes:

OMeal Hashbrown potatoes

Recipe: 1-2 person
1 pkt O-meal self heating hash-brown potatoes
2 bier-sticks/salami sticks/cubed luncheon/pre-cooked bacon or similar, diced
1-2 tortillas each
Salt +Pepper
Tabasco to taste

Heat the O-meal following the instructions, cut meat into small pieces and add to hash-brown mix once heated. Wrap in a tortilla and splash with Tabasco to taste. The OMeal range are retort pouch meals new to the New Zealand market...they are available at Hunting and Fishing stores. They have a flame-less ration heater included and can be warmed and eaten right from the bag. There are a variety of entrees but the one I like best is the hash-brown potatoes. 

Breakfast beans: 

Beans are a hearty breakfast or dinner meal....

Recipe: 1-2 people
1 pkt Absolute Wilderness freeze dried beans or small tin baked beans
2T Hormal bacon bits or 2 rashers bacon cut into small pieces and fried
1T dried onion flakes
1T brown sugar
1/8t ground mustard powder
1-2 McDonald's Ketchup sachets or tomato sauce of your choosing
1t Worcestershire sauce
1-2 flour Tortillas per person
Salt/pepper to taste

This is basically a stove top version of BBQ Baked Beans. At home place all of the dried ingredients in the packet of beans and reseal or place in a sandwich size zip lock bag. Worcestershire sauce can be carried separately, I reuse those small fish shaped measures you get with sushi. To prepare; add all dry and wet ingredients to the recommended amount of hot water on the bean packet. If using tinned beans add 1/4 cup of water. Stir well and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Place aside for 5 minutes to fully hydrate and then eat with the tortillas. 

Lunch/Dinner meals for tramping trips

I usually eat crackers or wraps with peanut butter/cured meat/tuna/smoked chicken/pate and cheese for lunch but I occasionally break out the cooker and whip up a hot meal.

My usual lunch...wraps/crackers with pate and a drink...

 I would usually only do this on cold wet days and if I had some cover like a handy hut, shelter, tree or similar.You usually find cooking shelters on the Great Walks and private walkways but a small tarp will suffice to keep you dry if you plan to cook lunch. I have a 1.5x1.5 tarp just for this purpose...Karen and I took it to Rakuira as I was expecting some wet lunch breaks.

Preparing to cook a hot lunch on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track

....Dutch Curry Soup and Butter Chicken Curry for lunch....

Any of the following recipes can be eaten as either lunch or dinner meals., I would pair these with a pre-meal soup (see information below) for a hearty and satisfying meal. 

Beef Chow Mein:

Easy mince chow mein......

Recipe: 2 person
1 cup freeze dried mince
1T dehydrate onions flakes
1 pkt 2 minute noodles
1 cup sliced cabbage or 1/2 cup dehydrated cabbage
1 cup freeze-dried mixed vegetables (carrot/peas/corn/green beans)
1/2 pkt Maggi Mince Chow Mein base
1/2t salt
Salt/Pepper/Soya Sauce to taste

Place all the dry ingredients in a sandwich zip lock bag. Carry sliced cabbage separately if fresh. In a pot boil 2 cups hot water and add dried ingredients then simmer for 3 minutes. Add sliced cabbage to pot and simmer additional 2 minutes. Take from heat and leave for 5 minutes before eating. Add soya sauce as required..I use those small fish shaped measures you get with sushi.

Beef & noodle curry:

Backcountry Beef Curry...better with noodles added!!!

Recipe: One person
1 serve pkt of Backcountry Classic Beef Curry
1 pkt Oriental flavor 2 minute noodles
Soya Sauce to taste
Salt/pepper to taste

Prepare the Backcountry Beef Curry as per instructions. Cook the 2 minute noodles as per instructions, drain excess water and combine in the pot with Beef Curry. Add soya sauce as required. A light, quick and tasty meal for one person...the Beef Curry is much better with the noodles added.



Cous Cous & Tuna Salad:

Recipe: One person

1/2 cup instant cous-cous per person
1/4 cup mixed freeze dried vegetables
1 crumbled chicken stock cube
1/2t dried garlic granules
1/2t dried parsley
1T chopped sun dried tomatoes
1T chopped olives
A handful of salted peanuts/cashews/almonds
1T olive oil
Salt to taste
1 pkt Sealord Tuna, Lemon, sesame and ginger or Kaffir lime and coconut

Place all dried ingredients in a zip-lock bag. Pre-chop the olives/sun-dried tomatoes and place in a small zip-lock bag. To prepare add hot water to dried ingredients and let sit for 5 minutes to hydrate, add the olive oil and fluff cous-cous. Add the nuts, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and tuna. Mix well then eat. For a North African taste finely chop some apricots/dates/prunes and mix into the meal.

Loaded Mac n' Cheese:

A tramping food icon...Loaded Mac 'n Cheese!!!

Recipe: One person

2 pkt Kraft/Begg 3 minute Mac 'n Cheese (for 2 people use a box of Diamond Macaroni Cheese)
1T dried onion flakes
1/4t garlic granules
1/4 cup freeze dried mixed vegetables (optional)
1/4t curry powder (optional)
1 Baby Bell cheese cut into small pieces or 1/4 cup grated cheese
1/4 cup cubed salami/luncheon/smoked chicken
Salt/Pepper to taste

Mac 'n Cheese is a classic trampers meal. Place the packets of Mac n' Cheese in a sandwich sized zip lock bag, place the other dried ingredients in a small zip-lock bag, carry meat and cheese separately. To prepare: add hot water to  vegetables to hydrate and leave for 10 minutes. Prepare Mac 'n Cheese by boiling macaroni until al-dente, drain excess water and add cheese powder sachet. Combine with meat, grated cheese and vegetables and enjoy.

Asian Style Chicken Lhaksa:

Any commercial curry paste can be adapted into a tramping meal...

Recipe: One person

1 cup rice noodles (Vermicelli)
1/4 cup dehydrated beans (or dehydrated mixed vegetables)
1T dried coconut milk powder
2T Asian Home Gourmet Singapore Laksa paste
1/2 chicken stock cube, crumbled
1/2t dried coriander
1/4t ginger powder
1/4t garlic granules
1/4 cup cubed smoked chicken or small tin of chicken
Salt/pepper to taste

Place all dried ingredients into a zip lock bag, except noodles which have their own bag. To prepare: soak noodles in warm water to soften, drain after 3 minutes. Cube chicken. Add dried ingredients to one cup hot water and simmer for 3 minutes stirring frequently. Add cubed chicken and noodles once vegetables are soft and enjoy.

(Lhaksa or Laksa....the term is interchangeable....)

Trail Thanksgiving Dinner:

On trail Thanksgiving dinner...beautiful!!!

Recipe:One person

1/2 cup flavored stuffing mixture (Sage is good...)
1/2 cup dried potato flakes
1T dried onion flakes
1/4 cup dehydrated mixed vegetables (optional)
1T Craisins (optional)
1/2t garlic granules
2-3T gravy powder
1T olive oil
A small tin of chicken or 1/2 cup cubed smoked chicken breast

Place the stuffing mix, potato flakes and gravy in a sandwich size zip lock bag. Place all the dried vegetables into a second small zip-lock bag. To prepare add hot water to the second bag and let the vegetables sit 10 minutes then drain. Just cover the potato/stuffing mix with very hot water and stir well. Leave for a couple of minutes then add the oil, vegetables & chicken and stir again. Can be eaten from the bag. 

Herbed Tomato Rice

Recipe: One person

1 Cup instant rice (freeze dried rice or a bag of pre-cooked rice)

1/4 Cup freeze dried corn or mixed vegetables

1/4 Cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

1T dried onion flakes

1 pkt tomato flavor Cup-O-Soup

1/2 beef stock cube

1t garlic granules

1/4t dried oregano

1T olive oil

1/4 Cup grated cheese (optional)
1/4 Cup cubed salami/luncheon/bacon etc. (optional)

Salt/pepper to taste

Pack the rice, sun dried tomatoes and other dried ingredients into a zip lock bag. To prepare: Add dry ingredients to 1& 1/2 Cups boiling water and simmer for 2-3 minute.  Add the oil, stir well and then let rest for 5 minutes to fully hydrate. Sprinkle over cheese and enjoy. Add some cubed bacon bits/salami/luncheon etc. for protein. 

A special note about soup...

I love soup as a appetizer before dinner or with my lunch on a cold day if I have time and water available. I usually use instant Cup-O-Soup varieties but I will also take packets of simmer soup as well.

Continental and Maggi are the instant Cup-O-Soup leaders in New Zealand with a wide range of flavors to choose from. 

Continental Cup-0-Soup...Spicy Asian Laksa....

A tasty Cup-O-Soup at Whawharangi Hut on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track

There are a number of dried packet soups from Knorr, Maggi and Continental which you can find at supermarkets and Asian food stores. All have a longer simmer time (3-10 minutes) but are more flavorsome than Cup-O-Soup so this is what I use at dinner time. There is no need to simmer them for 10 minutes as per the instruction. I just simmer these for 3-4 minutes and then leave them covered for another 5 minutes to fully hydrate. It works.....

The Knorr range of simmer soups found in New Zealand

These simmer soups will serve two people and always go down a treat...Chicken Noodle, Crab and Corn, French Onion and Rich Tomato are my favorites.

Continental also sell a range of simmer soups....

I have also taken freeze dried soups from Backcountry Cuisine on tramping trips, these just need hot water added to the packet to reconstitute and are an excellent lunch option. Currently they have three flavors (Chicken and Corn, Mushroom & Potato and Spicy Malaysian Chicken) all of which are delicious. 

Soup for lunch on the Queen Charlotte Track

Keep an eye out for Asian style noodle soup packets the next time you are shopping. My local supermarket has a soup range from Trident which includes a delicious Tom Yum Goong and three other spicy Thai style soups. Asian supermarkets will also have a range of these soups.

Trident Tom Yum soup...light, tasty and easy to prepare

I usually have my soup in the mid afternoon and then wait for a couple of hours before making my main meal. It takes those hunger pangs away when you have finished walking for the day and replaces a lot of the salt you will have lost in your sweat. I really recommend you get in the habit of having a soup with your evening meal when out on trail...

Soup makes a filling appetizer before diner.....

So there are a couple of my most popular tramping meals..feel free to give any of them a go the next time you head out. 

Bon-appetit...

Tramping in the rain...

How to tramp in the wet weather and still have fun...

Despite the current Covid 19 situation we need to start thinking beyond the lock down period and start planning our outdoor adventures for when we are able to tramp once again. This is looking more likely the lower down the Covid levels we move.

Pororari River Track at Punakaiki...possibly my first post lock down tramp!!!

The seasons have continued to roll onward despite our enforced period of isolation....summer has now gone as has most of autumn and we will soon be into winter. With winter comes more wet, cold and stormy conditions.

Heavy rain sets in at Lake Daniell, Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve

With many more of us likely to be out tramping over winter (because we missed the summer season due to Covid 19...) we need to think about how we can tramp in the rain and still enjoy ourselves.

Your attitude to rain counts...

Winter/Spring tramping means getting wet (...and also cold..) so we need to be mentally prepared for the weather we receive. There are many positives to walking in rain...it is cooler than on a hot day, drinking water is easier to find, there are less people/less bugs and I find a forest comes alive during rain in a way it will not when it is dry. Everything is sparkling, clean and fresh after rain.

I really enjoy the look, feel & smell of a wet forest and the squelch of wet ground underfoot. If you have ever tramped in rain you will know what I mean

Wet conditions on the Routeburn Track in December 2019...

There is no getting around the fact that if you are walking in the rain you are going to get wet!! Rain may fall on you from both the sky and from any overhanging trees...if it is raining the track willhave puddles so your feet will also get wet. If you are wearing your wet weather gear perspiration is going to wet you from inside your rain layers.

Wet track conditions on the way to Lake Daniells, Lewis Pass

You have to see the positives in this and maintain a positive attitude to being wet if you want your tramp to be a success. As a person once said "...you can be cold, wet and miserable or you can just be cold and wet..." I would practice being out in the rain by doing some short walks in rain close to home...get to see what it feels like to be out in rain and that it can be a positive experience.

It may be wet but it is also beautiful...

What you have to do is adapt to the wetness and try to minimise its impact on the enjoyment of your tramping trip.

Tramping clothing for wet conditions

Tramping in the rain requires specific clothing....rain layers, gaiters and extra warm clothing...you will need all of these if you want to be comfortable while walking in cold and wet weather.

Walking in the rain on the Lakehead Track, Nelson Lakes NP

There are some things you should never wear in rain...jeans, linen/cotton t-shirts and cotton socks. All of these take a long time to dry and can sap heat from your body as they dry. Wearing wet cotton clothing can potentially cause chaffing, chills, cold strain injuries and possibly hypothermia in extreme cases.

Jeans are not recommended for tramping...

I usually tramp in shorts with knee length gaiters so most of my body is covered...only my knees are exposed. This is a personal preference as I find pants too constricting when I am out in the backcountry. If you must wear pants make sure they are a quick drying, durable synthetic type preferably with zip off legs. These can often be cleaned and dried overnight ready for the next days travel.

...wear shorts or synthetic hiking pants instead!!!

Jon tramps in shorts, a synthetic shirt and long gaiters...

It is essential (especially in wet New Zealand conditions) that you have a sturdy, fit for purpose 2.5-3 layer rain jacket with an adjustable peaked hood and rain proof zips. The large hood is large enough to go over a hat or head covering. Rain proof zips stop water ingress in heavy rain and opening them allows you to regulate your body temperature. Try to find a jacket with a waterproof flap over any zips for added protection.

Stony Creek jacket...waterproof zip and a rain flap...

The jacket should be slightly loose to allow mid layers to be worn under it and to allow a degree of air flow. I prefer a classic Kiwi style down to the waist model to ensure any rain runs off the end of my lower garments. 

My wet weather gear: long  jacket, wet weather pants and Goretex mittens

I normally tramp in shorts but wind+rain is your enemy when dressed like this. A stiff breeze will quickly cool you to a dangerous level if you do not cover your legs in wet windy weather which is common on ridges and at higher elevations. If you are tramping along ridge-lines or on the tops it is essential that you carry a pair of wet weather trousers. They help to limit wind caused heat loss through your legs.

Rain pants are also useful if you are in a wide open valley (think South Island tussock covered-i.e the St James/Waimakiriri/Godley/Ahuriri/Greenstone etc.) with little vegetation as they form natural conduits for strong wind.  

Wet and windy conditions in the Tararua Ranges....

Make sure they are durable..I have literally had a pair of cheap over-trousers blown to shreds by strong winds when out tramping on the tops...

The remains of my wet weather pants after stormy tops travel...munted!!!

If you are spending most of your time in the bush or on forested valley floors you can normally go without rain trousers...wind is not such a factor here. I would still use a commercial rain kilt or modified rubbish bag kilt to keep the shorts dry

Mixed group of trampers wearing various rain gear....

Your feet will get wet from rain running down your legs and from the wet track. Boots are better than shoes in rain and a pair of gaiters can assist with keeping your feet dry. Make sure you have clean, dry socks to put on once you reach your destination and reserve them for this purpose only. Be prepared to have wet feet and plan accordingly.

Boots & gaiters are excellent in wet, muddy conditions...

Make sure you always carry your wet weather gear whenever you go tramping because our weather can dramatically change in just a few hours. It may increase the weight of your pack but it can easily be the difference between life and death. 

Other gear you will need to tramp in the rain

There is some other gear you need for tramping in the rain...some is used to keep you dry and some is to keep your gear dry. Here is a list of rain equipment I carry;

Good wet weather gear...both jacket and over trousers

Knee length gaiters to stop water running into your footwear

Polypropylene gloves to keep my hands warm

Gortex over-mittens to keep my gloved hands dry

A water proof map cover...I use a ziplock bag

A water proof pack cover and a plastic pack liner

A separate waterproof cover for your sleeping bag

A standard truckers/baller cap

A ball cap keeps rain off you face and provides sun protection....

It is important to keep the contents of your pack dry so put a plastic liner bag inside your pack and use a pack cover to minimise water getting inside. Your pack contents are your lifeline...keep them dry at all times. It is especially important to protect your sleeping bag...wrap it in its own plastic bag or keep it in a waterproof cover. Make sure you have a change of clothes if you are on an overnight trip. It is warmer and more comfortable to have something dry to wear at the end of a wet day.

A plastic pack liner will keep your gear dry...

You will need to read your map so place it in some form of waterproof cover so it can still be used in the rain. It can also be useful to carry a waterproof pack cover...commercial version or a plastic rubbish bag can suffice if it is well secured. While they will not keep your pack completely dry they do decrease the amount of rain water your pack will absorb.

Why carry an extra kilo of rain soaked pack if you do not need to?

...and a pack cover will help keep your pack drier....

A baseball cap is really useful in rain...it keeps the rain out of your eyes with its wide brim and keeps the wide hood of your jacket from falling over your eyes. If it is raining but warm a wide brim hat is better as you will probably want your hood down for better ventilation. 

Check the weather before you go

This really needs little explanation...always check the weather conditions before you go out on any walk/tramp/MTB ride. There are many sites and places to find up to date weather information for your intended tramping route...my go to is Met Service for both general and the Ventusky website more specific information on wind , rain and snow.

The Met Service web-page is your best place for weather information...

Ventusky is awesome for in depth weather predictions...

During late Autumn to early Spring it is fine to head outdoors in fine and moderate weather conditions but you need to know if any severe weather is expected in your intended location. Because of our temperate oceanic weather patterns we can have extreme cold/wet/windy conditions right through the year.

Even with the best skills and gear no-one should be attempting a tramp in extreme weather...it is just too dangerous. The margin between success and failure is knife thin when bad weather threatens. Save yourself, your family and SAR a lot of grief by only tramping to your skill limits over the winter months. 

Early summer snow fall in the central South Island

Ensure that you know the expected weather conditions before you leave home!!!

Regulate your body temperature

Just because it is raining does not mean that you must stay indoors...you simply need to wear the right clothing layers...especially a good breathable rain shell. These are always one of the most expensive items a tramper requires and usually come in one of a variety of technical synthetic materials.

Goretex is one of many three layer materials...

The various layers in a breathable material....this is Gortex

Remember that no material made to stop you getting wet is completely breathable...condensation will build up making you wet from the inside. Even with fantastic breathable fabrics like Goretex, Omni Dry and E-Vent you are still going to get hot if you are exerting yourself...walking up hills, walking long distances or if you are carrying a heavy load...

Full wet weather gear on a rainy tramp on Te Ara Pataka, Banks Peninsula

To minimise overheating while wearing a rain jacket you need to pay close attention to your layering..thinner moisture absorbing base layers with a thin insulating layer only if it is very cold. This is topped by your wet weather or shell layer. Take layers on and off as required to regulate body temperature, too cold- add a layer...too hot- take a layer off.. Open zips at the collar, front, sleeves and arm pits if you have them to vent heat...or completely remove the rain layer if possible.

Give that body heat a means of escape....

Open zips and hood down for best ventilation...

Hydrate well and make sure you are eating food to both maintain energy and keep your body producing heat. It is especially important to keep drinking when you are walking in the rain as the natural inclination is to drink less. I have a drink every time I stop...this soon becomes a unconscious habit.

Rest stop on the Rakuira Track with intermittent drizzle...

Make sure you still have short regular breaks to rest your body but limit the amount of time at a halt to minimise getting too cold. Take shelter under trees, caves or a man made structure while resting if you can. 

Hypothermia: the silent killer!!!

Hypothermia is one of the most dangerous health concerns when tramping...it is an over cooling of the body's core temperature which can lead to lethargy, irrational thought patterns, physical collapse and ultimately death. It is not as prevalent as it used to be due to advances in tramping clothing BUT there are still several deaths a year from hypothermia.

Hypothermia is a silent killer here in New Zealand...

It can happen to anyone..I have personally had very mild hypothermia a couple of times over the years...you often don't realise you have hypothermia when it is happening to you. This is because one of the symptoms is dis-associative behavior i.e. you are acting out of character but do not understand that you are.

Cold, wet and windy conditions contribute to hypothermia...

On my recent tramp on the Routeburn Track last December we had several people in the mid stages of hypothermia at Howdon Hut. It was perfect weather for it...cold, windy, heavy rain and people woefully ill prepared to be out in those conditions.

Awful weather on the Routeburn Track in December 2019...

Luckily some of us old timer trampers recognized the symptoms and took action to assist the people affected. I had my PLB out at one stage as one woman was looking really unwell but she recovered with warm clothes, some food and a couple of hours of rest.

Wet conditions I encountered in the Greenstone Valley in December 2019

You need to know the signs of hypothermia and how to deal with it effectively both for your sake and for those around you.  There is some information about hypothermia in every Hut Intentions book...this is a good start but read some general tramping manuals or books on outdoor medicine, look for authoritative online information and keep yourself and your tramping buddies safe.  

Terrain dangers in the rain

There are some specific terrain features to watch in wet conditions these are camping locations, river crossings, slip hazards and avalanches.

Camp selection: Do not ever camp in a slot canyon, arroyo, wadi or steep narrow ravine. All of these are susceptible to flash flooding which can be extremely dangerous. It may not be raining where you are but 10 kilometers away it is teeming down and a flood can swiftly and easily over whelm you. I would also never camp close to a river unless I was on a raised bank or well above the water. 

Narrow canyons are dangerous places in rain....flash floods can occur!!!

River crossings: Crossing a river is dangerous at the best of times but especially dangerous in wet condition's. It doesn't take much for a river to flood especially here in New Zealand. Do not attempt to cross a flooded river...if it is running faster than walking pace, cloudy, has bow waves in front of rocks, you cannot see the bottom or is carrying debris DO NOT ENTER IT!!! Find shelter and wait for it to subside. 

A flooded and dangerous Alfred River, Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve

Slip hazards: Hillsides are prone to slippage in heavy rain...water permeates the top soil and loosens the bond between it and the sub strata. Slips can be small or large but all of them are dangerous. A good example are the recent slips in Fiordland as a result of heavy rain in February 2020. Several tracks were destroyed by slips/floods and Howdon Hut was damaged by a large slip. The government have recently allocated $13 million to fix the damage in the area...

There is not much you can do about new slips but stay well clear of any established slip zone in heavy rain as the water can dislodge loose material.  

Howdon Hut, Fiordland...hit by a massive slip in February 2020

Avalanches: Avalanches are more likely to occur in heavy rain as the water softens the snow pack and lubricates its forward motion. Stay clear of known avalanche zones during and after heavy rain and be especially careful if crossing avalanche chutes when it is raining.  

Take care around avalanche zones after rain and then snow....

Do not enter any area known for avalanches if heavy rain has been followed by heavy snow as the avalanche risk will be much higher.

Hut/Tent life in the wet

Under the Current Covid 19 Level 2 rules all of the DOC huts are restricted to 10 people or less regardless of their size. This means you are going to be doing a lot of tenting trips for the foreseeable future. Rain can making tenting challenging but it is still totally possible...you simply need to practice your camping skills so that if you have to spend time in a tent you will still be comfortable. 

Inside my tent on the Queen Charlotte Track in 2016

Practice so you can quickly erect your tent under all weather condition's...I set mine up every so often to make sure I am familiar with the process. Look for a good tent site on either a slight mound or gently sloping ground for best drainage. Do not set a tent in a natural bowl or depression as this will often fill with water in heavy rain.

A decent tent site....slightly sloping, protected from wind and an absence of overhead dangers...

Always check for over head dangers...so called "widow makers" ...loose branches that may fall on your tent in windy conditions. These may dislodge in the night and injure you. Try to pick a location with protection from the wind perhaps behind a handy boulder, earth berm or group of bushes. 

Another good tent site, Bay of Many Coves, Queen Charlotte Track

If you are lucky you will have a cooking shelter at your campsite...these are great as they stop you from getting cold and wet while preparing meals. You will often find this type of shelter on DOC Great Walks, private trails and at commercial campgrounds.

Camp shelters make meal preparation more pleasant...Moari Bay campsite, Rakuira

If you are buying a new tent look for one that can be pitched outer first...the tent fly is pitched and then you attach the inner. These types will minimise how wet your inner tent gets during erection but always pack a sponge or bandanna to wipe up any wet patches after you have pitched your tent. Try to buy a tent with a large vestibule so you can leave all your wet gear outside...this will minimise condensation inside.

Store wet gear in the tent vestibule.....

Huts are much nicer in rain as you are indoors and often have a fire to dry your gear and warm yourself. Good etiquette is to leave all wet gear outside- boots, gaiters, pack covers and rain wear. Do not leave it outside in Kea country as they love to shred all of these things. Make space for extra people in the hut if it is raining, use firewood sparingly and if possible replace all the firewood you use so the next people have dry wood when they arrive. 

My wet gear in the veranda of Lakehead Hut, Nelson Lakes NP

Nothing like a dry, warm hut.....a good book, fire ablaze and brew to hand!!!

Finally I would just like to reiterate that having a positive attitude can make all the difference to your experience. Hey...it might not be primo conditions for tramping BUT you could always be at work.

Remember ANY day tramping is better than sitting at your desk for 8 hours.....