On Friday afternoon I met with Elly our trip leader at 2.30pm at the car rental office to collect a fancy SUV. We drove to the train station to get Matt (whom I have been tramping quite a lot with on recent club trips) and Nicole who is a colleague of Elly’s. We arrived at … Read more
We set off on Friday after work with the club van and headed for Hawke’s Bay. After dinner in Carterton and a few driver changes, we parked at North Block Rd end at 10pm, and were asleep by 10:30pm at Triple X Hut. On Saturday we could take it easy and have a relaxed breakfast … Read more
The trip in pictures What people thought of the trip Well organised and it provided a really good introduction to club trips. I gained some useful tips on the basics, like how to properly pour out of a billy when it’s full of boiling water! and what ongaonga looks like. I liked the scenery, the … Read more
The Tramping Calendar Blues (or Rap) by Harry Smith (Best spoken aloud with a heavy 4/4 rap beat) (Apologies to everyone for this silly nonsense but Tony Gazley makes me do it every year). Oh God, it’s that time of the year When Tony Gazley’s calendar’s here And he has asked me to review it … Read more
2019 Photo Competition WTMC Winners and runners-up in the 2019 WTMC Photo Competition judged by Grant Newton. The photos were entered in the FMC national competition which this year attracted a record 565 photographs from 35 clubs and 31 individual supporters. Above bush edge with human element Winner: Syme Hut, Tony Gazley . Runner-up: Taranaki … Read more
Could be worth your time reading FMC Regional Leadership Development Course – February 2020 Earlier this year the FMC kicked off an initiative that is intended to assist tramping clubs recruit and train trip leaders. Most clubs have a systemic problem with recruiting and retaining a sufficient number of members who can capably lead trips. … Read more
DATE: 29 August to 1 September 2019 TRIP: ALP1 LOCATION: Crooked Spur hut, Two Thumbs Range AUTHOR: Byron TRAMPERS: Byron and Tiffany “A bit overweight, but that’s alright,” said the Air NZ staffer, as they attached a “heavy” label to my bag. “Excellent,” I thought to myself. “I look forward to putting that on my … Read more
Restorative Retreat Weekend at Gosling Hut – Leatham Conservation Area Restorative Retreat Weekend at Gosling Hut – Leatham Conservation Area A 3 day hike to climb Bounds in the Leatham Conservation Area that ended as a lazy time in Gosling Hut due to bad weather. Thursday afternoon at 4:00 pm we careened out of Platform 9 … Read more
The Totara Flats tramping crew was a mixture of more experienced trampers and complete newbies (myself included!). The tramp was graded an easy-medium trip, with around 4-5 hours walking to our destination of Totara Flats hut. After a very early and groggy start to Saturday morning for some of us, we met at Wellington Train … Read more
This was my second time on the Pouakai Circuit. The last time I went, just over a year ago, the track was underwater and there was no mountain to be seen – the pictures in that trip report say it all. While I absolutely enjoyed that trip, I was hoping for much better weather. This … Read more