Autumn's here

Sure I like warm days but there are a lot of things about tramping that change for the better with Autumn:

• The things that bite and sting take a hike.
• Pot bellied stoves make huts wonderful places to spend a night.
• 'Shoulder Season' tramps on the 'great walks'.
• ... what else can you think of?

The change of season usually happens during our Stewart Island trip in April.

Driving south the poplars before the Rangitata bridge are usually still green and with all their leaves. Coming back two weeks later they've usually changed colour.

This year was a bit different. They still looked greenish but two thirds of the leaves had been blown away by strong nor'westers.

But the days seem a lot shorter than they did only a few weeks ago.

Here's an idea for tramping when the days get shorter:

• Night hikes

Try it out. It's better to start out on a trip that has a reasonable track leading to a hut that you've got a pretty good idea will have spare bunks.

Comments

[Honora]

In Autumn:
The toot (tutu) dies down. River levels drop.

[Mauricio Lloreda]

Now that autumn is HERE, my girlfriend and I are looking for two other trampers to share the cost of the flight from the hollyford road to Big Bay. We have booked a flight on the 24/25th May (weather dependent) to fly into Big Bay. It costs $535 for 4 people. Once in Big Bay we can experience the Hollyford in its entirety. If interested please email me at: kristina.mauricio@paradise.net.nz or if you know anyone else that may be interested please pass it on.
cheers,
Mauricio