New Zealand Weekly Update #6

Last updated on Dezember 4, 2022

28th of November until 4th of December 2022

Approximate reading time: 10 minutes

The Power of Watching and Listening

Sometimes you get pushed into a new situation, a new adventure, a new challenge. And you feel lost. Not because you have no skills or no experience. You feel lost and don’t know what to do just because the situation might be completly new for you. And still you want to try, you want to be proactive, you want to move on – you want to show that you are able to handle the situation by your own.
And I behave the same way. When there is a new situation, a new problem, a new challenge, I immediatly start to move, to work, to jump around and try to be helpful and supportive. I literally rush into the problem.
Basically, a really nice characteristic. In fact. But with this kind of behaviour you might rush into even more problems, as you are acting way too fast and you might miss details.
And if you move into structures that have been working for years and years, that have been developed and optimized, it might be the better way to calm down a little bit, slow down, and to listen and watch.
To ask the more experienced guys around you how things are handled, how they solve problems, how to do several stuff. And then you can try to repeat it and to get used to it. And if you are not sure, ask again. And again,. And again.
There is no doubt about learning by listening and watching is a better way of learning most of the time than just rush into a new situation and fail probably.
And of course, asking (for help or support) might feel difficult, as we all want to be independet, act like we don’t need anybody and we are able to handle all situations by our own. To show other people around us how strong we are.
But honestly, sometimes it is necessary and useful to calm down, breath deeply, to ask, to listen, to watch – and to learn. And to avoid mistakes that have been made days, weeks or even years ago. And it is also nice to support others with knowledge and experience when you are asked 🙂
So the key is again communication, with yourself and with others.

Take off into action

Monday, as it will never be the same again. We’ve met up at the base at about 7 am and get our gear ready. Ready for a real adventure as the plan was to head up to a special canyon. Wai Rata. To check the tour, the bolts, the water level, the jumps. This was necessary as this is a canyon we do not run very often and we have had a booking a few days later.
So we drove to Makarora area along the beautiful Lake Hawea and get our gear out of the car. Into the helicopter 🙂
To fly 10 minutes with all our stuff into the entrance of the canyon (not the real entrance but close to it, quite close…). Just before the take off, we got some instructions how to behave in and around the helicopter, to keep our heads down, to don’t move to the front or the rear of the helicopter. To walk slowly and one by one. Scenic flight, scenig area, fast amnd flexble sitting quite narrow and with a headphone to communicate. Landing approach on the mountain, searching for a flat spot. And after the helicppter left, we made our way into the canyon. Unfortunatelly, the helicpopter drop us out way too high and we had to find our way trough the bushes – hiking down for almost 2 hours. But in a partly steep and difficult, slippery area. After some coffee and lunch we finally found the entrance and some bolts with webbing. Bäääm. And action.

Jumping into pools (and you hope there is no stone that you might hit.. and ya.. honestly I hit my bum once a little bit – this is paert of the game.), checking out these pools as well, rappeling up to 60 meters close to a waterfall, feeling and listen to the sound of this powerful structure. And to enjoy this beautiful canyon , enjoy the nature, the way of being remote and to feel the energy. At a rappeling point, I accidently Did get caught in the water jet and it hit me quite hard. My head was pushed onto my shoulder and it was a big challenge to resist the power of the water. But I was able to rappel down and get out of the water – heartbeat level 300. Fun factor level 1000. Never underestimate the power of water even if it looks like fun and easy going. And always have a knife with you when you go for a canyoning tour – you’ll never know if it is necessary to use it. Better save than sorry 🙂

After a long day of canyoning, we hiked down and went to the river of the area. To get picked up by a guy with a speedboat. And he was a little angry as we have been late for almost 60 minutes. But sometimes you are not able to plan everything and to be on time, especially when you had to hike down for almost 2 hours 🙂 . The speedboat drive was a lot of fun. This guy did some crazy moves on the narrow river, speed up really quickly and I felt my skin get tight and cold. If you ever think about botox, discard this thought. A 10 minute speedboar drive is enough to tighten your skin 🙂

Kayak, Canyoning, Christmas time

After a 12 hour working day, Tuesday was off. Time for some kayaking on the lake wanaka. And to prepare some christmas videos for friends and family. In total, 34 videos to the people I miss, I love. To people I want to share my adventures, thoughts and emotions with. Quite a big effort and it took my a long time (especially as all of them got their own page with a postcard as well and a nice christmas song from New Zealand 🙂 ) but worth it every second.
Later that day, I went to Ruby Island, just a small island at lake wanaka with a total fire ban. This is because there have been several fires (especially in summer time when it is dry and hot). The last big fires showed up 2006 and 2008 because of a cigarette. Almost the whole island burned down and the government put a lof effort into the reforestation. And it looks beautiful. And you are still able and allowed to have a BBQ as the government provides a gas grill station you can use for free. Apart from this, there is nevertheless an absolute fire ban on the island.

Wednesday, Canyoning day. Niger Stream. And I recognized that I am getting better in guiding every single time (by watching, listening, asking and accept hints and information). That I am able to explain the several stations to the customers even better every single time, to show them how to do it, what to do, where to wait, what to avoid and so on. And to make their day in a beautiful canyon. To guide them safe and with a lot of fun.
This is what canyoning is about. Having a unique day in a remote area, in nature, with jumps, slides, rappels, even in the waterfall. But to never forget to be safe and healthy.
Thuersday, day off. Training day. A long run along the Lake Wanaka and Clutha river, from Wanaka to Alberttown and reverse. To get myself ready for the upcoming Marathon next year (Motatapu Off Road Marathon). After the run I’ve met Piers and Canelle by chance in town and we head up for a coffee in Albert Town. And I had a nice talk to a german family from Munich. And soem „conversation“ with their son Oskar, who tried to walk step by step without any help (he was just one year old 🙂 ). And they think about joining me next year in Germany for a canyoning tour as well. Being abroad is also about these kind of situations. Conversations by chance, short talks, exchanging information and experiences. And about a nice coffee with friends after a long and exhausting trail run 🙂

In the evening, we went to Kai Whaka Pai, the place to be if you want to have a good beer. With Robin and Anthony. Later that evening, a friend of Anthony showed up. Tessa, also from Munich (maybe there is a bavarian happening here in Wanaka? too many of them showd up today). The story of Tessa was both, interesting and shocking at the same time. She traveled around as she took a sabatical from work. And after some countries she went to Australia. First day, bunk bet, top bed, she slipped with heir socks while trying to step down the bed. Result: a big open wound on the leg – no problem. She went to the hospital, she was treated. All good. Some days later, the wound changed, it got thicker and it showd up an infection. So for now she has to go to a medical center every second day to get the wound cleaned (which is really painful) and to get a new patch. So she is quite limited in outdoor acitivies – but fortunately she has taken out an insurance policy just before her journey – otherwise this would be a financial desaster for her… (so alwys keep in mind to have one as well while traveling – better safe than sorry – and shit happens every day).
Friday and Saturday, canyoning again (and this will be normal daily life for the next weeks as more and more bookings pop up). Saturday evening, light up of the Wanaka christmas tree. And this event was weird. A lot of people with blankets on the gras, listening to non-christmas songs . While it is warm outside. No snow, no cold, and still bright at 8 pm. I am used to freeze in that time of the year – fortunately it was a little windy that day 🙂
Countdown from 10 to 0 to light up the christmas tree. 3… . 2… . 1… . Nothing! The christmas tree was still without lights, nobody checked if the energy supply is working or not 🙂 and still after that most of the people left the area. So we did as well 🙂 I definitly miss christmas time at home with mold wine, cold temperatures outside and some christmas music around. Guys, enjoy this time of the year as it is really special, enjoy it with friends and family, cheers to all of you!

Wilson Creek – demanding, narrow, amazing

Sunday, canyoning day – this time another one – Wilson creek, one ouf our advanced canyons and probably one of the most beautiful ones as well.
2 guides, 2 customers and a long, long day. Driving again to the area of Makarora for about 1h and 20 minutes. And then hiking up for almost 2 hours, with your gear, partly steep, muddy and slippery. So for this canyon you and your customers as well need to be on a good fitness level and ready for some elevation. And some fun in the canyon – this one is just a stunning one. Clear and blue water, nice jumps, narrow sections, sunbeams showing up at the end of the tour. Cold, cold water and almost no option to escape that canyon.

What else to say?

Christmas time is family time, friend time. It is used to be cold. Cozy. Dark. But not this time of the year. It is getting warm in New Zealand, days are long, sunsets late. No christmas lights, no mold wine, no christmas music in town. Just people in shorts, shirts and sunglasses. Sitting outside of bars, getting sunburned from time to time. Really weird – and also hard from time to time. Missing family and friends especially in this time of the year is not that easy as I really love this time of the year. To eat some cookies made by my family and drink some tea with granny (or champaign as this is her favourite hehe).
But nevertheless, Wanaka is a beautiful place to be, a nice aresa to explore, people are supportive and lovely. Honest. Open-minded. And I will still be the annoying german guy singing annoying christmas songs while wearing a santa clause costume – I promise 🙂

Hope you have great christmas time, enjoy it with famíly and friends as this time is special. Spend your time with people you love – cheers to all of you!

Felix