I mentioned to Pete one weekend at Ruapehu Lodge that I was doing some Life Member interviews and he promptly said ‘Right we’d better bloody get on with it then’. So he regaled me with decades of club adventures over coffee surrounded by kids playing and with stunning views of Taranaki out the window. When … Read more
Recently Illona and I attended a DOC consultation session covering the new Wellington Conservation Management Strategy. This 10 year strategy covers some important areas that WTMC people regularly tramp in, so it’s great that DOC have involved us in the planning process. For more information about the Wellington CMS visit DOC’s website DOC will soon … Read more
DOC was recently approached by a group of community representatives, who are keen to see mountain biking options in the Tararua Forest Park. There are currently very limited opportunities for recreational mountain bikers to enjoy the Tararuas, unlike most other DOC managed areas throughout the country. DOC has proposed to allow mountain bikers access to … Read more
When I met up with Ron at a local pub, he belied his 80+ years with a twinkle in his eye, a clear voice and a sharp memory. We spent the afternoon over a pint, as club life in the 1960s came to life in Ron’s reminiscing. How did you first get introduced to the … Read more
The Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club (WTMC) is running a survey to look at ways we could share out the work of running our club more effectively. The purpose of this survey is not to single out members for doing more or less, it’s simply to assess how we manage the club, and how we could manage it better. … Read more
Saturday morning was sunny but quite cool when we emerged from the van at the road end. Extra layers of clothing were quickly added. Our track was a 4-wheel-drive route, at times deeply rutted and beginning with a huge muddy pool. We walked downhill through regenerating bush to the first of 10 river crossings and … Read more
This is the first in a series of interviews with some of the WTMC life members. Sue Walsh is one of the life members that is well known to a lot of us who go to club regularly. She’s been the friendly welcoming face you saw up front on Wednesday nights for several years up until … Read more
With Aunty Rata I like to run, always have done. As a child growing up on a dairy farm characterised more by rolling hills than flat pastures us kids were supplementary cattle dogs albeit rather more obedient than the actual dogs. The reward for our athletic efforts was getting to sleep in the house rather … Read more
with Aunty Rata Kia Ora and happy new year Wasn’t it nice to get the Club Journal just before Xmas? Felt like an extra special present and if like Aunty Rata you were struggling to squeeze in a few fun trips into the hills between all those heavy rain warnings, you probably had a bit … Read more
Mountain bikers can begin riding Kahurangi National Park’s Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and Kill Devil tracks now but are reminded they cannot begin riding the Heaphy Track until 1 May 2011, says the Department of Conservation. The DOC comments follow the announcement by the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) that it has approved a revised … Read more