Mt Holdsworth day walk – a hiker’s point of view

Mt Holdsworth day walk Tararua Range

Mt Holdsworth day walk – a hiker’s point of view A video of a day walk to the summit of Mt Holdsworth in the Tararua Range from a hiker’s point of view. Includes walking time for sections of the track. There is even some snow to add to the spectacular view from the peak. The … Read more

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge – what goes on when you’re not watching 😆

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge Working Party June 2023

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge – what goes on when you’re not watching 😆 A report on the WTMC Lodge at Mt Ruapehu working party June 2024 that attended to the outstanding maintenance issues before opening for the 2024 ski season.

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge and the solitary wilding pine 🌲

Aerial view of the location of thee wilding pine

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge – and the solitary wilding pine  🌲  The wilding pine on the Whakapapa slopes of Mount Ruapehu needed to be removed – so Sarah and her teddy bear set out to do the job Some time ago while passing across the western slopes of Mt Ruapehu around towards the WTMC Lodge Sarah Saurus … Read more

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge – the aurora and the honey mead 🧸

Teddy Bears picnic at the WTMC Ruapehu Lodge

WTMC Ruapehu Lodge – the aurora and the honey mead At the WTMC Ruapehu Lodge the Teddy Bears Tramping Club enjoyed viewing the aurora and then also the tasty honey mead Today was an exciting time for us teddy bears at the WTMC Ruapehu Lodge. First there was an activation of the lahar warning system … Read more

Mt Owen – and some thoughts on trundling*

Tony and Sarah selfie with silly hats at Bulmer Lake on the way to Mt Owen

Mt Owen – and some thoughts on trundling* A 3 day hike to the summit of Mt Owen via Bulmer Lake in Kahurangi National Park. *Ref “The Art, History And Ethics Of Trundling” Below me, Tony jumped as a rock went whizzing past him at head height, missing him by a few inches. He looked up … Read more

Maitland Pass – with a llama and bananas

Tarn in the Ahuriri Valley, Ruataniwha Conservation Park

Maitland Pass –with a llama and bananas A 4 day hiking loop trip crossing over Maitland Pass in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park passing a llama and bananas Listen: “We thought the llama would be carrying your packs!” I laughed at what seemed like a good joke from some mountain bikers we had bumped into in the … Read more

The Bounds of Hades – Lees, Misery and Hellfire

Lees Hellfire Circuit Featured Image

The Bounds of Hades – Lees, Misery and Hellfire A 5 day hiking loop trip through spectacular mountain scenery from Lees Creek to Misery Stream and Hellfire Stream in the Raglan Range – an area once called The Bounds of Hades Carrying two tents. Spaniards on steroids. Endless tree-fall. Slow bushbash through dense beech forest. … Read more

Cameron to Ashburton circuit – an alpine tramping trip.

Upper Ashburton Glacier

Cameron to Ashburton circuit – an alpine tramping trip. A 4 day alpine tramping loop trip through spectacular mountain scenery including the Ashburton Glacier For another alpine tramping trip go to Ball Pass – a nice alpine day walk For a further alpine tramping trip go to Stumpy Stream

A WTMC ski trip to Mt Ruapehu Labour Weekend 1948

The fantastical flying bed bus

A WTMC ski trip to Mt Ruapehu Labour Weekend 1948 An entertaining account of a 1948 ski trip to Mt Ruapehu in a broken-down bus, stormy weather, and very little skiing