Club Night April 2016

Tuesday, April 12th, 2016

The April Club meeting guest speakers were from DOC, Andy Powazynski and Tom Waterhouse. Based in Oamaru, they cover the area from Geraldine to Shag Point and inland to Kurow. They provided an overview of what DOC is actively doing in this region and with only three rangers and limited funds, resources are stretched to say the least. This is mostly due to the 2013 structural change within the department when 600 jobs were cut. The Earthquakes area is now owned by DOC and is getting a revamp however with the sink holes there, there are public safety issues. DOC, along with the Waitaki branch of the Forest and Bird Society have been planting Kowhai trees in the Gards Road area to preserve the uniqueness of this area. Also DOC is involved with the Cape Wanbrow native planting. Using a GPS, Tom mapped out the tracks in Trotters Gorge, provided it to the Asset Planner, however because only the Loop track existed originally, the other tracks will not be put onto new brochures/websites. DOC Tramping tracks in North Otago are getting maintained however, the squeeze is on and DOC’s mantra is to invite local groups who use these tracks to help maintain them, to the point of signing an agreement that the group will fund and maintain a track, to DOC’s standard of workmanship. Are volunteer hours a necessity to save our tracks?

Our next meeting is on the 9th May, AGM followed by Herbert Forest History, public are welcome. www.notmc.org.nz

Club Night March 2016

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016

March 14^th 2016

Instead of going in via Chinaman’s Hut, a new route to Grayson Peak was walked, starting from the Mt Buster 4WD track, which enabled a 2 hour climb to the top. From here, they walked on to Green Gully, Brown Hut and back to vehicles.

Wednesday Walkers enjoyed a recent five day Biking trip to the West Coast Wilderness Trail, enjoying the tram track, Lake Kaniere and some fantastic hospitality.

Noel Pullan and Ross Familton, both members of the NOTMC, recently visited Kathmandu and walked in to Mt Everest Base Camp. Noel treated us to a personal, once in a lifetime, narrative of his expedition. With the help of a Guide and two Porters, who would carry packs weighing up to 95kg each, walked to Base Camp. En route, they visited Khunde Hillary Hospital which is run by the Canadian Government.  They also visited Monjo School where Noel gifted them a banner “Oamaru North School” from his grandchildren, Jordyn and Maddison. The school was also given Beanies from Canterbury Spinners and pencils from Bev Pullan.

Gorak Shep is the last village before Base Camp, with many peaks close by that could be climbed.

Noel and Ross climbed Kala Patthar (5550m).  At Base Camp, they went to the Khumbu Icefall, the ever-shifting, jagged, building-size blocks of ice which give climbers a taste of what is to come. Here, they were able to track a Japanese man and his party attempting to summit – for the third time. Over the 8 days walking and two days of rest, Noel took many photographs and due to clear skies, the photographs of snow topped mountains and blue skies were exceptional.

The next NOTMC meeting will be the AGM on 9^th May at the Search and Rescue Rooms in Severn St. Website is www.notmc.org.nz

Club Night February 2016

Tuesday, February 16th, 2016

North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club

Clubnight Meeting 15^th February 2016

Being the first meeting of 2016, there were many trips and adventures to talk about.  Wednesday Walkers covered a wide area including Orokonui, Mt Studholme, Island Stream, Government Hill, Hospital Hill, Shag Point, Devils Elbow, Kurow Bike Trail, Herbert Forest and Clear Stream and in between walks, a barbeque get together.

Some of the tramping club members had a working bee in the Herbert Forest clearing the Swallows and the Hoods Creek tracks. Also Dave’s Track in the Trotters Gorge had a good clear out and pink ribbons placed for track identification. Other Tramping Club trips included Hectors Plateau, Mt David via Bayley’s Yards, Hideaway Biv and Ewe Range. A trip to Awakino with the focus on finding Black Daisies turned out to be extremely interesting.  Many alpine plants were identified particularly with the help of local botanists and photos of these can be found on the NOTMC website. Look in the Trip Reports Page.

Over Waitangi Weekend, the club tramped in the Hopkins Valley, staying at Dodger Hut. The side trip up Thomson Stream being the highlight.

At our meeting, several members brought tramping memorabilia from the old days and our President, Jane Green, showed slides of past trips including skiing on Tasman Glacier.

Tramping trips are planned up to the end of winter so please visit the website for contact details if you are interested in coming.  We also have a Guided Walks Day at the Herbert Forest on April 17^th and the public are most welcome.

Club Night October 2015

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

12th October 2015

With warmer weather recently, many walks were completed by the Wednesday Walkers, including Station Peak, Altavady Farm up to Stoney Ridge and Kurinui via Big Kuri Creek. The NOTMC trips included a big turnout for the A2O Bike Ride from Duntroon to Oamaru and a windy Devil’s Elbow.

Dave Mellish, a member of the club, gave an interesting talk about his trip to Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam. Singapore, a clean city, free from political corruption makes it unique. In Cambodia, Dave visited the Angkor Wot Temple which is virtually a square mile of rock. There are many Temples in Cambodia which are built in memory of past Kings. A trip on the Mekong Delta was an interesting experience. A visit to the Khmer Rouge Monument in Cambodia and the Vietnam War Museum subdued their trip however it was a huge part of their history. The locals in Vietnam did not have ill feeling towards New Zealanders from the Vietnam War, because tourism is now a part of Vietnam’s economy. Dave’s party hired a boat from Hanoi for two days and visited Halong Bay and Sung Sat Cave which is similar to Waitomo Caves . They went trekking in the Sapa area in which they saw Rice fields. Two local women followed them for the entire trip knowing that they would be able to sell them embroidered silk clothes and wall hangings.

Club Night September 2015

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

A number of walks were completed by the Wednesday Walkers including Teanaraki Escarpment, Seacliff Split Rock, Ben Lomond Ridge, Tapui Farm and Timaru Inland Walkway.

Club members enjoyed climbing Te Kohurau, walking Oamaru Cape and beach, plus Kakahu Bush.

Neville Corry, club member, talked about his recent tramps to the Heaphy Track and Abel Tasman Track. He was joined by several other club members and friends. The Heaphy Track is a 78km, 4 day tramp. On the first day they reached Perry Saddle Hut and Neville and Rex climbed Mt Perry. Next day was 28km to McKay Hut, then to Heaphy Hut. All huts on this track had been renewed since 2010.

The Abel Tasman track and the Inland Track is 100km.  First day was to Anchorage Hut, second day to Awaroa Hut Inlet. Third day took in bush and bays including Separation Point which separates Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. DOC is trying to establish a gannet colony on Separation Point so they have “dummy” gannets with recorded sounds to attract gannets. Third night was at Wharewharangi Hut and fourth day was to tramp to Pigeon Saddle. They then completed the Inland Track. Abel Tasman Track meanders through native bush and into many bays.