The Tongue & Meats.

If you’ve ever seen photos of New Zealand (or watched Lord of the Rings), you’ve doubtlessly noticed the one, unremitting constant: this entire country is spectacularly beautiful. And the people here love to be out in it. I am bound and determined to join their ranks. How? By becoming a member of the Tongue & Meats—otherwise known as the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club. (Apparently, Tongue & Meats is a reference to a meatpacking plant that has the same acronym—it’s thoroughly disgusting, which means I absolutely love it.)

Just to clarify for my readers in America: tramping has nothing to do with being either a hobo or a whore. It simply means hiking. But unlike hiking at home, tramping in New Zealand requires a level of preparedness that I was not at all prepared for. Gaiters? Definitely don’t own any of those. Heavy-duty waterproof parka? Nope, don’t have that either. Hand-held GPS? Oh, dear. I’m in trouble.

I’m going on my first day-tramp this weekend and should be okay with my cobbled-together gear, which basically consists of everything I own that isn’t a sundress. I also signed up for an overnight tramp, but for that, wearing a glorified garbage sack for a rain jacket just isn’t going to cut it. However, I’m pretty committed to becoming a hardcore tramper (as you can tell, I’m loving the word “tramp”), so I’m willing to invest in quality gear.

As for the Tongue & Meats, those whom I met all seem like really lovely people. I felt immediately at home with them, which bodes well for our many future tramps together.