SURVIVAL
In the wild expanse of Fiordland, where rain is as common as sunshine, surviving a hike without a downpour is akin to winning the lottery. With over six meters of rainfall annually, and nearly 200 rainy days, staying dry is a rare luxury. Yet, amidst the damp, there lies a silver lining—the rain unveils breath-taking waterfalls unseen in drier times.
But nature's whims can turn from blessing to curse with very little warning. In January 2024, relentless rains, exacerbated by global warming, unleashed chaos across New Zealand's southern reaches. Torrential downpours submerged the land, triggering floods and creating landslides, wreaking havoc on iconic trails like the Routeburn and Milford Tracks.
Among those caught in the maelstrom weather bomb were Queenstown locals, Gary Chesters and his hiking companion, Dale Le Maitre. What began as a gentle drizzle soon escalated into a deluge of biblical proportions, prompting an urgent need for not just
