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My hiking blog: Arthur's Pass stories |
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Arthur's Pass Stories: My blog about people I meet, things I see and other random thoughts I have while guiding our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour through the season. Andrew from HikingGuys.co.nz
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Monday Aug 30 2010:
Arthur's Pass Hiking season not far away now!
I have been up at Arthur's Pass regularly through the winter running my winter tour (not walking!) and have been keeping a keen eye on the Bealey Valley, where we walk on our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour. The winter this year has been cold enough but we haven't really had that much snow. This photo is of the Bealey Valley, not too much snow so that means we will be into our walking tours with no interuptions from next month.
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Thursday Aug 5 2010:
It is our off season now, the time to work on some other projects and one of the major ones for me in the past 2 years has been putting the business through Qualmark. What is Qualmark? It is a government sponsored quality asessment system for the tourism industry, click on the Qualmark icon to see our listing. This was a lot of work and I am now very happy to say that our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour is now a Qualmark endorsed visitor activity.
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Sunday July 4 2010:
We do not run our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour through the winter months, but I do still go up to Arthur's Pass with clients on tours. We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time to see an old steam locomotive on the tracks. (Sorry, I am not a trainspotter so I can't tell you what type it is) The steamtrain tours only operate 3 or 4 times a year so it was great to see it, although I certainly hope they are offsetting their carbon emmissions!
Winter at Arthur's Pass is definitely not as cold as last year, but anything can happen at any time. We are into July now and with hiking tours starting in September we will back walking before we now it.
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Thursday June 10 2010:
We received the following email this week from one of our walkers this season:
"Andrew, although it is about three months since we returned home, we still recount to our friends how much we enjoyed our day with you. We had a great time up at Arthur's pass. Seeing the Weka with chicks was a bonus.
As you may have seen we have made an entry in to your Trip Advisor section together with photos.
We would certainly recommend you to any friends who are out in New Zealand.
Many thanks for giving us such an informative and great day out."
Rodger and Ann, Edinburgh.
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Monday May 24 2010:
Time to retire my hiking boots! After 3 seasons of faithful service this pair have done their dash. We are into the last week of the season now, with only a few more tours before our winter break. If anyone needs to contact me during winter please contact me at this address: Middle of the fairway, Russley Golf Club, Christchurch.
We have some new developments planned over winter, stay tuned and see you in spring!
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Tuesday May 11 2010:
Winter is just around the corner in Arthur's Pass and we are into the last few weeks of the hiking season. The sun is getting pretty low in the sky and in the high country there is frost on the ground most mornings now.
Everyone has been rugging up warm and enjoying walking in the late autumn sunshine.
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| On our walking tours in Arthur's Pass I am always on the lookout for photos and at this time of year the sun is very low, giving quite different light and shadow. The silhouette of our group caught my eye as we were walking across the Bealey river bridge the other day, that's me on the right! |
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Friday April 30 2010:
From the only in NZ files, on our tour yesterday we were driving from Arthur's Pass to Otira before our walk when we spotted this sign. We weren't sure if it was serious or not so we stopped and asked the construction crew and sure enough, the bridge is for sale!
Any offers please contact the number or visit the bridge with us on our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour!
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Sunday April 18 2010:
It has been school holidays in quite a few countries over the last few weeks, and we have been able to share in some fun family holidays. One day last week would have to have been the youngest average age of any tour I have ever guided! Three five year olds and a seven year old!
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Above is a great photo of all the team walking in the rainforest at Arthur's Pass after a ride on the TranzAlpine. With just the family on the tour we didn't walk too far, just enough for everyone to experience the power of water before heading back to Arthur's Pass for a nice lunch inside.
The photo to the right is what happens to little hikers after a big day out!
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Saturday April 2 2010:
Rock Wren sighting in Arthur's Pass.
On our last 2 trips up the Bealey Valley we have been lucky to see the tiny Rock Wren (Xenicus gilviventris) at the top of the valley on our walking tours in Arthur's Pass. One of New Zealand's only true alpine birds, it lives well above the bushline even through winter. This one seemed very pleased to see us indeed as he hopped around on the rocks.
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Thursday March 18 2010:
Autumn hiking in Arthurs Pass.
Our great summer has been replaced by autumn, which is often the best time for walking in New Zealand. There have been a few cooler days and even some dustings of snow on the mountain tops around Arthur's Pass. This photo was taken on our walk down the valley, with views of Mount Rolleston in the background.
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| Yesterday we were out walking the day after some light snow, the morning started was a bit cloudy but by afternoon we were enjoying hiking in the brilliant autumn sunshine. Experiencing all the different seasons is one of the things I enjoy most guiding in Arthur's Pass. Hope you can join us on one of our walking tours soon! This was taken from one of our photo stops on our drive back to Christchurch. |
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Sunday March 7 2010:
Rescue training in Arthur's Pass National Park.
While out on our walk yesterday we noticed a helicopter buzzing around, quite a rare thing in Arthurs Pass. We watched as people were being carried on a strop from a ridgeline at the bottom of our walking track back towards the valley.
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| I guessed it was a rescue drill and back in Arthur's Pass village after the walk I ran in to the Search and Rescue Volunteers and they were trying to look nonchanlant, which is quite hard when you have been hanging off the bottom of a helicopter whizzing over the treetops! These guys do a great job rescuing lost walkers and climbers, much apprecitated. |
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Monday March 1 2010:
The best weather of the season is here right now.
As a walking guide I have learnt never to make any predictions or promises about the weather but the last 6 weeks have been outstanding. I have been mostly guiding to Arthur's Pass but have also had a couple of trips down to Queenstown and Mount Cook and all our walkers have been enjoying warm weather and great views.
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| As I keep saying to everyone on our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour, I don't want to jinx our day but I haven't pulled my jacket out of my backpack for over a month now. There have been a few days of rain but we have been pretty lucky and haven't had trips on those days. Autumn is here now and this is often the most settled time of year. I look forward to seeing you here soon. |
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Monday February 15 2010:
World famous in New Zealand: The Coast to Coast.
Every year in February the Coast to Coast multisport race is run through Arthur's Pass National Park and we can usually see some of the action during our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour. This is a real endurance race: Run 3km, cycle 50km, run 30km over a 1100m pass, cycle 15km, kayak 67km then cycle 70km to Christchurch!
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| The race is run over 2 days, Friday and Saturday. On Friday after our walk in the Bealey Valley we stopped in for a quick look at the end of the mountain run, competitors having run 30km over the Goat Pass after a 50km cycle from the West Coast! On Saturday morning on the drive out to Arthur's Pass I passed all the cyclists struggling up one of the long hills. |
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Thursday February 4 2010:
Well that doesn't happen everyday!
Last week was probably the busiest week of the summer season, with guides and walkers running all around the Southern Alps on various tours. Before that something happened I really wanted to write about it:
Over the years I have had a lot of memorable days with people on our walking tours, but something happened recently that I am not likely to forget in a while: a couple got engaged on the walk!
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I walked in to lunch on our Arthur's Pass Hiking & Tranzalpine day tour with 4 pax, a young couple from Birmingham and a Japanese couple living in Malaysia, I noticed the gent whispering something to his soon to be fiance and she looked very excited about whatever he was saying. A minute later he sauntered very casually over and said, "Aye mate, has anyone ever gotten engaged on one of your walks?" He said he'd decided to propose in NZ and when he walked into our lunch spot decided this was the place to do it!
Congratulations guys and all the best for the future!
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Monday January 25 2010:
More Kea photos:
In 5 seasons guiding in Arthur's Pass I have never had a week where we have seen so many Kea on our Bealey Valley track! We will often see them around Arthur's Pass station or the Otira lookout, but this week we have seen then every day up the valley on our walk!
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This has given a lot of walkers the chance to take some great close up photos of New Zealand's clown prince of birds.
What is a Kea? (Nestor notablis)The world's only alpine parrot, found only in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Less than 5000 birds survive in the wild, much fewer than the Kiwi.
For more Kea photos check out our Facebook page.
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Sunday January 17 2010:
Close encounter with a cheeky Kea!
Arthur's Pass has always been a great place for spotting the Kea, New Zealand's alpine parrot. We often see them around the station, township or Otira lookout. This season we have also been seeing more Kea up the Bealey Valley on our guided walk. Walkers have been able to take some great photos of the Kea in it's natural environment.
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| Walking up the Bealey Valley yesterday a Kea came and landed on a rock right behind us. Being naturally curious and always hungry he hopped right up to me and locked his beak onto my finger! I have often seen Kea using their beak to break lots of things but was still surprised at how strong it was. I am happy to report neither native birdlife or walking guide was hurt in this encounter. |
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Friday January 8 2010:
Flax weaving workshop in the Arthur's Pass visitor centre.
We were really lucky this week to be in the right place at the right time. As part of the summer programme at the visitor centre there was a flax weaving workshop being run by Simon Rutherford. Our walkers were able to sit down and help create a fax mat which will be on display in the visitor centre once completed. The flax was taken from various parts of the South Island and woven to represent a cross section of the island.
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| The New Zealand flax (Harakeke) is a plant that was used by Maori and European settlers to make a number of things: rope, baskets, bags, sandals. It was the first product to be traded between the Europeans and Maori and the first product to ever be exported from New Zealand overseas. We see the flax in natural form on our walk up the Bealey Valley and I always tell people about how it was used, it was great to be able to see this first hand! |
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Thursday December 31 2009:
Beautiful paintings of the Arthur's Pass views drawn by one of our walkers during a tour.
The last day of the year was a beautiful day and we had great views of Mt Rolleston from our lunch spot up the Bealey Valley. I was busy making hot drinks for the group and when I took one walker her drink I noticed she was busy looking up at the mountain and sketching away. She drew a pencil outline of the view then proceeded to fill in drawing with colour paints.
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After lunch we walked up to the top of the valley and stopped for a break and she drew and painted another view from here as well. I asked her about it and she proceeded to show me all the drawings she had done on her trip and some from home in Japan as well.
I have lots and lots of people taking photographs of the views but this was the first time anyone had actually drawn and painted right in front of me!
I thought it was a really neat thing and Mrs I kindly let me take photos of the 2 paintings. Thank you very much Mrs I!
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Tuesday December 22 2009:
My first ride on the TranzAlpine for a while!
We have been running the Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour for 5 seasons now, but most days I don't get to ride the TranzAlpine. We have had a few group tours lately and I have been on the train from Christchurch out to Arthur's Pass seeing it from the customer's perspective.
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| It was great to travel all the way from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass on the train, with the ride across the Canterbury plains a gentle build up before the stunning scenery of the high country. It is such a relaxing way to travel and I was amazed by all the oohs and ahs and excited photography of our customers and the other passengers in our carriage. I have been guiding travelers around the South Island for over 10 years now and it is true that sometimes you take the scenery for granted so it was great to see people really enjoying the scenery and experience. |
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Friday December 11 2009:
Close up pictures of a carnivorous plant just having caught a moth.
One of the most interesting plants we see walking in Arthur's Pass is without doubt the carnivorous Sundew (Drosera arcturi). This is a tiny alpine plant with a sticky liquid on the leaves which traps flying insects. I was lucky enough to take some close up pictures of a recent catch on one of our Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tours this week.
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| I have been walking past this plants in various high country areas of the South Island for about 10 years and only till now did I see it in action. Usually the Sundew catches much smaller insects such as sandflies but today we saw a moth in it's clutches! It must have been a recent catch because the moth was still strugging and trying to get away (it didn't). |
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Thursday November 26 2009:
Blue skies and alpine flowers in bloom.
It is spring now and that means some really changeable weather. We have certainly been experiencing the full spectrum of spring conditions, from pouring rain to cloudless blue skies. Just so nobody thinks we pretend it doesn't rain up in Arthur's Pass here are a couple of photos of both ends of the spectrum. As a guide, I actually really enjoy the wild weather, but of course I know that most overseas visitors would prefer a blue sky day and I can totally understand this.
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The first alpine flowers of the season are not out with the Mount Cook Lillies looking great at the moment. This flower (no actually a lilly but a buttercup) is the edelweis of New Zealand, a beautifully formed delicate flower that only flowers in alpine regions. The season started a little early this year but we would expect to see the lillies in flower until early or mid January on the Arthur's Pass Hikng & TranzAlpine one day tour.
Hope to see you here soon!
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Friday November 6 2009:
Arthur’s Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour sustainability.
During the off season we have been working ways to reduce the impact on the environment of our tours. While walking itself does not pose many risks to the environment, of course we travel to Arthur’s Pass every day in a diesel van, produce waste and use energy.
As a result of this we have come up with 3 new initiatives that will become an integral part of our operations from this month:
1. Save the Arthur’s Pass Kiwi
Arthur’s Pass is one of the only residential areas in New Zealand with a population of wild Kiwis. In the environs of Arthur’s Pass village there are 25-30 Great Spotted Kiwi (Roroa) and we sometimes see sign of them on our walk up the Bealey Valley. A small group of local volunteers operate trap lines in the Bealey Valley, including right alongside the track we walk.
Starting this month we will be making a regular donation to this local project for each person who walks with us.
2. Offsetting Carbon Emmissions
Each day we travel out to Arthur’s Pass we are emitting around 124 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. From this month we will be offsetting this with purchases of Carbon Credits through NZ Landcare Research’s Carbon NZ programme. We are moving toward accreditation for this but the important thing is to take action so we are starting now on an ad hoc basis. Our preferred carbon credit source is New Zealand native forest regeneration.
3. Rubbish Recycling
The great city of Christchurch now has kerbside recycling for all businesses and households, making it easy for everyone to recycle waste. We now carry recycling bags on our guided walk into Arthur’s Pass, encourage everyone to use them and make sure that all waste is put in the right place when we are back in Christchurch.
These are the 3 main environmental initiatives we have taken but of course there will be a lot more we can do in the future. Our sustainability policy is a living document we intend to improve and refine as we learn more and get better ideas. The full document is available for view on the sustainability page of our site and we encourage any feedback.
Ohh, I feel very green right now!
Tuesday October 27 2009:
Saving the Kiwi in Arthur's Pass National Park.
Arthur's Pass is one of the only places in the country where wild Kiwi live alongside human beings and some of these human beings are working really hard to protect the Kiwi. Last Friday I spent some time up in Arthur's Pass with Gerald Bruce-Smith, one of the volunteers in the Arthur's Pass Kiwi recovery project and here's what I learnt:
| Stoats were introduced into New Zealand in the 19th century and since then they have been feasting on our native birdlife leading to a huge reduction in numbers. Research has proven that where trap lines are maintained the native birdlife has a chance to re-establish itself. The Arthur's Pass community currently has 295 traps in 23 different lines and 144 possum feed stations. Since 2002 they have captured 472 predators. |
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| Stoats are extremely efficient hunters and prolific breeders. Young Kiwi cannot defend themselves agains stoats, more than 90% of Kiwi born in the wild do not live 1 year. Stoat traps baited with eggs and rabbit jerky set out in a line in areas stoats move catch and remove stoats from the environment, giving the Kiwi and other birds a better chance. There are 25-30 of Great Spotted Kiwi (Roroa) living in the environs of Arthur's Pass village, including breeding pairs. |
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The Arthur's Pass Kiwi recovery project is run by a small number of volunteers, like Gerald. They give up their time to set up and maintain these trap lines in and around the Arthur's Pass area.
For more information on this project visit:
http://www.wilddata.org.nz
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Wednesday October 14 2009:
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Walking in Arthur's Pass is absolutely stunning at the moment, there was a lot of snow in the high country last week and this has made for some amazing scenery. Up the top of the Bealey Valley there is quite a bit of snow on the ground which gave us some excellent photo opportunities. The weather cooperated and we had a great day out in the national park.
This is a pretty amazing photo, it looks like we are way up in the mountains but this is the beauty of a place like Arthur's Pass, it took us about 2.5 hours to walk up here, none of it over snow. We are around 1000m above sea level here right at the foot of Mt Rolleston. There aren't many places in the world you can do a walk like this, combine it with a great train ride and be back in the comforts of your hotel for dinner. (OK, in Switzerland you probably could but you would struggle to go whale watching the next day like these folks did!)
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| Also some very exciting news on the flora front, the first Mount Cook Lilies of the season are out in flower. This is our giant alpine buttercup, visible only in the sub alpine zone above the bushline. With the warm weather in August & September I thought they would be out early this year, and I was right! This photo was taken on Oct 13 2009, which is the earliest I have ever seen Mount Cook Lilies out. |
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Thursday October 1 2009:
A special offer for springtime: It seems like everyone is looking for a deal these days, I certainly noticed this on my recent holiday to the Gold Coast. Travel deals on line, discount vouchers and package deals were everywhere to be seen. Well we certainly don't want to be outdone so here is a special offer for spring walkers which I am certain offers a great deal.
| We have decided to come up with an extremely inticing offer for all spring walkers on the Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine one day tour. Everyone who books on the tour until Nov 13 2009 will get a free one day ticket on the Christchurch tramway. We think that is a pretty good deal, hope you do too! |
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Friday September 25 2009:
The spring weather has disappeared for a few days and it feels like winter again at the moment. Time to catch up on office work. We received some great feedback from some early season walkers this week:
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" I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our walk, the whole day was the highlight of our trip, thank you again for your patience and consideration" Bill & Robyn, Brisbane.
"A great day out walking in the moutains. Thank you for a fantastic day. Looking forward to doing it again soon" Alex, UK.
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Saturday September 19 2009:
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It is springtime here now and we had our first customers on the Arthur's Pass Hiking & TranzAlpine tour. It was the first fine day after a few days of rain so the forest was alive and the views amazing with all the winter snow still around.
Our walkers were from Brisbane and they told me one of the things they wanted to do in New Zealand was to have a snowfight so that's what we did!
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One of the real highlights of spring walking is getting up to the "Bealey Glacier", not a real glacier but it looks, feels and tastes just like one. The ice will be on the ground here until the end of October or so, an amazing experience to get up here on a day walk from New Zealand's second biggest city!
A great day out enjoyed by all!
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Spring is in the air now and before we know it the walking season is here again. Tours started on September 15 and we hope to see as many of you as possible here this season.
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