Here at Wilderlife, we’re collating Victoria’s diaries, photos and videos into a digest. Each post spans a section of Te Araroa between major towns and rest days.
Walking with her seven-year-old daughter Emilie, together they are raising funds for Federated Mountain Clubs and telling stories about the mental health benefits of time spent in the wild places of NZ, as well as the importance of protecting those areas for future generations to enjoy.
Stanfield Hut Restoration Project
17 – 21 November 2021
Chopper’s here! And we’re off into the Ruahines to restore Stanfield Hut with our new mate Megan from the Backcountry Trust!
The Queen of Chat kept up the conversation even during the loud and exciting helicopter ride into Stanfield Hut. Thanks to her new mate Owen, she hogged the front seat there and back! Royal treatment, aye?
Check it out – the freshly renovated Stanfield Hut! This little beauty got a mighty fine makeover over the past five days, with a new roof, woodshed, water tank, paint job and we even scrubbed out the loo!
I won’t lie . . . it was bloody hard work and you won’t believe how much rat poop (and rat carcasses) we ripped out of the ceiling, but it was so satisfying to see the hut looking great by the end of it.
We’re stoked to get the opportunity to give back and help fix up this hut, so it can provide shelter and great memories for plenty more generations to come.
Plus we got to spend five awesome days immersed in the Ruahines, hanging out with Megan from the Backcountry Trust and a team of lovely humans (all volunteers like us). We also learned a few new skills along the way.
If there’s a hut near you that needs some love, chat to the Backcountry Trust about it. Better yet, you could get a group of able-bodied mates with a few practical skills and get some funding to fix it up — how cool is that?
Hope you enjoy our mahi when you next visit the hut!
There’s still a bit of work left to do, such as building the new deck, and the team will be back to finish this in December.
Feel free to fill up the woodshed and keep the place clean, so we can all enjoy spending time in this special place.
For more info on the Backcountry Trust and to apply for funding, check out www.backcountrytrust.org.nz.
Victoria and Emilie are walking the Te Araroa over the 21/22 summer season. They are raising funds and telling stories about the mental health benefits of time spent in the wild places of NZ, as well as the importance of protecting those areas for future generations to enjoy. To see all their stories, visit wilderlife.nz/adventures_with_emilie/ and follow them @adventures_with_emilie on Instagram and Facebook.
90% of the funds raised are donated evenly between the Mental Health Foundation and the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Mountain & Forest Charitable Trust. 10% is going towards some of the expenses of walking the trail.
If you’d like to help them out, please donate via their give a little page.
