Of Wild and Wonder

With the beginning of our traverse coming up rapidly, we're excited to have completed a route plan for the entire traverse. We have divided the route into several sections which we have been working on since April this year. The red line here is our optimal route for the traverse. However, we have also planned several wet weather options for when conditions are not ideal. The planning process also included putting together a 20 page document filled with route descriptions, photos and detailed beta for reference.  Use the map below to have a look at our route! View Larger Topographic Map

It begins! After a long day of vac sealing and measuring cups of oats, we finally get to do the most fun job. Dropping the food off! We leave Dunedin at 4am with minimal faff, all making pleasantly surprised comments about how little actual gear you need to pack for a trip like this. The drive is enjoyable, with large moon, drive through misty Otago, and eventual sunrise. Lucky Tom is a good early morning driver. Sam and I both do some sleeping, in preparation for the tasks ahead. Task 1: Aquire Buckets for rodent and weather proofing our food. A quick stop in Frankton Mitre 10 sorts us out, where the staff are really helpful and lovely and direct us to everything we need, and find us some awesome vac seal bags with inbuilt nunu valves. Task 2: Find Tom the Spencer for indispensable food carrying contributions. How will we possibly do that? We drive into Glenorchy, and see the big red van with coffin box on top parked on GY's only road. Success. Tom Spencer has written a poem for o...