My thoughts on the overall combination of what I'm taking for the TAT, taking into account the fact that I'm starting out earlier (1st of August) than is generally recommended, is as such:
I expect to link up huts where I can a lot of the time. But I am not only prepared for, but 100% expect, to be beat down by some truly heinous weather, be that a massive storm, or a white out etc, reach a point where light is fading and I'm not 100% sure of my navigation, or even just too tired on a given day to have the desire to make it to the hut, and so will need to weather the storm without solid walls. I expect to be held up a few days at a swollen river; basically, I'm expecting to do a lot of tenting in less-than-favourable conditions.
Therefore, the gear I want to take, whilst trying to minimise weight, of course, is gear that I can be confident in getting me through these weather events.
I don't really believe in a shelter as insulation. Insulation is far easier to regulate with clothing/sleeping systems. To me, the shelter is to keep the infernal bugs out, to keep most of the rain/snow out, and hold up in reasonable winds.
Having said that, if I'm in a true blazer, caught in something like a tornado or cyclone, then I probably wouldn't even pitch a tent. I'd look for some kind of natural shelter, even if it's just a depression in the ground, bunker down, and layer up!
Over the next 4 months, I'll be testing out a lot of options. And seeing as though I live in Greymouth, it's just a short drive up to Arthur's Pass, where I can test out my systems in heinous winter temperatures and white outs, whilst remaining relatively close to civilisation (and my car).
I'm almost as excited about the gearing up and planning as I am about the actual tramping of the TAT itself. :D
This post has been edited by the author on 30 March 2015 at 14:32.