New Zealands many tracks have enabled people to experience and see an environment that is so unique, that many return again and again. The vast numbers of national parks, forest parks, reserves, domains as well as private land have opened New Zealand up for all varieties of recreation. These lands however, are fragile and unspoilt and have a very limited ability to withstand strangers, therefore one must take only photographs and leave only footprints.
Extremely careful planning by those who utilise the environment on offer can prevent many problems that the unprepared are exposed to. The unexpected can in itself be a danger, but also a challenge for those who meet it. It is always wise to travel with an experienced tramper so that if a situation does arise, it can be quickly overcome. An experienced tramper will have obtained special skills during their lifetime, such as knowledge of the bush, climate and weather as well as first aid and survival skills.
Taking the appropriate gear on a tramp is a major factor in your survival as well as comfort. Taking everything possible will almost ensure your survival, but certainly would not be either practical or comfortable. Having the minimum, but right equipment to combat the harsh and changable conditions of the New Zealand bush is a must. Experience is the key for knowing what to take, and what you can leave behind, that is why it is wise to tramp with someone experienced when you are just learning. A tramp that starts off on a fine and sunny morning can finish in icy cold, low visibility conditions with you struggling to the next hut.
A description of the more important gear is given below, to help you enjoy your trip:
Backpack:
This is probably the most important piece of your equipment. It allows you to carry those bumper loads comfortably, as well as keeping your gear dry and clean.
Internal frame packs rather than external frame packs are most popular with trampers these days, as they are easy to fit and are probably the most comfortable. When purchasing a pack, get proper advice from your local store with regards to fitting it to you, what conditions you need it for, and the period of time you are most likely to tramp (for size of pack). For longer tramps make sure your pack has a hip belt, padded shoulder straps, padding in the lumber area and a chest strap. Avoid taking glorified day packs on longer tramps as they are uncomfortable and not suited for the situation.
All packs should be equipped with an internal pack liner made of plastic or an external pack cover. This will ensure your gear is kept dry in the most extreme conditions.
Boots:
Your boots are the second most important thing next to your pack. They will ensure your feet are looked after, kept warm and hopefully reasonably dry.
A light pair of boots with suede uppers and a sturdy sole are good for carrying a light load on a short distance walk covering easy terrain. These types of boot are known as day walking boots, and are not suitable for long, rugged tramps or for carrying heavy loads. In these situations, your feet will become sore and the boots will only last a short time before they disintegrate.
The best bet for carrying large loads, or covering rugged terrain or alpine conditions is to spend a little more money and buy a better pair of boots with a stiff leather upper, ankle protection and a durable sole. Examples of conditions when this type of boot would be necessary would be when traversing scree slopes, walking in river beds or over sharp rocky outcrops.
A wise choice of many trampers is to pack a second pair of shoes to wear around your campsite at the end of a long day. Most trampers either choose a pair of sandshoes of sandles. Wearing these around at the end of the day relaxes your feet, and relieves the pressure of wearing boots all day. It also allows your boots to air, and perhaps dry out if they happened to get wet.
Clothing:
Multiple layers of thin clothing are more effective for trapping warm air against the skin than a few thick layers. Normally you will have four layers of clothing, underwear, casual layer, insulating layer and shell layer.
Underwear, the layer of clothing next to the skin should consist of long sleve or long leg polypropylene garments that insulate but absorb perspiation and wick it away from the skin. These garments should be tight fitting, but should not restrict your bodies movement. The long sleves and long legs will also help keep the biting insects away from your skin.
The casual layer should consist light loose fitting garments such as a polo or other collared shirt and shorts. In very warm conditions this layer may be warn as the outside layer perhaps with a windproof jacket.
The insulating layer provides additional warmth in cold conditions and should consist of a light fleecy jacket or pullover. Wool should try to be avoided because if it gets wet it becomes heavy and is also slow to dry. In warmer conditions this layer should be removed to avoid overheating.
The shell layer is your protection against the wind, rain and snow. It should consist of a windproof jacket for cold but dry days as well as waterproof jacket and overpants for those wet days. The shell layer should be made of a breathable fabric to allow ventilation so sweating can be kept to a minimum, but this is not vital.
Other vital items of clothing you need to pack are a sunhat, woollen hat, fingered and fingerless gloves and plenty of pairs of woolen socks.
Due to the variation of the New Zealand climate, you will need to remove and add layers of the above clothing to accomodate current weather conditions as well as your own body temperature.
Sleeping Bag:
For longer trips, whether you are intending to stay in a hut, or sleep in a tent, you will need a sleeping bag to keep you warm. It should be made of a lightweight material that compresses well to save space in your backpack. Natural down filling is considered to be the best fill for sleeping bags as it breaths, but it is more expensive than the bulkier synthetic fillings.
Tent:
If planning to stay outside on longer trips, either because there are no huts, or the huts are full, a good quality tent is a must. It will keep you dry during the night, as well as warm in cold conditions. You should purchase a tent that is reasonably roomy, such as an 'A tent', 'tunnel tent' or square 'dome tent'. Try to avoid circular dome tents as the rounded edges are impractical.
Your tent should be made of a lightweight material and contain both a flysheet and a waterproof groundsheet. If you are travelling into windy territory a dome or tunnel tent withstands these conditions better.
Other Equipment:
Important gear you will also need to pack on your trip other than the above is:
Common sense and precautionary measures while out in the New Zealand bush will minimise the risk of accidents occuring or you getting lost, and if a survival situation does arise you will live through it.
Before you set out into the bush, you should firstly make all the proper preparations for your trip, such as learning about the area, learning bushcraft and first aid skills, notifying someone of your intentions etc. You should be prepared to survive by yourself in case you become separated from your group. Always carry adequate food, shelter and clothing, as well as navigational equipment and your survival kit. Even though an emergency situation in the New Zealand bush is normally a relatively short term affair because of the brilliant search and rescue system in New Zealand, there are always cases where weather may hamper searches and you may have to survive that little bit longer.
Firstly, if you become separated from your group, or lose your way in the bush, DO NOT PANIC. If possible, backtrack to where you last knew where you were, or lost your group marking your route as you go. If this is not a viable option, find a place to shelter and build a fire. A place of shelter away from extreme conditions is vital, as you will only live for about three hours without it.
A naturally made shelter is the best idea. Such shelters like a fallen over tree stump, a cave, or a large hollow in the ground are the best as they can be transformed into good shelter with minimum effort. If however no natural shelter is available, you will have to build one. Select a site that is near an obvious track, that also has a good supply of building materials and a nearby water supply. Once you have found a suitable site and built a good shelter, you need to protect yourself from the cold and damp by insulating it. If you have an emergency blanket or closed foam mat, this will do fine. If you don't, you will have to use foliage, leaves and whatever else you can find. Remember, DO NOT wonder aimlessly around in the bush, as this makes it virtually impossible for searchers to find you.
After finding a sheltered campsite, you need to find a nearby source of water. Your body can survive for about three weeks without food, but only about two days without water. Your body need abouts 2.5 litres of water to function properly, even when sitting around doing nothing.
Fast running water will probably be safe to drink, but if possible should always be purified. Other sources of water include digging into moist ground, pools in rocky outcrops and inside cracks and fissures in rock walls. Also water droplets can be collected off plants or rainwater can be caught. Stagnant water must always be purified by adding water purification tablets or by boiling for fifteen minutes.
After having found shelter and a ready supply of water, you need to attract the attention of rescuers. Means of doing this are by placing obvious markers such as arrows or rock cairns to lead rescuers to your shelter. Also, if you hear voices of another party, use your whistle or bang objects together noisily, but if possible avoid shouting as this expends a lot of energy. Keep a smoky fire going by burning green wood, as this helps aircraft in locating you also. Laying out bright objects that you do not need such as parkas, spare clothing is another way to attract attention.
Finally, survival situations, like many other problems are better avoided in the first place. But no matter how carefully you plan your trip things can still go wrong at any time in the bush. You never know when you will need survival techniques, so make sure you are prepared for that occasion.
