Expectations of the experience

I expect rugged and remote travel where self-reliance is a necessity and all my tramping experience will be called on. I expect to deal with thick bush, slow travel, and to have to take care in places (open tops, slippery grass etc). I don't expect to see anyone beyond the Dusky Track. I hope to come away enriched by the challenge of Fiordland tramping (Diary 140).

Respondents’ expectations of wilderness were complex, diverse and multi-dimensional, and derived from a variety of sources. Many of the responses to this question were long and detailed, and incorporated a variety of factors such as environmental expectations (terrain, weather conditions and scenery); social expectations (who, and how many people they

expected to meet); experiential expectations (how they expected to feel, what they expected to learn), and the various benefits that they thought they would accrue from the experience. Expectations were described in terms of various senses including sight, sound and smell, and included details about what participants thought they might learn during the trip, and what they might like or dislike about it. A number of individuals also mentioned what they did not expect (or did not want) to see, to hear or to encounter, serving to highlight the relational value of wilderness (i.e. it is valued for what it is not): ‘I don’t expect to encounter any other people during my trip’ (Diary 274); ‘I don’t expect to see any sign of human activity’ (Diary 331), ‘It will be good to see no signs of civilisation or tourists!’ (Diary 226).

It was clearly easier for people to describe the more tangible aspects of their expectations (such as what they might see or hear) than the intangible aspects such as how they might feel. This was also evident to some extent during the interviews, where people described with relative ease what they actually did in Fiordland, but often found it difficult to explain why they chose to do a particular thing, or how they felt about it90. Despite this, a few people revealed some of their fears and worries in their diaries before their trip began, and gave an indication of things they were expecting to find frustrating or challenging. Respondent 332 noted, for example, that: ‘I am worried about the weather and the exposed nature of the coastline’, and respondent 41 wrote: ‘I expect to be frustrated by the weather, vegetation and sandflies. I expect challenges of teamwork and weather, and irritation with visitors using mechanised transport’.

Almost everyone had very clear expectations about the physical and environmental setting for wilderness. This is because the natural environment (or the landscape) was a major factor in many people’s decision to come to Fiordland. The ‘majestic scenery’ featured in many accounts, as did the ‘natural’ and ‘untouched’ landscape and the diversity of flora and fauna. Some participants – particularly hunters – were extremely knowledgeable about the kind of environment they were heading into, and were able to provide fairly detailed descriptions of this. Respondent 134, for example, wrote: ‘I expect to see high numbers of red deer in a very remote part of Fiordland. It should be wet, but with some clear days. I expect high country with tussock and steep-sided valleys and a variety of native birds’. Other people (largely trampers and overseas visitors) commented more on the scenery and views that they were expecting: ‘I’m hoping for great views over Fiordland, gorgeous wild forests, rivers, mountains and nature as it is allowed to flourish’ (Diary 45); ‘I am hoping and expecting to see some dramatic scenery’ (Diary 398). Additional elements of the physical setting that featured frequently in people’s expectations were the mountainous landscapes, native ‘bush’, abundant water features (fiords, rivers, lakes, tarns and waterfalls), birdlife, sandflies,

unpredictable weather and mud.

In terms of the social setting, there was a general expectation that the wilderness would be un- crowded, with little (or no) contact with anyone other than the members of the group. This notion of ‘getting away’ from other people was to be one of the defining characteristics of wilderness, and was clearly something that most respondents were hoping for. Views ranged from those who expected to see absolutely no-one: ‘I expect to see no trampers. I expect to

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As discussed in Chapter Six, one of the main advantages of the interview method is that it enables the researcher to probe further into reasons why people felt a certain way or said a particular thing.

see no other hunters’ (Diary 195) to those who were anticipating a few encounters: ‘I expect to meet maybe a handful of people with most huts to ourselves’ (Diary 202). Respondents who thought they might encounter others during their trip were of the belief that they would be of a similar mentality, and so would not have a major impact on their experience: ‘I expect a feeling of comradeship with any other groups encountered – assuming they are as self- sufficient as we are’ (Diary 10). This idea is discussed in more detail in Chapter Eight, and illustrates that (even before commencing the trip) respondents had very clear ideas about the activities and practices that they believe are appropriate in wilderness.

Some respondents described their expectations of the managerial setting (attributes of the setting that are influenced by, or under the control of park managers). Most expected there to be minimal signs of management or human intervention: ‘I expect a true wilderness

experience, with no sign of human activity’ (Diary 331). In some cases (generally in the gazetted wilderness areas) visitors expected no tracks or facilities, and in other areas

(generally ‘Remote’ zones), they expected only basic facilities and a few track markers. Most people’s expectations tended to be in line with the management objectives for remote and wilderness areas in the park plan (described in Chapter Five) and guidelines in the Wilderness Policy (outlined in Chapter Two).

There was also a widely held expectation that wilderness participants would experience ‘natural quiet’ and separation from the sights and sounds of civilisation. This was described in various ways such as ‘peace and quiet’, ‘a nice quiet atmosphere’ and ‘natural peace’. Aircraft and other forms of motorised transport were some of the key signs of civilisation that

respondents did not want to (or expect to) encounter during their experience: ‘I do not expect to see helicopters, aircraft and boats’ (Diary 274); ‘I expect to be far from boats and cars’ (Diary 202). Other things that people did not anticipate seeing were ‘Japanese tour groups’ (Diary 040), ‘speedboat trampers’ (Diary 413), ‘civilisation and tourists’ and ‘visitors using mechanised transport’ (Diary 226). This is another example of wilderness being defined in terms of what it is not.

Expectations about the nature of the wilderness experience were more difficult for respondents to articulate than ideas about the more tangible features of the trip because it required a certain degree of foresight and introspection which many people found difficult at this early stage in the trip. This type of information became more prevalent at the later stages of the diary-writing process and during the interviews, (highlighting the value of qualitative methods in uncovering meanings and values) and is included in Chapters Eight, Nine and

Ten. Of those respondents who did refer to the experiential aspects of their trip, most thought that it was likely to be intense, and often challenging. They referred to physical challenges: ‘I expect travelling difficulties and lots of challenges due to the terrain’ (Diary 196); and also mental challenges: ‘navigation along rugged ridge lines will be tough’ (Diary 323); ‘I expect to get wet, muddy and slightly low at times. I expect to ache and long for a shower!’ (Diary 226); ‘I expect to be challenged by being in a group of eight people for fourteen days and trying to make group decisions’ (Diary 188). This aspect of the experience appeared to be something which participants were not only anticipating, but were actively seeking: ‘I expect to reap the benefits of surmounting challenges and becoming reconciled to limitations

imposed by nature’ (Diary 41) and ‘I expect to come away satisfied from completing the challenge’ (Diary 226). Comments of this nature made by New Zealanders often reflected a desire to re-live an experience similar to that of the pioneers or first explorers in New Zealand. For example, as noted in diary 195: ‘I expect to be able to push myself to the limit and to hunt the way my predecessors hunted 50 years ago’. This idea is discussed further in Chapter Ten.

Other elements of the experience that diarists expected were a need for self reliance: ‘I expect to be prepared to look after myself and not to have all the facilities laid on’ (Diary 321); isolation, remoteness, danger, exploration, adventure, escape, solitude, and a connection with the natural environment. Many of these are also characteristics which are associated with the stereotypical tough, rugged pioneering way of life; suggesting that wilderness may be a way in which some New Zealanders are able to recreate these past experiences.

Many of the positive outcomes believed to derive from wilderness, have been discussed in the literature (see Chapter Four). A range of benefits were also expected by study respondents. These included improved physical fitness, the development of navigation and outdoor skills, and socio-psychological benefits (such as improved confidence and sense of satisfaction) from surmounting challenges. Many participants believed that they would return refreshed, relaxed and recharged after their wilderness experience – they saw this kind of trip as an opportunity to escape from ‘real life’, and to de-stress away from the pressures of home and work. As noted by respondent 331: ‘I expect to return with a refreshed attitude to life’, and respondent 134: ‘I should return de-stressed, fit and recharged for the year to come’. It was common for those who were expecting socio-psychological changes to feel that that their wilderness experience would be inspirational, and would provide them with a clearer

perspective on life: ‘I think I will return inspired and full of awe of the natural world’ (Diary 45).

It is important to note here that this section has only presented respondents’ expectations of their trip. These answers were provided before the trips began, and may not have reflected the reality of what they actually encountered. The realities of the experience will be the focus of Chapters Eight Nine and Ten. Where appropriate, these chapters will include comments on how accurately the realities reflected people’s expectations.