Reinventing the wheel - it's about the journey not the destination.

It's more obvious than ever that our reliance on cars is a fragile thing. As trampers, we're often seeking a break from the racing world we inhabit. 'Going bush' can be a chance to get away from the busyness of the city, from the pressures of study and work, and from the ever-pressing realities of global strife. 

Enter the motorcar. A vessel of freedom for the outdoorsperson, allowing rapid travel to farther places than ever before. Comfortable, easy and awfully practical. 

I've been thinking for a while, why not make life harder? Perhaps this simple, efficient solution for reaching the trailhead is robbing us of a greater adventure, one that starts the moment we leave the door. Is there not also a level of selfishness in driving our big, polluting vehicles to faraway places, simply to enjoy time in the remnants of the natural world we have left behind?

Enter the bicycle - and the train. Vessels of slightly limited freedom for the outdoorsperson, allowing fairly slow travel, to a few nearby places. Uncomfortable, logistically complicated, physically hard work and arguably not the most practical. 

A genius solution, to a problem few had considered. I propose a trip to Cone Hut in the Tararua ranges. Riding bicycles from our houses, convening at the Wellington train station, greatly enjoying our time on the Wairarapa Line all the way to Matarawa Station. From here we will ride to the Waiohine Campsite, before tramping to Cone Hut. All day is an adventure. Will they let six bikes on a train that may or may not have two carriages? How will we carry our gear on our bikes? Will we get to Cone Hut before sunset? I do have some answers, but all the best adventures have got to have some level of uncertainty. 

And wait, I have more. That plan is still too simple, too easy, too conventional. As trampers we can be tempted to chase convenience, to pursue lightweight solutions. Pre-packaged dehydrated meals, nutbars, boxes of crackers, Verkers salami (or Peters if you like it soft and slimy). We fill our packs with lightweight, plastic-wrapped convenience. We rob ourselves the opportunity to hurt our quads that little bit more – lugging fresh alternatives and home-made meals up and down the ridges and valleys of the Tararua ranges.

We can change that, with a mixture of unnecessarily heavy fresh food, and pre-planning to make the most of the tramping clubs’ dehydrator. We can, and will, eliminate the plastic packaging the typically fills the interior of our packs.

And so, the adventure grows. It now starts days before we even leave, as we ask the question of what food can I take!?

If this level of inconvenience speaks to you, then please join me in reinventing the wheel – leaving behind the four and embracing the two.

RECAP:

• Train on Saturday morning from Wellington station to Matarawa station.
• Bike ~12km to Waiohine campsite.
• Walk to Cone hut (DOC says 2.5 hours).
• Do in reverse on Sunday.
• Endeavour to avoid food bought in plastic packaging for the duration of the trip.

NOTES:

• The trip is limited to six for both space on the train, and inside the hut. I would be in strong support of anyone who wanted to ride the whole way from Wellington and would gladly carry a tent for you (or give up my space in the hut for your more deserving legs).
• There will be no fuel cost, and I will trust people to bring their own snapper cards for the train journeys.
• I would like to meet perhaps a week before we go and discuss food options and bike solutions – I do have lots of ideas and resources, and we will make it work!
• Sign ups will open closer to the time, but please email me if you’re keen and would like to discuss any logistics further!

As an extra bonus, Cone Hut is one of the few free huts in the Tararuas, meaning that with no fuel costs and no hut costs this will be a very cheap trip!