Climbing to The Nelson Tops from Hope Pass. Photo: Ray Salisbury
“The definition of an adventure is that the outcome cannot be predicted. One has no guarantee of fine weather, the availability of huts or the fitness of companions,” says Ray Salisbury in his story ‘Walking through the valley of Hope’.
His plan was to utilise a section of Te Araroa Trail for the days with poor weather, then launch out into the unknown during the fine weather.
The result? An adventurous off-track ramble over The Nelson Tops, a sprawling range located between the Hope and Hurunui rivers in Lake Sumner Forest Park, with a soak in two hot srpings along the way.
“This itinerary promises an eclectic mix of pleasure, pain and zombie walking,” he says
Read, or listen, to Ray’s story in our latest episode of The Wild Podcast.
Missed yesterday’s feature? Wild Trip: Conquer dunes and see an ever-changing landscape on NZ’s largest sand spit.
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Quiz
What is the total population of kiwi in Aotearoa New Zealand?
A. 20,000
B. 45,000
C. 70,000
D. 100,000
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
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Recipe: Fried rice with homemade pickles
With just a little bit of home prep, fried rice is one of the easiest meals to whip up in the backcountry.
Photo: Izzie Thompson
Profile
Time: 10 min at home, 15 min at destination
Serves: 2
Ingredients
Fried rice
Instant rice
(or 2 cups cooked rice)
1 carrot
½ a broccoli
5 brussels sprouts
2 spring onions
2 eggs (safely transport wrapped in paper towels and placed in your mugs)
Pickled cucumber
Oil for frying
Sauce mix
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet
chilli sauce
2 tbsp mirin
2 tsp sesame oil
30mm ginger, peeled and grated
Quick pickled cucumber
¼ cup vinegar (white, rice wine, or a mixture)
½ cup water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 small cucumber (about 1 cup worth)
1 spring onion
½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
Method
At home, prepare the pickle by mixing together the vinegar(s), water, sugar and salt, stirring until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Thinly slice the cucumber and spring onion and add to the mixture along with the chilli (if using). Store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
In a separate container, mix together the sauce ingredients and store in the fridge overnight.
At the destination, prepare instant rice according to packet instructions. When cooked, set aside and continue with the following preparations.
Chop the carrot and broccoli into wide matchsticks and sixth the brussels sprouts while heating some oil in a pan. Crack the eggs into the pan and stir well to scramble. Keep stirring the eggs, removing the pan from the heat after a few minutes when they’re mostly cooked but still soft-looking. Transfer to a bowl and scrape out the pan.
Put the pan back on the heat and add more oil. When hot, tip in the chopped vegetables and fry for about 5min; the greens should have turned a darker green and everything is cooked but still crunchy. Add the cooked rice to the pan and cook for 3-5min, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Tip in the pre-made sauce mix and stir to coat everything then cover the pan and turn off the heat. Let sit for 5-10min.
Remove the cover and give everything a gentle nudge (some delightful crispy bits will have formed on the bottom) and stir through the eggs. Divide between two and top with chopped spring onion and pickled cucumber. Sprinkle some pickle juice over for an extra vinegary/chilli hit.
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Poll results
On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers if they have, or would prefer, to hiker NOBO or SOBO on Te Araroa.
The results are in: It’s a tie!
Here is a selection of comments from readers:
SOBO: “I would need the awesomeness of the South Island to keep me motivated during the second half.”
NOBO: “I think it makes sense with the weather. The good weather window is narrower in the south, and the Tararuas are really unpredictable until feb/march, so it makes sense to use summer for the south, late summer for the Tararuas, and early autumn for the north.”
SOBO: “Just finished SOBO. Nice to get trail fitness before hitting South Island. Also hard to paddle Whanganui River up stream.”
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