Forest Boot V - Hump Ridge Track

Fiordland’s Forgotten History: A Ballpoint Pen Tribute to the Hump Ridge Track

There’s something special about places that carry their history in plain sight. The Hump Ridge Track in Fiordland National Park felt like that from the moment I stepped onto it. Ancient forest winds around rusted reminders of the past and every footstep seems to echo with stories old and new.

I drew this scene in black and white with a single ballpoint pen. At first glance you see a mud-caked boot but look closer and you’ll notice the curve of old logging tracks, the shape of a rusted boiler and native bush slowly taking over. Each detail speaks of resilience and recovery.

The track grew out of a thriving timber industry where logs were hauled by train along these very rails. As trees and ferns moved in they softened those relics of industry until the trail itself became a monument to change. In 2022 the Hump Ridge Track joined New Zealand’s Great Walks for the first time in over 25 years, a nod to its natural beauty and the cultural stories it holds.

Walking here feels like moving through layers of time. I wanted my drawing to capture that sense of memory and transformation. The boot stands as proof that even our footprints can become part of the wild landscape they once disturbed.

Here’s a peek behind the scenes as I worked on the piece:

Ballpoint pen drawing of the “Forest Boot - Hump Ridge Track” in progress

Limited edition prints of this drawing are available now in my online store. Each one is printed on watercolour paper to retain the rich texture of the original and is hand-signed and numbered.

Thanks for reading and walking a few steps with me through this story.