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

Kai on the Fly – February 2010

with Aunty Rata It’s February already. Doesn’t time fly when you’re  having fun? Speaking of which, Jackie Foster is running a “Best Tramping Bum” competition and your Aunty Rata has been lucky enough to have a sneak peek at some of the entries. She reckons this one is definitely the front runner… But don’t worry … Read more

Kai on the Fly – December 2009

With Aunty Rata Seasons Greetings! If you have managed to fit reading this column in with all your Xmas parties then good on you, although possibly you need to get out more. After a tramp, kayak, bike ride or climb everyone fancies a decent feed of kai and most of us are not adverse to … 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

Kai on the Fly – November 2009

With Aunty Rata Hi fellow trampers Aunty Rata is a big fan of adding kumara to her kai when out tramping, kayaking or biking. Yes I know the little blighters are a bit heavy but they are packed full of vitamins and minerals – vitamin A, B6, C, calcium and iron. You may think kumara … 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

Kai on the Fly – Sep/Oct 2009

With Aunty Rata Hi there fellow trampers and welcome to the inaugural column of “Kai on the Fly”. Yep, this column is going to be a regular feature in the newsletter for the next wee while. You may be able to get rid of it if you write enough trip reports but I think I’m … 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

FMC News – Sep/Oct 2009

Here is the latest news on FMC advocacy and significant developments of importance to trampers, climbers and all interested in safe outdoor recreation. FMC Opposes Government Investigation of Mining on Conservation Land At the end of August, the Minster for Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, announced that the government wants to assess the mining potential … Read more