Whoops! I haven’t been too good at keeping you up to date with Chief Guide things.
By now you should have seen the new Spring schedule which takes us to January. Click here for a copy. There are loads of alpine and rock trips and a couple of volunteer trips – not to mention the tramping. Thanks to all the leaders that signed up to lead a trip. With the days getting longer it is time to think about the adventures you want to do, including Christmas trips – of which there are some special ones on the schedule.
A couple of people have mentioned that maybe we could venture into the 21st century and start thinking about on-line sign up. I would be keen to hear your ideas on this so please email me if you have any thoughts. If you are really keen to be a volunteer “test case” please let me know.
I have just had a meeting in Apiti about the Ruahine Whio Protectors which had representatives of all the trapping groups, volunteers and DOC staff who are involved in the trapping. This wider collective offers super opportunities for WTMC to be involved in protecting Whio on our trap line but also seeing other areas of the Ruahine. Our goal is to go from the current 30 pairs to 50 pairs protected by trapping in the Ruahine Ranges by 2020. It was awesome to meet all the people involved – and I reckon there are some wicked trips on the horizon. Did you know there are kiwi in the Ruahine’s, just over the hill from the Upper Makaroro Valley? I found out today, so that is an added bonus to what we are protecting. Since the traps were put out in February 2015 WTMC has caught 41 stoats, 11 weasels, 8 rats and 10 mice – thanks to all those who have volunteered. If you want to help out sign up for one of the trips on the schedule or let me know. We will be doing a bird census in early summer so if you are keen on this please let me know.
Thanks
Illona
ps from the newsletter editor. The ed recently took his turn again at resetting the WTMC traps. Not only is it very satisfying to be part of a large group dedicated to protecting NZs rarest riverine bird but as Illona noted there are other parts of the Ruahines that can be enjoyed at the same time. Instead of visiting the traps in an out-and-back trip to each end of the trap line as usual ed joined the two ends with a day along the tops on snowshoes. The weather and snow was perfect – a couple of pics from the weekend are included below.
