Tararua Footprints Appendices

Valleys, Routes, and Crossings

Peaks in the Tararua Ranges over 1,500 metres

Pain scale 1 - 5

1. You only notice the discomfort when you look for it.

2. Experience light inconvenience to usual activities. e.g. muscle strain.

3. Substantial pain. Significant interference with activities. e.g. wounded muscle, sprained wrist.

4. Very significant pain. Makes normal activities very difficult or impossible. e.g. sprained ankle, serious wound.

5. Extreme pain - makes you unconscious. e.g.

Further reading

Trampers commonly enrich their experience of the hills with complementary pursuits. Photography is the most common. I have not sufficient experience to recommend a guide, but Rundle and MacLean below show results of the masters. The careful union of angle, composition, lighting, and exposure; with of course opportunity and experience; go to shape these masterpieces. Digital cameras now widen the scope of equipment.

Other subjects that may extend our interest, range from the technical, such as botany, geology and zoology; to the artistic endeavours, such as poetry, painting and history (and gastronomy?).

A micro selection of books follows. These will be found in good libraries.

History and general

Geology

Natural Science

Route guides

Park maps

Topo maps

Department of Conservation

The Tararua Ranges are in the Wellington Hawke's Bay Conservancy. See DoC's local offices for current details.

• Masterton Office
• Kāpiti Wellington Area Office
• Palmerston North Office
• Wellington Visitor Centre

For damage, hazards, and conservation emergencies telephone: 0800 DOCHOTline (0800 362 468)

Clubs and contacts

Several outdoors clubs use the Tararuas as a major activity area. Many of these run instruction courses and offer a safe introduction to the ranges and speedy knowledge of their complexities. Up-to-date details of local organisations, their meeting places and times, web addresses etc, can be found on the Federated Mountain Clubs website and the TTC Wellington Tramping Clubs links.

Other groups complement the outdoors landscape with companion interests, such as orienteerers, deerstalkers, kayak, Forest and Bird, mountain bikers(approve sites), cavers and caving, etc, and can be contacted through DoC, the www. web, or the Civic Centre Information Offices of your local town.

See also outdoors and environmental links.

Wellington Mountain Radio Service

See safety links.

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