May Clubnight

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.