Snow

Holdsworth to Jumbo tramp

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Date: 10-11 July 2020.
Trip type: An alpinish tramp.
Location: Mt Holdsworth, Tararua Forest Park.
Author: Aimee Paterson and Emily Shrosbree .
Trampers: Team RAT (Rasmus, Aimee and Tony G) and Team EMII (Emily, Megan S, Illona and Ian).

Mt Holdsworth in winter

Walking from Powell Hut to Jumbo Hut in winter [Aimee] Tony said it was time for another trip. We all agreed. Outside of working hours, the best weather window was between Friday evening and Saturday mid-morning. Because of this, Tony suggested we go for a day walk, but at night. Recalling the last time we … Read more

A Tale of Two Snowcaves (and a Lasagne)

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Date: 20 September 2019.
Trip type: Alp1 (M).
Location: Ruapehu - Whakapapa.
Author: Mark L.
Trampers: Nick H (leader), Elisabet, Michael, Lukas and Mark L.

Dawn overlooking Crater Lake from Dome at Mt Ruapehu

“And this is my snow saw,” said Nick, as he removed the gleaming blade from its holster. A strangely curved, unwieldy and yet hugely useful device for creating a snow cave, as I would find out later that weekend. Led by Nick H, we were a band of five who had gamely signed up for … Read more

Crooked Spur Hut

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Date: 29 Aug - 1 Sep 2019.
Trip type: Alp1.
Location: Crooked Spur Hut, Two Thumbs Range.
Author: Byron.
Trampers: Byron and Tiffany.

Snow covered mountain

DATE: 29 August to 1 September 2019 TRIP: ALP1 LOCATION: Crooked Spur hut, Two Thumbs Range AUTHOR: Byron TRAMPERS: Byron and Tiffany “A bit overweight, but that’s alright,” said the Air NZ staffer, as they attached a “heavy” label to my bag. “Excellent,” I thought to myself. “I look forward to putting that on my … Read more

Mt Aspiring/Tititea

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Date: 26-29 December 2018.
Trip type: Private but well worth telling the story.
Location: Mt Aspiring National Park.
Author: Gareth.
Trampers: Nick, Elisabet and Gareth.

The usual trio of Elisabet, Nick and myself had been talking about Aspiring for at least a year, and plans finally came together for Christmas 2018. It was on. We’d had the helicopter booked for months, I’d be in Wanaka on the 26th, Nick and Elisabet would fly down to meet me, we’d have a … Read more

Snowcraft 2016

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Date: 8-10 July, 22-24 July 2016.
Trip type: Instruction.
Location: Ruapehu.
Author: Patrik Gustafsson.
Trampers: Snow leopards: Sharon Came (alpha), Brendan Eckert and Nick Agnes Johns (betas), Sean Versteegh, Antonia Burbidge, Heather Garven, Nick King, Michael Leon, Patrik Gustafsson, Lettie Roach, Rachael Pyneburg, Catherine Mills, Erik Behrens. Frozen Chosen: David Jewell, Henry Fisher (instructors), Jonathan Graham, Michael Moore, Kerry Charles, Jennifer Zhu, Tessa Noakes, Michael Wilson, Juliette Frost, Kay Thomson, Sarah Akers, Perrine Gilkision..

20 beginner alpinists, 5 instructors, 2 teams and 1 mountain to conquer. Two packed vans and one car left a windy Wellington behind, with sights set on Mt Ruapehu. The drive up offered long and tedious discussions about what the name of our team was going to be, and to Brendan’s delight we settled for … Read more

5 ‘mums’ in the bush

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Date: 20-21 September 2014.
Trip type: Easy Tramp (Families Group).
Location: Herepai Hut, Puatara Road end, Tararua Forest Park.
Author: Amelia White.
Trampers: Amelia, Sarah, Denise, Karen, Romana.

What a weekend! I would say 4 seasons in two days, but really, it was a spring blast of winter for most of the weekend. This trip was a special one – my first overnight away without the toddler. As an added bonus, I was talking 4 other mums with me, for a night away … Read more