Happy Trekking and Happy New Year! Prepping for the first Great Walk

Waitakere Reservoir
Waitakere Reservoir
Foot Bridge in Cascade Kauri
Foot Bridge in Cascade Kauri
Sky Tower at New Years 2016
Sky Tower at New Years 2016

New Zealand is known for many wonderful hikes that are referred to as “walks” or “tramping”, hundreds of them.  Nine of them are labeled as “Great Walks”.  Our intention is to do four of them with each being four days, three nights.  We are staying in “huts” each night that house up to 40 trekkers.  We must carry and prepare all our own food.  We will be “showerless” for four days!  I can’t remember the last time I went more than a day without a shower.  The first of these is 44 km (26.4m) and begins on the North Island at Lake Waikaremoana.  The first day is the most strenuous, 8.8 km, about five hours planned to Puketapu Trig, elevation 1180 meters (or about 3900 feet).

Hiking the Montana Heritage Trail
Hiking the Montana Heritage Trail
Waitakere Dam
Waitakere Dam

On Sunday we did a little prep, an 8k hike at Cascade Kauri back in the beautiful Waitakere Ranges.  Much better on the knees and back with the trekking poles.  We didn’t have nearly the weight in our daypacks that we will have in our 65 litre backpacks.  We followed the Montana Heritage Trail which has the largest stand of mature Kauri trees in the Auckland area.  Kauri trees are among the most ancient trees in the world.  One tree in the area has a girth of nearly 23 feet!  The oldest tree in New Zealand is estimated to be between 1200 and 2000 years old.

Food for Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk
Food for Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

IMG_1725We did our meal planning for the trip.  I think the food alone will weigh over ten pounds!  Our Jetboil will be our stove we will carry for cooking the dinners. We also did the gear planning…the final pack in a few days will determine if it all fits!

The treks to follow, assuming all goes well at Lake Waikaremoana are:

Tongariro Northern Circuit (North Island)

Milford Track (South Island)

Routeburn Track (South Island)

Happy trekking and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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