By Andy Thompson, Technical Advisor Recreation, Christchurch
As a passionate hunter I love exploring our backcountry—so much country, so little time!
Hunting tahr up the mighty Rakaia River
The backcountry—its huts and tracks—are our inheritance.
For me, the places where I first took my kids on an overnight tramp, and where they shot their first deer or chamois, are ingrained into my character and our family’s folklore. It’s a legacy I want my grandkids and their grandkids to have.
A day walk with the family at the bottom on the Kepler Track
I’m also one of the lucky DOC staff working with the New Zealand Outdoor Recreation Consortium, who are keen to look after and maintain New Zealand’s backcountry facilities.
The consortium is a partnership between the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association and Trail Fund NZ.
The great wee Reischek Hut in Canterbury
My heroes are the people that go on major missions, who use these places and then choose, in their spare time, to put something back.
Whānau and friends on the Hollyford Track
This isn’t about DOC shedding its responsibilities to look after backcountry huts, this is about doing more and looking after the places where many of us spend our holidays and weekends and enrich our lives.
One of my favourite places and backcountry huts—Stanley Vale in the St James Conservation Area
So, if you’re a tramper, hunter, mountain biker, 4WDer, horse rider, caver, kayaker, mountaineer or more, and want to find out what we’re up to come check out the New Zealand Outdoor Recreation Consortium website.
Moss Thompson looks out over the Mt Sommers Walkway
Good stuff Andy. Great pic of Stanley Vale. So many wonderful places…
Awesome stuff Andy! The backcountry truly is a treasure that we need to look after and hand on to the next generation. Great news about the consortium working towards more maintenance and enhancements to our backcountry gems. Good job!
Your comments are appreicated Derek. We are doing the easy bit and in a way responding to a need that already exists. It is the recreation groups who are keen to keep the charater of the backcountry and look after their favourite spots that are doing the awesome stuff!
My goodness, that country looks gorgeous.
Thanks Tad. It is! All pictures are from the South Island of New Zaland