Alp 1

Taranaki Hard Core

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Date: 16-18 November 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 (Hardcore) .
Location: Taranaki, Egmont National Park.
Author: Aimee.
Trampers: Tony (leader), Matt, Byron, Marie, Emily and Aimee.

16 plus hours of plodding, scrambling, crunching, kicking and (bum) sliding, half of it in the dark, with no sleep, up one of the most serious and steepest mountains we know? Tony, Matt, Byron, Emily, Marie and Aimee all said “yes please!” (well, maybe not yes please, but at least they didn’t say no…) A … Read more

Holy Cupola!

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Date: 9-11 November 2018.
Trip type: ALP 1.
Location: Mount Cupola, Nelson Lakes National Park.
Author: Aimee.
Trampers: Tony (leader), Caryl, Maj-Britt and Aimee.

Spring was marching on, the snow was melting, and enthusiasm for alpine trips appeared to be on the wane. I felt like I hadn’t squeezed enough out of my snowcraft experience yet, so when Tony G offered Angelus trip-goers another bite of the cherry, or should I say bite of the ice axe, I pounced! … Read more

Tongariro Alpine Crossing by moonlight

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Date: 21-23 September 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 Fit.
Location: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park.
Author: Nick H.
Trampers: Nick H and Elisabet.

We had this trip on the schedule back in July, only for it to be scuppered at the last minute by rubbish weather. There were only two months this year where the full moon fell on a weekend during the snowy season, and they had now passed. We’d kept this weekend free just in case … Read more

A day for summits

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Date: 14-16 September 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 (Medium-Fit).
Location: Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park.
Author: Katy.
Trampers: Henry (leader), Katy, Mike W, Erik, George, Jess, Stuart and Tereza.

A pillow, curtains, carpet, even a hot shower. I like this style of alpine climbing! Staying at the lodge on Whakapapa is a great way to soften the blow of an alpine start. Our crew were up at 5am and out the door by 6am on Saturday morning, and we enjoyed the soft glow of … Read more

Small steps to a first summit

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Date: 25-26 August 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 (Medium).
Location: Te Heu Heu Peak, Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park.
Author: Aimee P.
Trampers: Tony G (leader), Emily S, Bart S, Tim H, Aimee P.

Like the other snowcrafters who had recently completed the WTMC snowcraft course, I was itching to get out on a “real trip” to see what it was like. I had found snowcraft hard. The physical and mental effort required was so much greater than tramping, and I found it frustrating that I couldn’t seem to … Read more

There and Back Again

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Date: 17-19 August 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 Medium.
Location: Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park.
Author: George.
Trampers: George, Sophie, Sumudu, Rodrigo and Yenfei.

It was the weekend before last, a double bluebird day, a rarity. As a recent ‘snowcrafter’ I found myself visiting the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to get in some practice. However, my eyes were constantly drawn to beauty. Stood there, timeless, always in my peripherals, Mt Ngauruhoe. It was then I knew I had to return, … Read more

Manakau ~ Uwerau Traverse (well, some of it anyway)

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Date: 1-3 June 2018.
Trip type: Alp 1 Fit.
Location: Hapuku Valley, Seaward Kaikouras.
Author: Nick H.
Trampers: Nick H (leader), Elisabet, Gareth, Stuart, Megan.

This time last year, almost to the day, I stood on the summit of Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, and one of the few prominent sights staring back was the peak of one of its tallest partners Mt Manakau, the highest point in the Seaward Kaikouras. I resolved that next year I’d try to tackle it on the … Read more