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- Floyd Pond: A New Tararua Lake (9)
Joe Nawalaniec (29 November, 2019): Floyd the spoodle and I headed back in...
- Daywalk: The Kapakapanui Triangle (5)
Mike McGavin (26 July, 2019): Hi Sam. I haven’t been there for some...
Sam (25 July, 2019): Hello! Is there much of a view of Kapiti Island from...
- Daywalk: Walking the length of the Kaiwharawhara Stream (5)
Dod (29 June, 2019): I once managed to get to a portion you missed by...
- A Brief Question: Public Land Access Rights and DoC (4)
Alison Giblin (27 March, 2019): Can we apply for a Reserve to be made a...
- Trip: Kiwi Saddle, Studholme Saddle, Mackintosh Hut (2)
Mike McGavin (7 March, 2019): Hi Siena. I’m afraid I can’t help...
Siena (7 March, 2019): Hi, where exactly is the swimming hole from...
- Trip: Dawson Falls, Waiaua Gorge and Lake Dive Loop (2)
Mike McGavin (3 February, 2019): Hi Lou. I’ve no idea I’m...
Lou (3 February, 2019): Hi we spent today up Kahui Track, I was wondering if...
- Daywalk: Pouakai Hut from Mangorei Road (3)
Colleen (5 January, 2019): The boardwalks are there to stop people damaging...
- A sad Tararua tale of the usual sorts of reasons (2)
Mike McGavin (10 July, 2018): Hi Gazza. Thanks for the thoughts. Yes the web...
Gazza (10 July, 2018): In some ways I think this highlights the benefits of...
- Thoughts on another Tararua rescue (3)
Gazza (9 April, 2018): Yeah, I think we have all been there. I did a trip as...
Mike McGavin (8 April, 2018): Hi @Gazza. Yeah, the media lens is often...
Gazza (3 April, 2018): The part of the story I wish was highlighted a bit...
- The Commodification of Wild Places (1)
Wayne (1 January, 2018): What he said
- The absurdity of Ruataniwha (1)
A J Wilson (7 July, 2017): It also was a private scheme and the swap...
- Daywalk: Climbing Mount Taranaki from North Egmont (17)
Chris (25 April, 2017): Kia ora Mike, Thanks for your account of this...
- High Misadventure by Paul Hersey (my thoughts) (28)
William Bennett (11 April, 2017): Mike McGavin, thanks for Paul Herseys...
- Floyd Pond: A New Tararua Lake (9)
Tag Archives: review
Protecting Paradise, by Dave Hansford (my thoughts)
Before I launch into this, I’ll insert a word for one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen on how the world’s going, and the impact we’ve had on it. Less than a week before his death in May 2001, … Continue reading
Posted in reviews
Tagged book, department of conservation, government policies, pest control, review
1 Comment
Tramping – A New Zealand History, by Shaun Barnett and Chris Maclean (my thoughts)
Until now there’s been a major omission in publications about tramping. So far all we’ve seen are route guides, narratives or yarns, tourism guides, diaries, local histories, blogs and other websites, biographies and autobiographies, newspaper articles, safety manuals, fiction, club … Continue reading
Safety In The Mountains (review)
I’ve never read a copy of Safety in the Mountains until now. It’s a booklet, first published in 1937 by Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC), to collect important points of safety for exploring the back-country, and designed as a carry-with-you reference … Continue reading
Rivers and Ropes and Mutual Support
I’ve written a little about river crossing techniques in the past, and I’m about to do so again. Before continuing, I’d like to stress that this post is not meant to be instructional in any way, so much as commenting … Continue reading
Posted in musing
Tagged federated mountain clubs, mountain safety council, musing, review, rivers
8 Comments
NZMS 260 and 262: Our Metric Topographical Heritage, edited by Graeme Jupp (review)
Topographic maps worldwide often appear utilitarian, if not a little boring graphically. By comparison the new 260s were stylish and modern without losing any utility. They were undoubtedly among the best looking topographic maps in the world. —David Balm, In … Continue reading
Huts: Untold stories from back-country New Zealand, by Mark Pickering (review)
This is the second book I’ve read by Mark Pickering, the first having been A Tramper’s Journey, which I liked (the review is here). He’s written many books, and this is a topic that Mark Pickering is especially suited to, … Continue reading
Posted in reviews
Tagged book, department of conservation, federated mountain clubs, huts, musing, review, tararua tramping club
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Spooky Friday
It’s lacking in plot, and provides no explanation of this “Fred” person who’s suddenly been inflicted upon the protagonist. I don’t rate the narrative aspect of this novel highly. On the other hand, consider the correct use of full stops, … Continue reading
A Trampers Journey by Mark Pickering (my notes)
Several years ago I picked up this book by Mark Pickering titled A Tramper’s Journey, subtitled Stories from the back country of New Zealand, and noticed the entire opening section was all about the author’s 1970s experience in Tongue & … Continue reading