Bernie’s trip in the Tararuas

For some of the pictures Tony took on the tramp click here. Four friends left Welly Railway Station Friday after work and headed off to the Tararuas. They were to meet Neill, Winchcombe and Hector on the following day—for they had made their own way and were already there. The four bivied on the summit … Read more

Dundas, deer and dialogue

See photos from Kevin Cole It was the kind of hot Friday night that cricket commentators call balmy or sultry when our party of five departed on a two day Medium/Fit Dundas tramp.  Our first goal was to get from the road end to Herepai Hut in total darkness. The modern marvel that is the LED light … Read more

Hot dates and roaring stags

I woke up to my alarm at the ungodly hour of 6:00AM on a Saturday.  This only reminds me of my time as a struggling student, having to wake up for the early morning shift at Moore Wilsons.  Nevertheless I put on my tramping gear and threw my pack over and ventured into the early … Read more

A Southern Crossing with the help of numbers

Before I get into the juicy facts, here’s a wordy summary of our Southern Crossing Medium tramp from Otaki Forks to Kaitoke. We headed up to Field Hut from Otaki Forks around 8pm on Friday night. It was a beautiful night, with an almost full moon. We set off from Field at 9am the next … Read more

Tarn Ridge Hut trip

It was going to be a great weekend with light winds and sun shine for Weimen’s trip to Tarn Ridge hut. I had been in that area many times, so I asked Weimen what he had planned and I gave him the times I thought the different options would take. After he had studied the … Read more

Southern Main range

It had been five years since I’d last been to Maungahuka, so I signed up to lead the southern main range, a physically demanding trip which takes you across the tops between Bridge peak and Crawford. Friday night: Tramped to Field hut. Saturday: We arose with some hunters at 5:30 am and were away by … Read more

Overnight to the not officially open Kime Hut

With only one punter signed up (Alyn) for the official WTMC trip to Snowy Hut, the trip became an unofficial WTMC fit trip with a party of two, later to become three punters on a 24 hour jaunt into the hills. I was the only person in the party not to have visited the hut … Read more

Jumbo-Holdsworth Trail Race

Due to the early 8am Saturday morning start we did what many of the other competitors did and headed out to camp at Holdsworth roadend on the Friday night. We left the railway station at 6pm, and after a substantial dinner at Istanbul in Carterton we set up our tents and had an early night. Cars … Read more

South Ohau Hut via Blackwater Stream and Butcher Creek

We left Wellington on a beautifully calm and sunny Friday afternoon. In fact, if you didn’t live in Wellington, you might have thought that summer had finally arrived. If the forecast was true, then most of the lower North Island would enjoy a rain-free weekend. Alistair Young was going to be leading our Medium-Fit fivesome … Read more

Adventuring to South Ohau Hut: a tramper’s smorgasbord!

It all began at 5.30pm on a balmy Wellington Friday afternoon. Setting off enthusiastically into rush hour traffic, we began our journey to the start of the track. Van conversation ranged from the art of being a llama farmer who farms llamas, buying boats, mermaids, Bolivian taxi drivers and the number ‘37’ and the obvious superiority of pilates over … Read more