Kia ora,
This article provides a brief update on club activities, including:
- WTMC June recap: Committee, trips and lodge updates
- Coming up in July
If you have any questions, comments or ideas please get in touch.
Ngā mihi
WTMC June recap
Morning clouds in the valley and overgrown sections of the track, on the way to Pouri Hut (credit: Jacqui)
From the Committee
Volunteers needed ! We need a bit of help with a few roles. You would be sharing with many others, meaning it gives you a chance to support the club without being too time consuming. We are looking for:
- Club night hosts – about once every two months. It means showing up about 6:45/7pm to set up coffee, tea and biscuits and help the speaker get set up. Start the meeting at 7:30pm, by welcoming everyone, call for announcements and hand over to the speaker. When everything is finished, send people home, quick tidy up and lock up. Induction is provided for new hosts, to express interest please contact Megan ().
- Gear custodians – put your name on the roster to help with gear pick up/drop off every now and then, on Wednesdays between 7-7.30pm. There are currently three people taking turns on the roster but the more we can share the load the better – If you are interested please contact Anna ()
- Technology Officer – this is a great opportunity to learn about the range of systems that WTMC uses behind the scenes and sharpen your IT skills. To start with you will be working jointly with the current Technology Officer to learn the ropes and share the load, before taking more of a lead role further down the track. For more info check the role description or contact Juan ().
Contact details – please make sure your contact details in HelloClub are up to date. In particular, we need a correct postal address to send FMC cards and backcountry magazines. To update your address: log in > open your profile by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner > select ‘Member details’ > update your address. For any help, please contact David (Membership)
Trips updates
June adventures – It’s been another busy month for WTMC – going as far North as Whanganui National Park, and all the way down to Richmond Forest Park. Highlights included a courageous party of 6 who had an impromptu opportunity to practice off track navigation late into the night, and a more sensible EM group wandered into Mitre Flats hut for a couple of nights. There were also a number of successful day trips in the Wellington region, including to Pig Flat Hut, the Karapoti rata and Orange Hut. One of the highlights for some of us was an incredible sunset above the clouds on the Tararua tops just a couple of weeks ago.
New trip schedule – The new trip schedule was released a couple of weeks ago and covers trips until the end of October. There are still a number of trips that need a leader, if you are interested in leading or co-leading please email Monique ().
Alpine season 2023 – We are gearing up for the alpine season and are hoping to publish new alpine policies and proposed alpine trips in July. Alpine trips will be published on the Alpine trips page.
Changes in DOC hut fees – As you may already be aware, DOC hut fees are due to increase on 1 July. Details are available online. If you are planning to buy a backcountry hut pass, remember to use your 30% FMC discount!
Lodge updates
A lodge training session was held last week so keen users could get familiar with opening and closing the lodge, and everything that needs to happen in between. If you are interested in helping with the lodge, please contact the subcommittee: .
With a dust of fresh snow on Ruapehu and confirmation that the lifts will be operating this season, we are all go! Make sure to book your spot at the lodge! For the latest updates, please check the WTMC Ruapehu Facebook page.
Spelling “WTMC” above the clouds (can you read it?) and Taranaki in the sunset – on the way to Tarn Ridge hut (credit: Anne, Lynsey)
Coming up in July (and later)
Check the trip schedule for upcoming club trips
5 July – WTMC talk: A nearly solo weekend SK Tararua Traverse
19 July – WTMC talk: Labour weekend Shutes and Around Tramp
Photo competition: The photo competition is now open! For more information and how to participate, check this article on the website. To submit your photos or for any questions, please email Mathew (). Submissions close on 1 September at 5pm.
Mountain film festival: WTMC will once again run the Mountain Film Festival in partnership with the Victoria University Tramping Club. There will be two screenings at the Kelburn campus, details TBA.
