DOC, take me away! Another awesome work experience.

Up, up and away to visit two back country huts, Welcome Flats hut and Douglas Rock hut. 

Welcome Flats hut is a beautiful hut with a capacity for 30 people.  It is staffed by a DOC hut warden and is popular year round.  The trail it is on has been traveled on by capable mountain types since the 1890s because of the location on the way to a pass over the mountains which divide the east and west side of the south island.    The big attraction at this hut is nearby hot springs which are a really, really nice treat, especially after the 7 hour hike to get to the hut.  (That is if you have to walk there :))  This hut has an amazing history.  I don't know when the original hut was built but a new hut was built in 1987.  There was a visitors hut and a separate hut warden's hut.  Thirteen weeks after it was built, the hut warden woke up around 5 AM to a strange noise.  A land slide ruined the hut he was in.  Luckily he escaped through a window, went over to the visitors hut, got everyone out before the visitor hut was hit by the landslide.  The visitor hut ended up with 1.5 meters of debris in the bottom level.  Amazingly the hut was salvage, moved, and is now here and ready for us to enjoy.  When the hut was relocated, the orientation of the building at the new location was not the best and later modifications to meet fire code, contributed even more to a poorly lighted, poorly heated hut.  The new project is to improve natural lighting, heat flow, user space, sleeping arrangements and construct a new separate hut for the hut warden.  The toilets (FLUSH!) were upgraded a few years ago, so I was invited just to get another understanding of the assets that DOC maintains.  (Thank you DOC!) 

Another few hours on the trail leads to a second hut, Douglas Rock hut, which is an unserviced 8 person hut.  

Six of us were flown to Welcome Flat hut.  Three of us were flown the additional distance to Douglas Hut Rock to enjoy an afternoon hike to Welcome Flat Hut where we all spent the night and hiked out the following day.  The three who stayed at Welcome Flat Hut worked on ideas for the hut improvements which we all reviewed after dinner but before soaking in the hot pools. 

First helicopter ride.  This helicopter held four passengers.

I sat front and center, the pilot to the left of me, another person to the right.

We flew up into a valley that has steep moutains on both sides.

The color of the river is AMAZING!  Note the hiking shoes the person next to me is wearing.  These are really the right type of boots to have, with gaitors, wearing shorts.  Not what I was wearing...live and learn. 

There is Welcome Flat Hut, in the middle, the historic airstrip is on the right side of the photo. 

We are almost into the winter season here, the mountains are starting to get snow capped.

Now onto Douglas Rock Hut - this is an old photo I got from Tom but I included it because it's got a great view of the hut.  That must be Douglas Rock???

Douglas Rock is a not a "serviced hut" - no hut warden.  I guess this also means the helicopter pad can be the size of a postage stamp.  REALLY?  We are landing where?

Out quickly and the pilot is off.  The cost is expensive, charged by the minute and the schedule is PROMPT.

Douglas Rock Hut - sleeps 8 (cozily), newly repainted this year. 

My two co-workers I hiked with from Douglas Rock Hut to Welcome Flat Hut.  Chris is the acting Conservator (think Regional Director - yikes!  and Helen is an admin assistant that came in 2nd a couple of weeks ago  in some burly mountain girl type mountain running race - yikes again!

The DOC green and yellow sign...I'm getting used to green and yellow instead of brown and white.

Inside Douglas Rock Hut.  Helen is signing in the log book.  She's got a background in search and rescue and told me how useful sign in books are for search and rescue efforts.  I learn so much from everyone here.

Hard not to look up at the scenery instead of down where I need to put my foot next.  This section of trail was REALLY, REALLY slippery, uneven...not really technical...but not really a walk in the park either.

Chris brought trail markers to do some trail maintenance along the way.  Nice to see the Conservatory helping out at all levels of the organization.  I was a good guinea pig for determining where an additional trail marker was needed.  Seriously, I was a bit of a liability I think.  

Lots of swing bridges on this track.  Many were fairly new.  People used to have to go through the river, which can be dangerous.  This is a really, really dynamic valley, the trail has to shift around slides and water washouts regularly. 

I can't tell you how many times I said "I can't believe how blue the water is'"  It's a beautiful blue color. 

First day of hiking over with, I was grateful to get there with only some sore thighs

.  

The hut that was hit by a land slide 13 weeks after construction, filled with 1.5 meters of debris, cleaned up, relocated, repaired and ready for business.

 

After dinner discussions regarding reviewing alternatives for floor plan changes.  Really, the drawings were out on the table...along with the red wine.  From left to right...Chris - area staff person who is in charge of maintaining the trail, Chris - acting West Coast Conservator, Helen - Admin, Tony - Project Manager (aka "The Director"), Ron - private architect with a specialty in New Zealand hut designs.  I really enjoyed this meeting.

Morning coffee - we invaded the hut wardens apartment.

Lunch prep for our hike out.

A photo of the hot springs.  It's hard to capture in a photo how awesome it was to soak here under the stars.  (Not my photo - grabbed this off the internet)

Another view in the morning of the hot pools. 

Tony - Project Manager on the left, and Sally the hut warden on the right.  She is an avid "hot springer" who travels all over to visit hot springs.  She has spent a lot of time in Colorado and knew all the hot springs I've been to in Colorado.  She's worked at this location for DOC for many years and has logged 500 nights sleeping at this hut.

On the way out - it was a good day at work.

Tony and Chris discussing needed trail improvements.  My saving grace was frequent stops to discuss the trail condition.  That gave me a chance to catch up with everyone.  It's not so much that my walking pace is slow, it's just that they've all had years of experience on these type of rocky trails and NZ hikers are part mountain goat.

Another trail/bridge discussion (or opportunity for me to catch up)

The foliage is incredible.

Turquoise blue water

End of the trail - last hurdle was a river crossing.  I love my Keens and they are super comfy hiking shoe but these ones really are a light hiker and this was a trail that probably deserved an ankle high MOUNTAINEERING boot.  No, really just a good boot that keeps you a bit dryer. 

So that was an awesome two days enjoying and learning about DOC assets.  I was pleasantly reminded about the adventure for several days, pretty much every time I tried to move my legs. 

Hoki Happenings

After our big two week road trip we decided to hang out in Hokitika for a few weekends. It's great to learn a little more about this community and the people who live here.

Fact - There is always a fundraiser going on for some club or event.  ALWAYS.  Everyday at the grocery store there is a card table set up with a raffle or something to buy tickets for.  Groups we've had the opportunity to support include: Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Ukalale club, the Catholic School, the elementary school, the high school, Lions club, whatever.  A popular raffle prize is a load of wood for heating houses.

We decided to go to a fund raising event for the High School trip to Vietnam.  The main attraction of the evening included tasting liquor from a local shop that sells specialty schnapps.  $15 got you in, 1 free drink, free samples, yummy snacks, many desserts made with the schnapps liquors, quizzes (very popular here) for prizes, entertainment from the "the Red Moki from Hoki" (a neighbor and co-worker Don, who has an alter personality), contest for the best red outfit and many other door prizes. 

Lea and friends

Lea won 2nd place for her red outfit

Greg joined us for this one - see the necklace on Lea - I searched for red items in the grocery store

I had to beg Greg to put the wig on - he'll do almost anything for Lea

The Red Moki from Hoki with his better half - Sue, the event organizer

Fact - If you live here you own a pair of gumboots. 

Standard footwear for family of four!

 Fact - If you live here you hide your spare key in a gumboot outside your back door.  The secret is which gumboot. 

Is is a boot or is it a hide-a-key location.  Everyone knows the house key is in the boot...question is, which boot.

Fact - A sunset, sunrise, moon rise or moon set will always be awe inspiring.  Did you see the extra large full moon rise on Sunday, May 6th (NZ calendar).

Moon rising

Mezmerizing moon show

Fact - the oceans has moods. One of us takes at least a quick view of the waves each day.  Some days they are huge and scary others, calm and quite inviting.  Until you actually touch the water and think - that there is cold water!

We get to see the sea on a regular basis

Fact - We are in the midst of .Marmageddon

Marmite is a spread that New Zealanders put on bread or toast.  It is made in a plant in Christchurch that was damaged in the big earthquake last year.  The plant has to be relocated and therefore has stopped manufacturing the product.  Uh Oh, this is a problem because it's a staple in most people's diet.  So, what's a New Zealander to do?  Eat Vegemite, the Australian cousin of Marmite?  Apparently not! 

The shelf at the local grocery store

Vegemite on sale just below the out of stock Marmite sign.  Sales on Vegemite are just o.k by the looks of it.

I'm thinking this nearly untouched jar in our house may be worth something!  

Fact - Tea is very important

I recently helped with a community service project on a Saturday morning.  Supplies included rakes, weed cutter, and in the wheel barrel above, an extra fuel tank, hot tea in thermoses and biscuits.  All work was stopped for a morning tea break.

 Fact - Coffee may be even more important
 There are terrific coffee shops everywhere.  Cappuccino, Mochachino, Flat Black, Flat White, Espresso?  What's your favorite?  The baristas here know how to make the milk froth like you would not believe.  There is also a skill in pouring the foam to make a drawing in the foam.  Goodbye Starbucks, hello Hokitika Cheese and Deli, The Clock Tower Cafe, Cafe de Paris, plus others I haven't even tried;. There must be 12 or more places to get a good cappuccino in Hokitika alone. 

Cappachino - pure heaven with a sprinkle of chocolate, no sugar. 

Lea's career ending rugby game

"They" say you should try something before determining that you don't like it. 


As I wrote on an earlier blog post, Lea joined Westland High School's rugby team.  No try outs...you want to play? We'd love to have you!  You don't know the rules? No problem, we'll give you a uniform, tell you what to do and just go out there and do it.  That was a great plan for the first few games around Hokitika and surrounding towns.  She even scored a try and was enjoying learning the game. 


Tuesday the school team travelled to Christchurch, a 3-hour drive, stayed overnight, and played in a rugby tournament with the REAL rugby girl teams. 


Her team started with19 players and they need 15 to field a team.  They lost 2 players to injuries in first game. By the third game they did not enough to field a team.  The played shorthanded for the third and fourth game and decided not to play the 5th game.  By the end they were down to 12 players still able to play.  Girls got concusions, swollen kness and legs, and got bloody.  She said there were 3 to 4 ambulances ready and wating and they were all getting loaded with 2 people each.  All GIRLS! 


She survivied by avoiding action while on the field. She ran alot, but mostly to stay away from other players!  She did have a minor injury when she tried to catch the ball and a finger nail on her left hand cut her finger on the right hand.  This convieniently created a fair amount of blood so at least she could intimidate the other teams. 




Lea's rugby injury

 She came home annoucing she has no desire to play more rugby.  There's too much more we want to do in New Zealand and she doesn't want to risk an injury from....playing rugby.  She discovered she doesn't have what it takes to be super competitive and want to win that bad...obviously more of my genes than Greg's, who does have the tendency to win at all costs. 
Rugby is a tough sport. Some co-workers described it as sanctioned violence.  I respect anyone who is not too scared to get out and play it.


We are all having a good laugh about this one.  She tried (yes, that's a pun for those of you who know rugby) and she don't like it!

Conservancy Days

DOC Conservancy Days

There are 11 conservancies, or regions, of DOC.  I work for one of the regions, the West Coast Conservancy.  There are 5 districts in the West Coast Conservancy.  This conservancy is long and narrow.  Hokitika, where I work, is smack in the middle of the Conservancy and the area we serve extends from a 3 ½ hour drive north of Hokitika to a 3 ½ hour drive south of Hokitika. 

Conservancy Days is a two day event where employees from the entire Conservancy go to one district to do service projects, network and socialize.   Conservancy Days occur once per year and they are held at each district on a rotating basis.  This year was Hokitika’s turn to host. 

 

We started at 10 AM on Thursday to give people a chance to travel Thursday morning.  We all met at the golf club and divided into eight or so different groups to work on our projects.   

I was assigned to “free plants” at one of the DOC sites near the office.  There were about 16 of us assigned to this site.  Some people spread gavel on trails, others operated small equipment, and others weeded and placed weed mats around young trees that had been planted one or two years earlier.  Other projects included work on DOC and non-DOC sites all used by the community.   For example, one project repainted the exterior wall of the Regent Theater, a historic movie and event theater that is community operated.   

Gathering up into groups for work assignments - note that a very, very typical work outfit around here is gumboots (shin high rubber boots) short short canvas shorts (guys) and a wool sweater. 

Cabbage tree and Kath

Rata Tree Before....

...and after.  I "freed" the tree.  Go rata tree, be FREE, grow TALL.  Southern rata is a special native tree. Like my DOC hat?

 

Lunch Break!

We worked until 4 or so, and then met at the local golf club for drinks, volleyball and dinner.  Dinner was prepared by the Holitika wildlife management staff.  Wildlife managers’ job here is to go out and hunt to kill non-native deer and goats, which are pests because they kill the birds, flora and fauna of New Zealand.  The hunter dudes cooked an incredible dinner for all of us, I’m sure some of it was meat they had shot. 

After dinner, each district showed a power point presentation telling the rest of us about their accomplishments for the year.  These were presented with typical kiwi humor and I got to see so much of the work the DOC does and the personalities of the people who work for DOC.  I left before the DOC band started playing at 10 or so.  I hear the party continued to the wee morning hours.  

I volunteered for breakfast duty and went early to help prepare breakfast for all.  A few people were just waking up and were ready for coffee. After a hearty breakfast everyone was divided into groups to work on cleaning up sections of the nearby beaches. 

That was a pretty easy job because the beaches are pretty clean around here!   However, someone in our group did have a major beach find. 

Beach clean up - not much but driftwood on this beach.

The big find was a buried refrigerator. These three were determined to remove it and dispose of it properly.  Their mission was accomplished.

 

There are a total of 3,000 employees at DOC, 325 work in the West Coast Conservancy, about 40 in Hokitika.  Compare this to 22,000 NPS employees, 6,000 IMR employees and 225 in our building in Lakewood.  So in regard to the number of employees, DOC and the West Coast Conservancy are much smaller than the NPS.  I imagine that makes something like Conservancy Days more feasible here than at the NPS, but it would be nice to have something similar at home.