NZAC alpine navigation course, Holdsworth to Kaitoke, Tararua Main Range.
Last week I was at an NZAC alpine navigation course and because I carpooled I decided it was a great opportunity with no vehicle, so instead of driving home I decided take the long walk home via the Tararua Range main ridge using simple compass and map to practice what we’d learnt.
My route was a mixture of stunted beech tree goblin forest and alpine tops with ridge peaks to scramble. Unfortunately I didn’t photograph the really spicy stuff because I was solo and focusing on not suffering the embarrassment of dying.
I didn’t get shots of the last day. Just after I got to my final hut some regional council trappers turned up and their leader had dislocated his shoulder from a nasty fall. I spent that night getting him comfy and helping relocate his shoulder with SAR doctors’ instruction. An SAR team arrived for a chopper evacuation once fog cleared the following day, and then I was in guide mode helping walk out his two trainees he had with him.
All in all a pretty exciting way to get back from a weekend course with the bonus of some unexpected snow on a couple of the mountains.
Ethan Price