Shoulder season, fall, pre-winter, whatever you want to say about Autumn, there's no denying it's a good season for adventure. While it's easy to think winter's icy fingers are already crawling all over the place, there's still some summer in the air (cue blazing March sunshine). As with any season, autumn comes with it's own set of gear changes, track changes & nuances.
Autumn Conditions
Sunshine one day, snow flurries the next - autumn can be temperamental. There are a few key changes and challenges as we move into the new season.
Daylight Hours
The days begin to get shorter, nights longer. It starts to be noticeable come mid-March, and come April, we're lacking adventure hours. This means leaving earlier to make the most of the daylight hours ensuring there is enough daylight to safely complete the trip.
Weather
Snow in May never stays - we know that much. But it still means snow is present and incoming. The tops will change colour frequently and rivers will rise and fall as autumn sun melts autumn snow. It's more common in autumn to get blazing hot days, followed by icy cool nights, so it's important to be prepared. Although autumn is pretty darn settled up until around mid-April, be prepared for winter conditions and do thorough forecast checks before you head out.
Autumn Packing
We're almost in heavy pack season. At least with winter you're guaranteed cold air. Autumn however can feel like summer and winter all in one and it can be tricky to know what to pack. The best thing to do is pack layers. The Nitro range is excellent for layerable warmth without weight, as is our Prothermal range.
Packing warm clothes, a rain jacket, head torch, spare clothing and appropriate emergency communication device are the absolute minimum regardless of the weather forecast and length of trip. This is in case something doesn’t go to plan.
Items like the Nitro Vest are great to add to hike outfits, bike commuting activewear, or even chilly morning walks with the dog.
Rainjackets and headtorches are usual essentials, but even more important in autumn. Just remember spare batteries and to re-waterproof your gear.
Autumn Adventures
What does autumn mean for adventures?
Hut Bookings
In Aotearoa, around April is the end of the Great Walk Season, and often the transition from bookable huts to first in first served. Tracks like the Routeburn, Mueller Hut Track, and the Milford turn from Great Walk huts with wardens, to serviced or standard huts. Check the dates you're adventuring to see what hut tickets you might need.
Crowds
The other epic thing about adventuring in autumn is fewer crowds. February to mid-April is prime adventure time, but it's also when schools are back and summer holidays have finished. So although the weather is settled, the trails are quieter.
Sunrises
This is one for the early birds. A positive to shorter days is later sunrises. Sticking your head out of the tent is now at 7.30am, instead of 5.30. It's the small wins.
Trails
As 'hiking season' is coming to a close, trails may become less maintained, or might shut for maintenance. Always check for track updates before you head out.
Plan My Walk
Use the NZ Mountain Safety Council’s Plan My Walk app and website to plan your next autumn hike. With over 1600 tracks to choose from, you also get track alerts, MetService weather forecasts and warnings, interactive gear lists; and your personalised trip plan can be sent to group members and your emergency contact. It’s free to use, and the perfect tool for sound autumn planning.
