with Amanda Wells – Chief Guide
Tramping can be a psychologically challenging sport. Aside from the difficulty of dragging yourself plus pack to the station when you’d rather be having a quiet drink, and the sitting for hours in a van, the trip itself can mess with your head.
A few weeks ago, we were heading into the Tararuas on the Wairarapa side. There were three groups in the club van and we stopped in Carterton for the compulsory kebab. While enjoying this delight, we met up with some other familiar trampers from Wellington. It turned out that they were going to Blue Range hut that night, where my group was also heading. And they said it was highly possible other groups they knew were in the hills that weekend would have the same destination. A climb on Friday night in the dark, rain and gale force wind is never an appealing prospect, but when its destination is an already full hut, sometimes you just want to go home.
Luckily the rest of my group was made of sterner stuff and looked only slightly perturbed. Our ambitious plan (given the conditions) for the weekend was also still viewed with favour by the other three! I reminded myself that Friday nights were often grim and that you can never predict how a tramp will turn out. Sometimes something you look forward to for weeks leaves you flat, while ho-hum Tararua expeditions become highlights of the year.
So we made our way up to Blue Range, with only slight navigational confusion. My thoughts of fly camping were flattened by the freight-train sound of the wind as we came over the ridge. The hut was indeed full but the four occupants (and their dog!) and our three recently arrived friends from Wellington double bunked so that us four could have the floor. It was fine. Similarly, the next day, somewhat to my surprise, we managed to make it over the snowy Waingawa peak and bush bash down to Arete Forks hut, where we again enjoyed the company of Lorraine, Simon and Caroline. Sometimes you just have to get out there and give it a try.
Two weeks later in the Ruahines, the route looked difficult on paper but revealed whole new degrees of challenge in reality. After a straightforward morning, a river proved an unexpected barrier before we could even start our main ridge bush bash. My mind starting entertaining thoughts of turning back; the options didn’t look good. But we tried climbing a bank and grovelling through steep scrub and down again, and there we were, past that obstacle. Soon we were faced with another cliff-like bank to get to our ridge, and yet again it looked near impassable. But one foot in front of the other, we made it. I won’t even attempt to tell the story of the rest of that trip, which defies superlatives in terms of bush lawyer volume and bodily damage. Let’s just say Richard and I were beyond pleased (and somewhat surprised!) to make it out late Sunday afternoon to Kawhatau Base and the sadly sick Mike, who’d enjoyed an unplanned weekend staring at motel walls in Taihape.
Tramping seems to have taught me that just because you think you can’t do it, and the weather and conditions seem to agree, it doesn’t mean you won’t make it or end up having a brilliant time doing so. An effective way of increasing your optimism quotient, perhaps.
At the moment we’re planning the Summer Schedule, which runs from the end of January to the end of April. Thanks to everyone who’s provided ideas of road ends – these will make up the skeleton of the schedule, which we’ll populate with trips on Wednesday 3 November, at the club rooms from 5.30pm (free pizza!). If you’re reading this online, it’s not too late to put it in your diary and come along: bring maps, books and any ideas you might have. Novice trip planners are very welcome.
Upcoming trips:
12-14 November Richmond FP – Northbank
Tramp EM – Richmond Saddle Hut – Kate Cushing
Tramp MF – Richmond/Mt Fell – Katja Riedel
Day E – Colonial Knob – Annemarie Wood
19-21 November Taranaki NP
Tramp E – Lake Dive – Garry Skipper
Tramp M – Pouaki Circuit – John Hoffeins Alp1 MF – Syme Hut – Steve Austin
Day M – Hawtrey/Lowry – Murray Sutherland
Family All – Paua Hut overnight – Mike Gilbert
26-28 November Ruahine FP – Pohangina / Tamaki West
Tramp E – Diggers Hut – Donna Maher
Tramp EM – Stanfield – Anna Lambrechtsen Tramp M – Crossing – Tim Frank
Cycle F – Dannevirke/Porangahau – Harry Smith
Day M – Wainui Pk (Paekakariki) – Peter Scolley
3-5 Dec Nelson Lakes NP / Lodge
Tramp EM – Mole tops photography (Nelson Lakes, three days) – Richard Young
Day M – Hauhungatahi (Lodge) – Tony Gazley
Day F – The Goat mountain run (Lodge) – Sharron Came (places in the Goat are limited and you need to enter the event yourself, Sharron is coordinating transport/accommodation)
MTB M – Fischers/42 Traverse (Lodge) – Hans Wierskerke/Mika Verheul