Residing in Wellington New Zealand, arrived on October 5th...staying til??? Got a few trips lined up down here on the South Island, nothing too crazy but a good taste never the less. Planning a northbound 04 thru-hike but that will depend on NZ immigration policies. That's about it for now. Good luck!

Spent 3 weeks on the South Island of NZ, completed the Heaphy, Leslie-Karamea and Wangapeka Tracks back to back for a combined trip of around 230kms. Absolutely beautiful terrain and amazing country. Fording rivers is common, up to waist level in most cases, and the backcountry huts here are very similar to shelters but they are enclosed.

Although they are tracks (trails)...quite frequently you need map and compass as the ridgetops here are always fogged in, and with little use in some remote areas.

That's the latest...be back in the States in May for 2 weeks for my birthday, and get a weekend in on the AT in Harriman.

Planning a trip to the South Island again for some easy walking and beautiful terrain, the Abel Tasman Coastal and Inland Tracks!

This is a decent sized loop in Abel Tasman Nation Park and combines rugged inland hiking with easy coastal walking with some of the best weather in NZ. Waiting on a pack from Gregory to test, then probably heading down there in September.

I love it here!