Two weeks from finishing his length-of-the-South Island walk, Queenstowner Matt Rose — who’s already raised almost $163,000 for charity — deservedly put his feet up for a day at home this week.
The 61-year-old financial advisor, who set off from the Marlborough Sounds on February 20, on the Te Araroa Trail, is undertaking the journey in response to mental challenges he’s faced.
But he’s also fundraising for 10 charities close to his heart.
Speaking on Wednesday, before walking from Arrowtown to Queenstown Bay, Rose says the weather gods ‘‘have thrown every thing they’ve got at us over the last few weeks’’.
‘‘We’ve had freezing temperatures, a lot of rain, flooded rivers, deep snow, but then we’ve had bluebird, beautiful autumnal days.’’
He suspects at one point, when he got blackened toenails from his feet having been cold for nearly 48 hours, he was one stage from hypothermia.
Physically, however, despite aches, pains and niggles, he’s feeling in ‘‘peak condition’’.
Rose says he couldn’t have attempted the 1400 kilometre trail without the support of his wife, Rachel, who’s been driving a campervan which he’s slept in when he could.
Otherwise, he’s stayed in huts, or if they’re full or non-existent, in his tent.
‘‘It’s a disgrace some of these places calling themselves backcountry huts, they have been little more than just shacks held
together by no.8 wire.’’
Sometimes it’s been colder inside them than outside, he says.
‘‘When you get to places like the Motatapu Track and those huts are new, all insulated, well clad, it’s just a godsend.’’
Rose says, thanks to friends, family and clients, his fundraising’s exceeded expectations — ‘‘I’m just super-delighted’’.
Though he’s expecting to finish in Bluff on April 28 or 29, his fundraising — via his website, mattsgoodwalk.nz — is carrying on
till the end of next month.
The charities he’s supporting are Wakatipu Community Foundation, Melanoma New Zealand, Rainbow Youth, Christchurch City Mission, Antarctic Heritage Trust, Braintree Wellness Centre, Champion Foundation Trust, Wakatipu High School Foundation, Bruce Grant Youth Trust and Hollyford Conservation Trust.
Quick pitstop
Young Queenstown Te Araroa trailblazer Jess Dredge can practically taste the finish-line.
Stopping in her hometown over the weekend, Jess, 18, has notched up over 2700 kilometres of walking over the past four months and is
now on the final stretch heading south.
She arrived in Arrowtown last Saturday, to the delight of mum, Jenny, who hosted Jess and a bunch of walker friends on the living room floor for a couple of nights, before walking from Arrowtown to Queenstown on Sunday.
After a day off, she left from Greenstone Station on Tuesday — she’s now got less than 328 kilometres to go before she reaches Bluff, which will bring her total walking distance to 3013km since she started in Cape Reinga on December 10.
