On on the wet boots problem, what i did was take half a newspaper on each leg. Other than reading it, and lighting the fire, stuffing the boots with it gets them suprisingly dry if you repeat that process twice. That way i could do a river leg one day, then an alpine leg the following day quite comfortably.
BTW theres a good deal on at the moment on the hitec Altitudes here:
https://www.fruugo.co.nz/hitec-altitude-v-i-wp-mens-hiking-boot/p-3431087
I agree with bradley1 about the Travers and Waiau Passes. They can be impassable due to avalanche danger during the winter/spring. You must check on that before heading in there. The upper Sabine Valley is also prone to avalanches, the remains of which are still there right into December. Alpine skills, crampons and ice axe are definite requirements.
Two of us did Waiau Pass in August 1980. The northern side was the usual slog up the scree (although from recent pics it looks like there's more of a defined footpad these days) - but on the southern side there was a fair bit of deep snow.
Although I recall a few steepish sections, the rock scramble section was completely covered over and we had no problems ambling down it.
It's not a technical pass at all - but ice axe and crampons are probably necessary if there is any chance of snow or ice.
We had a far bigger problem later on with a rogue bull - but that's a whole other story. :-)
This post has been edited by the author on 18 March 2015 at 21:55.
Loving everyone's input! Cheers!
Here's my thought processes: hike as light as I can whilst staying safe.
Now, that can be interpreted a lot of different ways. My mindset is this; hike with the lightest/best stuff for the majority of conditions I am likely to face. If/when I approach a stretch where conditions will/might require specialist equipment, I'll pause, and buy/rent what I need.
If, between now and when I start out (first week of August is when I'm kicking off in the north), I get significant evidence that specialist equipment will be most likely on a section, I'll pre-mail it to myself, then mail it home again once I've finished with it.
I want a challenge, but I don't want my arse permanently kicked by a mountain. I want to be comfortably uncomfortable; not ill-prepared.
Make sense? :)
I had continuously wet boots and feet for 54 days and then realised tinea had set in due to wearing plastic bags over socks in the tent...So I got rid of it and prevented it coming back by rubbing my feet completely dry every night (often close to the MSR cooker). I tried the peeing on them trick but seriously this is not easy for the ladies and it didn't seem to work either.
Peeing doesn't work, but A for effort! :D That sucks that you got tinea. And yeah, I pretty much expect to have wet feet the entire time. Which is why often hike in VFFs. That bloke from Zpacks who hiked the trail did the whole thing in sandals. However, I suspect he didn't set early like I have to....
I tramped in sandals for 10 years. They were good for all trips except the snow of course and not too nice in wall to wall speargrass. But they last around 18 months of solid weekend use including running down screes. The best brand is Source. One in 3 Israelis wear them.
Tevas sold in NZ are crap as are Merrills and the rest. The only other good ones were San which are now unavailable, and Lizards. The best tread is the finest patterned one. Source had a great hexagonal tread but no longer make it AFAIK, now they have something that is halfway to the stupid pattern that the other brands use.
The US Chacos are good but too heavy and way overpriced. I found a Chinese version of them but they tended to suddenly self-disintegrate after about 6 months. At $20 a pair and much lighter than the Chacos it wasn't too bad though and the tread pattern was much finer which is what you need on wet tussock.
I grew up in bare feet and jandals so maybe that's why ankle support is never missed. I wore a pair last weekend when Frank and I were doing track work on the Otehake NZFS track. He was wearing them too until the original Source with the awesome tread became unavailable. He's been griping about each pair of boots he's bought ever since.
Great info Honora! So, is my lingering thought of completing the TAT in VFF not entirely unreasonable then?
I would do the road sections in jandles no worries
Only problem is buying replacements in June and July
