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A Hunter's Story: The Case for Getting #ROARfit

20th February 2026|4 min

Hunter Daniel Lastovicka caught up with NZ Mountain Safety Council to share his experience hunting in the Canterbury high country. The trip changed how he thinks about preparation for the Roar, making a strong case for getting #ROARfit. 

The upper reaches of the Rangitata River in the Canterbury region is a place that takes substantial effort to reach before you even start hunting. Steep mountains, quick-moving streams, and technical terrain can get the best of anyone who hasn’t prepared for what the mountains have on offer.

Sean and I had planned the trip well. Permits, gear, food, logistics were all sorted. We knew the country was steep and exposed, so we took our preparation seriously.

What we hadn’t accounted for was how tired we’d be from just the walk in.
We walked in during a weather system that brought strong winds and heavy rain. The flats were straightforward, but the wind tested our balance, and we were soaked from river crossings and sideways rain. It wasn’t dangerously cold, but cold enough that stopping for too long wasn’t an option.
By the time we hit the climb to the hut, we’d already been moving for hours. Packs felt heavier than they had at the start of the walk, and we had a steep 300 m climb to the plateau. Our legs were warm and heavy, and roughly halfway up, Sean mentioned how tired he was feeling. Energy gels quickly brought life back into his legs. The climb was steady, where your calves burn constantly and your breathing never settles. Every pause let the cold creep in, so we kept moving, even when slowing down would have felt better.

The next day was clear, but we were fatigued from the late-night walk-in.

The hunting itself went well, but the real test came afterwards. Carrying meat, heads and skins in steep country on legs that were already tired made every slope feel steeper and harder. By the time we got back to the hut that night, everything ached. Standing up hurt. Sitting down made it harder to get moving again.

The following morning, we had very little spare capacity, both mentally and physically, making everything harder and increasing our risk of a mishap. With even heavier packs, that lack of reserve became obvious after we set off. The river had risen overnight, and looking for a crossing with tired bodies changed the way the problem looked. Options that might have been manageable earlier in the trip weren’t sensible anymore. So, we made the decision to walk back and call for help on our Garmin InReach.

The climb up was slow, and after what felt like an eternity, we made it back to the hut, just as it started to snow.

Sitting in the hut waiting for the helicopter, it struck me how fatigue had reduced our choices and made decision-making harder.
Being physically prepared for hunting isn’t about making big days bigger or carrying more weight. It’s about still being able to move well when you’re wet, cold, fatigued and hours into a day. It’s about having enough left in the tank to make good decisions, be aware of what is going on around you and be able to enjoy the hunt rather than just get through it.

The hills didn’t suddenly become dangerous, rather they become harder to manage when we were fatigued. That’s why getting #ROARfit before the Roar matters. The fitter you are, the longer it takes for your body to react to the stress in the hills, the more resilient you’ll be and the less likely you are to get injured or need to call for help.

The Roar will always ask a lot of you. Being physically prepared means that you’re better placed to answer those demands, enjoy the time you’re out there, and get home at the end of it.

NZ Mountain Safety Council insights show severe hunting injuries double during the Roar, with mental and physical fatigue key contributors. Based on ACC injury claim data, recovery from these injuries takes on average of 76 days. 

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PHOTO CREDIT | Daniel Lastovicka

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