Adventure Magazine

SURVIVAL
Journey
to the
Source
Words and images by Eric Skilling
Nobody wants to find themselves faced with making a
decision to abandon a multi-day hike within a few hours
of starting, but thanks to some serious dehydration
suffered by one of our group, that is exactly where we
found ourselves.
Planning for this trip began over six months ago, which
made it even harder to face the prospect of having
to turn around and go home. Generally, and I stress
generally, I find the further south you venture in New
Zealand, the more spectacular the wilderness. The
5-day Rees Dart Circuit in the south-western corner of
Otago in the South Island promised some of the best in
New Zealand alpine country.
Less than three hours into the trip and we were
gathered around a member of our party as she sat pale
and glassy-eyed, leaning heavily on one arm, clearly
distressed. It would have made a bizarre scene had
there been any witnesses, but we were alone. Six of
us gathered on a small mound amid an expanse of
grassland. Nearby the Rees River snaked its way down
the gently sloping valley. Above us the sky was a sheet
of deep blue, without a single cloud or jetstream in
sight. It was hot with only the gentlest of breezes.
Such a peaceful scene that gave no hint of the drama
taking place in our little group.
Dehydration
in the
Unforgiving
Southern
Alps
Karen (not her real name) had been lagging whenever
the track wandered off the valley floor and up the
gentlest of climbs. She had mentioned feeling
lightheaded, which she blamed on the pollen-filled
air. After another short bush-bash over a small ridge,
she emerged onto the small grassy mound, muttered
“I need to sit down”, dropped her pack and crumpled
down beside it.
My first thought was Covid. Two of our party were still
suffering the longer-term effects of infection and let us
face it, it’s still at the forefront of most of our minds.
How wrong I was. I gazed down at Karen and assessed
our options – continue and risk the symptoms becoming
debilitating, maybe even forcing a clumsy evacuation.
Alternatively, and more appropriately, set up camp
where we were gathered, and if Karen recovered, we
faced eleven hours of hiking the next day.
Fortunately, we were dealing with a highly experienced
tramper. Slowly Karen became more animated, and
her eyes began to focus. She reached for her pack,
rummaged around, pulled out a packet of electrolytes
which she added to a full water bottle. She must have
downed nearly 400ml in her first drink.
Jan reflecting early morning Dart Valley
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