Start of a walk around Ruapehu
Since out first ultralight Journey the length of the Kaimais we have never travelled through the wilderness with conventional equipment. Since this trip I have kept wondering if there was perhaps something that we hadn't taken into consideration.
Then one year we decided to do another length of the Kaimias. Leaving Te Rereatukahia in pouring rain we followed the old N/S route which had not been cleared for 25 years. In this way we avoided the Warawara which we reasoned would be flooded.
After many hours of stumbling through soaking forest and driving rain we arrived at the head of the Waitapheta. The hut was now only an hour or so away. However the elements decided otherwise.
The side streams were by now brown tumbling uncrossable torrents.
Now ,late in the day we decided to camp.
We gathered ferns to make our beds soft and set up our little 500gram fly. From our packs we removed the sleeping mats that double as the pack frames. Our sleeping bags were synthetic so would remain warm if they got wet. We cooked a very simple meal and drink using solid fuel and them settled down for a sleep. This was not easy with the river roaring and shaking the river banks.
Next morning we headed out to Linderman Rd which was an all weather Route. We used our little cellphone and were met but our brother in law Clark. Thanks Clark I'm still greatful .
This experience made me think ultralighting might actually be safer than conventional tramping. We had enough gear to survive a very rough 24 hours iin the hills. Most trampers I meet do not carry shelter and rely on huts. This is fine except when you can't reach the hut.
A friend sent me an email about being caught out in the Kaimanawas. We had the best tents money could buy. Unfortunately we left them behind as they were too heavy.
Taharoa saddle
The idea behind journeys is to show what trips are possible with ultralight gear. Over the years we have tried to do the trips we are interested in with ultralight equipment. Interesting on two of the more challenging trips we met others who were also ultralight.
At the moment I would hesitate to recomend using ultralight in extreme conditions but I feel even in extreme conditions there is an ultralight option.
What I find interesting is that all the possibilities have not yet been explored.