Didymo

The North Island is still didymo free, so it is timely to remind your members that the “Check Clean Dry” process is still vitally important in keeping the North Island didymo free. With the rapidly approaching Easter break, being a traditional time for South Island trips, I would like to draw your attention to some … Read more

Care of Tents/Flies

From Marie Henderson – Gear Custodian These are useful, and sometimes critical, shelters. Like all gear they can take a bit of a battering. They do better when used the right way and shown some respect. So it seemed a good topic to review. A double skin tent is one like the club alpine tents … Read more

Weight Watching

With the holidays fast approaching some of us are planning longer trips. Such trips are always more enjoyable if you are not overburdened from carrying too much stuff.  I have never heard anyone complain that their pack is too light. Consider some of these ideas and you may be able to save your legs and … Read more

Wild rivers, wild voter

A letter to the editor of the Wairarapa News I sometimes wonder if our MP John Hayes deliberately inserts something to rile me in his weekly column, From the House. That of 28 October 2009 has a tailpiece about electricity generation – admittedly a topic about which a politician can please only some voters only … Read more

FMC News – November 2009

It has been another busy month. Here is the latest news on FMC advocacy and significant developments of importance to trampers, climbers and all interested in safe outdoor recreation. Threat of Mining in National Parks & other Conservation Lands As a result of our opposition to the proposals that could open up conservation lands and … Read more

Locator Beacons

As you are probably aware, the club recently purchased 3 locator beacons. At club night recently Steve Austin gave a presentation about these devices. A number of people asked questions about the use of these. There appears to be two main concerns about locator beacons. They are: That the use of locator beacons may encourage … Read more