Te Araroa Final Gear Review (part 3)

[@robfirmin8388]

Brilliant information. As you said previously, "paying forward" ... of a time when you followed others with your planning etc. Absolutely agreed about Whatsapp group(s) and Facebook. Being mindful of scaremongering, and nonsense postings. In the end, I left the whatsapp group I was in. The nonsense simply got nonsense as time went by. When I first joined I did find it useful but eventually NO! Will you be doing a health, body, and physical review? You touched on these things through your entire TA with your 'updates' which I found really interesting, and reassuring that you were ok. You weren't ignoring the niggles, and you kept us updated on all of the aches, pains, and nuisances you were experiencing. Self care management. And also now - moving forward. I also note you had a Dr's appointment- checkup. I guess you could call it a WOF (Warrant of Fitness). On that particular note (your health progress report), I'd like to thank you for those. I guess it's the nurse in me ... 😉👌

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

lol. I hadn’t thought of doing that, I guess that’s the not nurse in me. 😂. Everything has come right except the two issues that were there before the hikoi. My left shoulder has a torn rotator cuff that certainly wasn’t improved with the number of times I fell. And my right elbow is a mess. Thickened nerves and floating chips. I’m waiting on a specialist appointment for that. Other than that, the knees, feet, and ankle are all good.

[@robfirmin8388]

@@freedom_on_the_trail Kia ora Kurt.

[@janetrussel8778]

Looking forward to your pack review video - my husband has recently bought that one so is keen to see what issues you had with it. Appreciate all the useful info you have taken the time to share so far.

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

Thank you for that. That review comes out this week...I think on Wednesday.

[@robtwizelcleary8344]

Thanks for a great season of vids Kurt. Aside from inspiring future hikers, for myself as a volunteer, it makes it easier to see where work needs done in my region so I can pass it on to the Trust or just do it! 😀 I see your joke is catching...the Gnarly Girls also spreading the love with it 😅

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

Thanks SO much for the work you do!!! Yes, the joke is getting out there...sadly. 😅 I may have overdone that one just a bit. 🙄

[@robtwizelcleary8344]

@freedom_on_the_trail no worries! I'm one of many down here, it's really enjoyable to do. Next stop addressing the pole markers from Telford Camp to the top of the hill. Poor old DOC basically only have 2 Rangers now to do everything south of Princhester Hut to Bluff on ALL tracks so a bit short if time! The trick is to liaise with as many people as you can so you don't walk into to a remote place and find it done 😄 Your joke may become a staple now 😅 I see Uwe is still going and there's still dribs and drabs finishing SOBO every day still, getting 🥶 now tho!

[@GeorgeBeck100]

Very interesting thanks Kurt. Base weight was pretty good but man that extra gear added weight on the way didn't it !

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

Yep. I knew it was but my justification was that I was still carrying less weight than I lost. However, I should have been more careful with the additions.

[@stmattschannel]

8.4 seems pretty ultra light to me Kurt!

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

It does until you add food, water, and consumable items (gas, toiletries, etc.) I read somewhere that ultralight is considered anything under 4.5 kgs. Then lightweight is considered 4.5 to 6.8 kgs. Traditional is considered 6.8 to 13.6 kgs. Those are all for base weights.

[@nathanhedges3491]

Hello was wondering how did you know what times to cross the estuary thanks

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

The TA app has links to tide tables in the areas you have to cross.

[@nathanhedges3491]

@@freedom_on_the_trail thank you

[@HikingRevival]

Hi Kurt, did you subscribe to FarOut or do the in app lifetime purchase? If I purchase the in app TA maps and start noting waypoints of interest will I get updated maps if the TA changes the following season or would I have to purchase again? I have looked at the app information but it’s not clear how it works.

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

I got the app and bought the maps for the TA. They updated constantly...at least the comments, etc. Apparently, trail changes update as well once you buy the maps. I never had to purchase anything else after I bought the TA maps

[@HikingRevival]

@@freedom_on_the_trail thanks, I will purchase and start adding notes, my first one will be about the rats at Careys Hut which a few people have mentioned. Some gave up and pitched their tent to get some sleep 😂. Can you recall if rats were worse than usual there?

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

We heard stories up and down the trail about mice and rats in huts. I only had one issue and that was at Blackbridge Campsite where a rat ate through my food bag to get at my trail mix. (MY fault - I didn't hang the bag in a tree.) Barb had a mouse run across her face in a hut somewhere on the South Island. But, at Carey's Hut...no problems. I think two actions help with these kind of reports: (1) Hang you food bag in a tree or on a hook in the hut, and (2) just because someone reported a mouse or rat problem doesn't mean that you will have the same issue. We had reports about rats, mice, wasps, etc. Never, never did we have any problems anywhere close to what had been reported. I think this was an example of fear-mongering on social media.

[@heathere8066]

Did you use extra guy ropes for n your tent? How many tent pegs did you normally use?

[@freedom_on_the_trail]

I had a couple of extra guy lines that I used more often as clothes lines. Most of the time I used 6 stakes… 4 for the corners and two for the doors. But I carried 8 stakes and the one windy night I had all of them employed plus a rock ties to a shoe lace.