Track Talk – November 2012

The fact that I seem to have written the last newsletter column only five minutes ago clearly indicates we’re on the downhill slope towards Christmas. But before then we need to get another trip schedule planned, lead and published! It’s not too late to get your road end ideas to me – email before 1 November please.

And make sure trip planning next Wednesday 7 November is in your diary. At 6pm we’ll meet in the hall for free pizza before getting down to  the business of assigning trips to each roadend. If there are particular road ends you’re keen to look at, please bring maps. Beginners welcome.

Today I’ve been doing some cooking and dehydrating in preparation for a couple of summer missions. One thing you don’t want out in the hills is a lack of food. But this has happened on a couple of recent club trips due to punters failing to bring their allocated ingredients for the evening meal. Now if you’re allocated garlic, this isn’t a big deal, but if you’re carrying most of the carbohydrate component, eg pasta or rice, then you’ll have some hungry fellow trampers. If you’re reading this newsletter, then I doubt you need this reminder. But it pays us all to ask that simple question of others at the station, or before the last supermarket – and not to let what can feel like nagging always fall to the leader!

Leaders have many tasks, with not all visible to the naked eye. A vital one is submitting your intentions to the weekend’s designated emergency contact. This is a great strength of the club and at the forefront of our safety processes, rather than an optional extra. Please make sure if you’re leading a weekend trip (or a daywalk away from civilisation) that you submit your intentions – and text when you’re out.

In that same cautionary vein, please can I remind leaders (and punters if necessary) to report to me any incident on a trip that could or did result in mishap. We are always looking for lessons that can be learned when things don’t go to plan. These can be simple or complex, with those of us involved in instruction keen to learn from both our and other clubs’ incidents so that we can keep people as safe as possible.

Part of gaining tramping experience is the realisation that things don’t always go to plan. Earlier this month, Richard and I were doing a nav trip from North Manakau Road (just north of Otaki) to Waitewaewae hut. This was unfamiliar territory, and study of the map had produced an eight hour guesstimate. But it took more than 10 hours to reach the hut, due to a near-total lack of ground trail and a few tricky ridge/spur junctions. I was glad we’d managed to get dropped off at 8am, and for daylight saving! Harry would not have been impressed at the number of times the GPS was consulted…

The next day it was great to catch up at Otaki Forks with the club trip who were our ride home. We’re encouraging people to take advantage of our van transport to do private trips. Bear that in mind next time you’re dreaming up possibilities.

Upcoming trips:

9-11 November Orongorongos – Guy Fawkes
Tramp E Paua Hut via Cattle Ridge and party Mike Gilbert
Tramp M Paua Hut via Whakanui Maarten Ruiter
Tramp F Papatahi – Paua Hut – South Saddle Marie Henderson
Family All Paua Hut and party Angela Gilbert
Alp1 F Manukau Mike Phethean
16-18 November Wellington region
Tramp E Akatarawa surprise Tony Gazley
Day E Hemi Matenga Ray Walker
Family All Butterfly Creek camping Sarah Young
23-25 November Tararuas – Putara
Tramp EM Roaring Stag Hut Richard Lyth
Tramp M Cow Creek Hut – Ruamahanga Paula Vincent
Alp1 M Seaward Kaikouras Debbie Buck
Tony Gazley
Family EM Tramp Pouakai Hut (Taranaki) Mike Pratt
31 Nov- 2 December – Kaitoke
Family All Camping Beth Piggott

 7-9 December Tararuas – Otaki Forks

Tramp M Waitewaewae – nav new track David Heffernan
Tramp M Penn Creek via Vosseler nav Craig McGregor
Alp1/2 M Ball Pass Marie Henderson
Day EM Te Kopuhou Reserve Helen Law
Family All Mangatarere Camping Richard Lyth

 14-16 December – Wellington day walks

Day Day Polhill Reserve Sarah Young
Day Day Te Araroa – Otaki to Waikanae Pete Gent
MTB MTB Skyline Red Rocks Craig McGregor
Family Family QEII Park day trip Beth Piggot

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