Mt Arrowsmith was the challenge. All 2,781 metres of her on the Main Divide west of Ashburton. Steve Reeves pulled out on the eleventh hour due to straining his back at Rock ‘n’ Roll dance classes. The group was now down to eight with Joe Fraser (leader), Tony Reeves, Charlie Batho, Andrew Downes, Simon Wakeman, … Read more
“Only one more sleep before sailing!” was the excited call from skipper Roger on Thursday night. Three yachts: 31 ft Raport, 35 ft Benedictine and 36 ft Syrena and their crews of 21 trampers were to set sail in the Marlborough Sounds the following day. Three of those trampers claimed to know enough about boats … Read more
For those who find it tedious to wade through lengthy trip reports of trips they missed here is a quick precy: Two-hour Friday night grunt to Travers Hut; leatherwood crawl; river-bash to Forks Hut; vertical bush-bash to Makawakawa Stream; river-bash to Diggers Hut; quick grunt; mud slide to West Branch of Tamaki River; more river-bashing; … Read more
Following a cruisey venture over the Five Pass trip, 5 punters (Eric, Roger, Andrew, Garry and I) sat in Wanaka, taking it easy, trying to work out what was next on the list. With only 3 days we were restricted but finally made up our minds, it would be a jet boat assisted trip through … Read more
I was too young to die. Between myself and the summit lay Newton’s Folly. Beyond that, the De Rose Step. I was way too young to die. You know how the Royal Family never travel all together, in case the plane goes down. Well, it would be the noble thing to pass on the summit … Read more
Our jackets had only just dried from the last soaking. Another shower looks imminent. Bracing against the gunwales we lean towards the centre of the narrow boat, hoping those in front will take the brunt. Waves stand up to meet us, spitting spumes of silty water. At first glance there was nothing extraordinarily daunting about … Read more
When I saw the Moonlight Southern Crossing on last winter’s trip schedule I was immediately taken by a strange urge to join in to go and walk among the moonlit clouds. But it clashed with the AIC (like this year, more about that later) so, as Lyndsay had asked full commitment of all AIC punters, … Read more
A big high-pressure system sat over the middle of the North Island offering encouragement for a group of seven cyclists set to head from the mountains to the sea. The historic and culturally fascinating Whanganui River valley was to be our route but a stinging frost was first to be negotiated. Arriving at the Mangawhero … Read more
It all began on a Ruahines trip in ’93 with Allan MacLachlan, who was just back from a Karakoram Highway expedition with Keith Strode-Penny. They had biked from Pakistan to China, finishing at Kashgar. I’d never heard of the Karakoram Highway or Kashgar, but they sounded romantic. Dave Turnbull, world cyclist extraordinary, agreed. “We’ll do … Read more
The first, and for that matter, only tournament on the 2000 Tongariro PGA Tour was the Solstice Shootout Pro-Am at the scenic Ruapehu Heights Country Club. Editor’s note: a large photo from this unique event is in the Lodge lounge. Seven players, Lyndsay Fletcher, Glynne Lloyd, Paul Cater, Keith Gerritson, Harry Smith (Ret.), Larry Cameron … Read more