June 2017 Applied Tramping
What is 'applied tramping?' Esther Pothuis, from Holland, joins the Palmerston North Tramping & Mountaineering Club and discovers a new way of hiking in the Ruahine’s Pohangina River.
What is 'applied tramping?' Esther Pothuis, from Holland, joins the Palmerston North Tramping & Mountaineering Club and discovers a new way of hiking in the Ruahine’s Pohangina River.
Simon Bell travels to Wanaka to become a full-time climber. His family recalls the special time they time spent together and Simon's mission to climb as many Great Peaks as possible.
'It’s always satisfying to make important decisions on a whim, because there can be no accounting for taste, no reason to justify and no explanation to satisfy.' Uncle Jacko reveals which of his trips were decided merely on a whim, as well as how he was talked out of travelling by donkey during his tramping adventures in France.
After speed climbing in Europe, Alastair McDowell is inspired to try it again in New Zealand -- this time traversing the three peaks from the Hooker and returning via the Tasman for a total distance of 53km and 4000m of vertical gain, all in 24 hours.
'How come you don't get bored out there?' When asked by a tramper about how she spends her time, a first time hut warden reflects on her experience living and working along the Old Ghost Road in Kahurangi National Park.
What is your outdoor gear really made of and what toll is it taking on the environment? Sash Nukada, Programme Leader of Sustainability and Outdoor Education, decides to stop pointing the finger elsewhere and examine the potential negative impact of his outdoor gear. In an honest and thorough look at materials, brands, and new versus used gear, he offers a guide on how best to minimise your footprint and protect the outdoors we love so much.
Funded by the FMC Training Grant, Sue Weller and the Christchurch Over Forties Tramping Club (OFTC) learn outdoor first aid skills to better equip themselves and save lives in the backcountry.
What do you do when a fellow tramper gets an injury? FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Dylan Barker, heads into Kaweka Forest Park with mates and learns firsthand how to face backcountry challenges, as well as how a good crew can make for a great trip.
What is one of the main perks of winter tramping? The sandflies go on holiday. Uncle Jacko discloses tricks for winter tramping, how his down jacket became the first tramping apparel he could wear in town, and in what activity redundancy is key.
FMC Youth Award Grant recipient, Jessica Hydes, embarks on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold qualifying expedition joined by family and friends. She reflects on her five-day mission and how motivation and goal setting plays a key role during her tramp.
What exactly is wind chill and how does it relate to hypothermia? Bob McDavitt reveals how hypothermia is responsible for more deaths than avalanches and skiing in New Zealand, as well as explains its warning signs and what actions to take if someone is experiencing symptoms.
The only true recourse for sandfly bites? According to Uncle Jacko, it's stoicism. In this edition of UJCC, he considers sandfly bites, why he doesn't enjoy solo tramping, and an alternative floor plan to the traditional snowcave.
With support from the FMC Training Grant, once self-proclaimed 'fair-weather paddler,' Sheralee MacDonald, advances her skills and graduates to the role of 'mentor' after completing the PRANZ's intermediate packraft course.
Torrential downpours, breastfeeding breaks, and promises of pizza ... all part of the adventure for this family of four trekking the Old Ghost Road. In Part II of their five-day mission, they meet fellow trampers and improvise in the midst of temper tantrums and changing weather conditions -- creating a family memory that has their daughter already asking to go back!
85km – 5 days – 4 nights – a 4 year old – and an 11 week old?! Sonia Barrish and partner take on family tramping like pros. They embark on a multi-day tramp with their new baby and toddler in tow, sharing many practical tips they learned along the way.
What is the Capstan Equation and how does it apply to rock climbing? In this edition of UJCC, Uncle Jacko gets technical, offering insight into why knots and belay devices work. He also discusses cheap gear and reveals how he decides between buying in-store versus online.
How do you measure the height of a bridge when alone in the backcountry? Uncle Jacko explains how nature provides what we need for mathematics and how according to one calculation, 1.4 kg of chocolate might just be an acceptable amount during a long tramp.
Do you need a resource consent to build a snow-cave? Uncle Jacko finds a flaw in the 'Safety in the Mountains' handbook and gives us the inside scope on battery packs and the best antidote for sandfly bites.
Uncle Jacko talks backcountry meal ideas, the medicinal benefits of swearing, and much more in this edition of his Cookery Corner.
Uncle Jacko emphasises the importance of a good pair of knickers in the backcountry and how winter tramping often seems more alluring whilst in the comforts of an armchair.
What makes you the richest person in the backcountry? When a group of research students' tramp in the Australian bush doesn't go as planned, they learn the importance of not only carrying a first aid kit, but an emergency supply of chocolate for morale.
Uncle Jacko poses a controversial question: which is the best tea to take along tramping? In his column from November 2017, Uncle Jacko reveals his love of Assam tea and emphasises the value of learning from one another in the backcountry.
Uncle Jacko shares one of his joys in life: finding new words and ideas. In this edition of his Cookery Corner, Uncle Jacko passes on the meaning of the Maori word "Whakawhanaungatanga," as well as teaches us about the real value of calories in the backcountry and what's inside "The Dangerous Book for Grown-up Boys."
In this edition of Uncle Jacko’s Cookery Corner (originally featured in the November 2015 FMC Bulletin), Uncle Jacko covers a wide range of topics from DOC's orange track markers to the 421 different Scottish words for snow.