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A WTMC ski trip to Mt Ruapehu Labour Weekend 1948

The fantastical flying bed bus

A WTMC ski trip to Mt Ruapehu Labour Weekend 1948 An entertaining account of a 1948 ski trip to Mt Ruapehu in a broken-down bus, stormy weather, and very little skiing

Evening picnic at Carkeek

A deep longing.Carkeek! Carkeek! Oh, Carkeek!We’ll be with you soon. Those who tramped with me over the last couple of years will know this trip to Carkeek hut had been a long time coming.  My interest in the most remote hut in the Tararuas started turning into an obsession in 2023 on a new years … Read more

Mitre Flats – tramping with science

Mitre Flats tramping with science featured image

Mitre Flats – tramping with science A hiking trip into Mitre Flats, Tararua Range, to use some simple experiments to explain everyday phenomena in the hills Wind chill (W) = 13.12 + (0.6215t) – (11.37k0.16) + (0.3965tk0.16) Have you ever wondered why a rainbow disappears when you view it through polarised sunglasses? Or why the rivers … Read more

WTMC – my first club tramp

My first tramp with the WTMC

My first club tramp My first club tram- – a weekend at the WTMC Mt Ruapehu Lodge by Toby Durnall As a city bloke through and through, who loves his cocktail bars and having a wealth of restaurants to dine at, I can’t quite put my finger on why I have a yearning to get … Read more

Tararua Range – what are some of its faults?

The Tararua photographed from Mt Hector

Tararua Range –what are some of its faults? The Tararua has many earthquake faults, and the Wellington Fault has left many obvious geomorphological features visible to the hiker. 🌧 One of the faults of the Tararua Range is that it rains a lot and there are only about 80 sunny days per year. But there are … Read more

Putangirua Pinnacles track open or closed? – it was open in 1948

A view of the Putangirua Valley showing the pinnacles from above

Putangirua Pinnacles track open or closed? – it was open in 1948 The story of a WTMC trip to the Putangirua Pinnacles in 1948 with added photos taken in 2024. As at February 2024 the track from the campsite and carpark into the Putangirua Pinnacles is closed because of a dangerous slip. However, on a … Read more

Round the Mountain Track – Tongariro National Park

Nine people signed up for the club’s New Year Round The Mountain – Ruapehu trip. The group featured a few people new to multi-day walks, a few new to the club, as well as some very experienced club members and trampers. The distance and demanding terrain mean that an excellent baseline fitness is a prerequisite, … Read more

From the President – February 2024

Kia ora, This month we acknowledge Club member Garth Ireland, who sadly passed away earlier this month. This article also provides general club updates including: From the Committee, including Newbies night and Committee Nominations for 2024/25 Lodge updates, including Future of the Lodge conversations and upcoming Lodge training Coming up in March If you have … Read more

Aokaparangi loop and Maungahuka Hut – my ‘why’ of tramping

Maungahuka Hut above the clouds in the Tararua Range

Aokaparangi Loop and Maungahuka Hut A 4 day hiking loop trip around the Aokaparanki Loop to Maungahuka Hut – the hut in the Tararua Range that started me on my tramping journey. The hut that started it all for me … Years ago, when I got my first Tararua Forest Park map for a school … Read more