Having attended the obligatory two club tramps before becoming a member, and a trip leading session, it was appropriate to contribute in a small way by volunteering to lead a trip. Encouraged by my brother in-law Mike and the fact that a number of other trips were planned around Nelson at the same time, this … Read more
As we were doing a crossing we had a few transport logistics issues. We left Wellington Station on the 5:30pm train bound for Masterton, a lovely scenic ride, with the goal getting a pickup from the MF Blackwater-Makaretu group on the Sunday afternoon. We arrived in Masterton a bit hungry and in no real hurry, … Read more
As I now hold double (dubious) honour of setting off the first WTMC beacon rescue, and the first time I have asked others to get me out of a tricky situation, I have been contemplating the necessity, or otherwise, of carrying a PLB. It is only in the last few years I have started to … Read more
Sarah Young, Newsletter Editor What a great way to start a new year than with a bumper issue of the WTMC newsletter. Thank you very much to all of you who contributed to this edition and to editions past. Writing articles is no easy task, and one that consumes a fair amount of time. That … Read more
We met bright and early on Boxing Day morning and boarded the ferry. Thankfully it was a very calm crossing over to the South Island so the Christmas over indulgences were forgiven. The weather forecast for the next 10 days was beginning to look a little foreboding but, keeping our fingers crossed that it wouldn’t … Read more
I always know when I am tramping on the coming weekend as I spend the week before checking the forecast. The week before this trip was more checking than normal as we all tried to decide whether it was going to rain and blow too much. This indecision affected Air New Zealand making my flight … Read more
On the morning of Saturday 5th January, myself and Tony Gazley set out for Otaki Forks. Our plan was to walk to the top of Mount Hector, pitch the tent and take photos of the sunset. Wellington had been blessed by awesome weather for the weekend so I was looking forward to getting out onto … Read more
“Punters are but a myth of the imagination, or perhaps the memory of the trampers from a bygone era. An era which has since passed. The era of signing up for a trip meant going on a trip has since passed. But the show, of course, will always go on.” – Disillusioned trip leader Craig … Read more
We started off on a gorgeous Saturday morning from Wellington Railway Station, heading for Poads Road (about 4km east of Levin) in the club van. Our intention was to head up to Waiopehu Hut, cook up a lovely curry, enjoy the view, sleep like logs after our exertions and come back down on the Sunday. … Read more
Friday night had us hiking the 50 odd minutes required to get to the confluence of the Blackwater and Ohau streams. The campsites were brilliant. Some of us erected flys, the others relied on tree cover, mocking the weather gods. The next day our boots hit the Blackwater at a lazy 8:30am, but we made … Read more