Monthly Report
Club Night June 2017
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
Recent day tramps included: Mt Obi from the Pigroot and on top there were great views of Mt Cook. Little Mt Peel presented itself on a cloudless, sunny day with frozen tracks so there were some slippery moments. On top, views of many Canterbury mountains and large irrigation ponds below. Last weekend, the club went to Swampy Summit via the Pipeline Track and its lush native glory, then on to Rustlers Ridge and up to Swampy Summit. Wednesday Walkers went to Dome Hills, Livingstone and a wander around the Tokarahi Golf Course, Elephant Hill and Island Cliff. About 18 months ago, trees were planted at Gard’s Road in association with DOC, so WW also spent a day on maintenance here. Upcoming trips include a winter social weekend at Twizel and Bethune’s Gully to Sawyers Bay.
Michael Sandri was our Guest Speaker for the evening and he inspired us with a recount of his experience competing in the 2016 Grand to Grand Ultra Adventure Race in the Grand Canyon. From this gruelling event, Michael decided that a similar event could be held here, where competitors feel welcomed by the Oamaru community. In return, Oamaru will benefit economically. With the financial support of local businesses, the Alps2Ocean Ultra will be held in February 2018. The 133 competitors from 14 different countries will complete the 316km in 7 stages finishing in Oamaru.
May Clubnight
Wednesday, May 17th, 2017
May Clubnight
At the AGM, John Chetwin was elected President. Our thanks go to Jane Green who stepped down after three years of dedicated leadership and loyalty to the Club. Recently, some members walked the Motatapu Track from the Glendhu Bay end. An excellent weekend. Upcoming tramps include Mt Obi from the Pigroot and Little Mt Peel. See our website for details.
Our guest speaker was Club member, Maurice Gray who has recently been doing Volunteer maintenance work for DOC on the Pyke River Track in Fiordland. From Milford Sound, five Volunteers and a DOC Ranger flew north east to Big Bay. The task at Big Bay Hut was to dig a new toilet. Two volunteers were left to paint the hut while Maurice and two other volunteers departed down beside the Awarua River. They then reached the Pyke River and the route followed this. They had route markers which were two metre high wands with tape on top. These were used to replace markers that had disappeared with high river flows etc. DOC dropped food to them on their first nights camp. Along the route, they cleared windfall where possible with a handsaw and if not, they put in markers to re-route around the windfall. They had two nights at the Olivine Hut. Here there is a winch bucket over the Olivine River which required maintenance. A side track to the Olivine Falls needed re-routing. Maurice and fellow volunteers made camp when they reached the north end of Lake Alabaster. Trampers can avoid the 4-5 hour walk along the side of Lake Alabaster with the help of Sammy Stoat who camps in the area and ferries trampers from Alabaster Hut to the north of the lake. With the job finished, DOC picked up the three volunteers and they flew back via Big Bay Hut to pick up the other two volunteers who had made a great job painting the hut. The DOC website has Volunteer Vacancies which you can apply to help. The Volunteer is liable for some expenses however, DOC will provide transport and fresh food.
Club Night April 2017
Tuesday, April 11th, 2017
The 10 April meeting welcomed 2 new members.
The Club will celebrate its 40th Anniversary on the 28-29 October this year with a dinner and a walk in the Herbert Forest.
Wednesday Walkers walks over the past month were a Mt. Meyer circuit on the North side of the Waitaki River, Gunns Bush and White Horse Hill near Waimate, Doctors Point at Waitati, and the Millenium Track to Moeraki then up to the boulders.
Club Trips were; the Otago Aniversary weekend trip to the East Matukituki in good weather with side trips up valleys to spectacular circs and waterfalls.
4 members guided Arthur Street School children on a walk upstream from Camp Iona to introduce them to our N Z bush.
Members biked the back roads from Dunback to Shag Point and a working bee was held in the Herbert Forest tracks, clearing the tracks and putting in steps.
The main event for the month was the Herbert Forest Guided walks Day where 20 members organised and guided 80 guests through the podocarp bush on a brilliantly fine day. Many were family groups with young children, keen to enjoy the outdoors.
Our Guest Speaker for the evening was Eion Rutherford, who together with his wife Liza, travelled by motorhome with two other motor homers from London to China and back. Careful preparation was essential including joining the Silk Road Club, obtaining visas and insurance and establishing contacts in Europe who could obtain and send spare parts when necessary.
Their route lead through Europe and Kazakhstan to China, where they toured for 3 months, then back through Russia and Europe to London.
They became proficient at negotiating Borders, dealing with corrupt police and solving breakdown problems, the roads being fairly hard on the vehicles.
They stayed mainly at truck stops surrounded by huge rigs, found the locals friendly and helpful and they enjoyed some spectacular scenery.
In a few months they set out on an extended trip in their motor home round South America.
Club trips planned for the next month are the Motatapu Track, with groups starting from each end and Hidden Lake via the Omarama Saddle. The NOTMC website has more deteils.
The Club AGM will be held on the 8 May, at which the Gray’s will share their experiences of volunteering with DOC.
Club Night Report March 2017
Tuesday, March 14th, 2017
Trip Reports
After trying to get to the North Temple basin for several Wednesdays but being put off by wet weather the Wednesday Walkers finally made it near the end of February. A lovely easily accessible alpine basin at the top of Lake Ohau.
24 headed over to Queenstown and Cromwell to bike the trails there in ideal weather, and last week was a walk up Deep Stream beside Lake Aviemore.
The tramping Club had a weekend trip to Dunedin, walking up and along the Maungatuas, followed the next day by a climb up Harbour Cone on the Otago Peninsula and then a walk out to the Pyramids and Victory Beach. Last week was a day walk to Gentle Annie hut in the Horse Range.
Coming Trips
A weekend trip to Aspiring Flats, Glacier Burn and Junction Flat.
A mountain bike ride in the McRaes area with a visit to the Redbank skink enclosure.
The Club is again holding a guided walks day on the three Herbert Forest tracks on the 9 April starting at 10am. Cancelation because of wet weather will be on the NOTMC website on evening of the 7 April.
The Club is starting preparation for the celebration of its 40th Anniversary.
Guest Speakers
Club Members Gail and Tricia shared their Federated Mountain Clubs trip to the West USA National Parks last September October.
They started in the Sequoia National Park with massive Sequoia trees and the odd nosey grizzly bear.
Large areas of trees are dying because of the bark beetle.
Yosemite NP was the highest at 15000 ft. and they did a lot of walks above 9000ft, with a drive through Death Valley at 280ft below sea level, being the lowest.
They had 3 days walking the rim of Grand Canyon, but the amazing shaped rocks of Monument Valley, Arches NP and Goblin Valley with self-explanatory names, were one of the highlights.
Yellowstone NP was the last stop, where they joined some of the 350 million tourists to visit the US National Parks each year, the park being a decidedly larger version of Rotorua’s hot pools and guysers!
Their travels took them from the heat of summer in the south through the autumn colours to an early sprinkling of snow at Yellowstone.