Meeting of the North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club – September 2012

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Club night was attended by 33 people. There were various notices including information about Project Gold with a talk by John Barkla on an initiative to grow kowhai trees as part of conservation week. The future of the web site was discussed and a new proposal outlined for how to develop this. Various members commented and the subcommittee will  meet to take this forward. The President emphasised the need for all members to look at the website and make suggestions on improvements they would like to see. The booklet on safety in the outdoors has been delivered and those requesting a copy need to pick up and pay Neville.

There was a recent first aid course and several club/ Wednesday walkers attended. Two club trips were reported on. 15 people went on the bike trip from Pt. Charmers to Aramoana enjoying reasonable conditions and observing the pilot boat going out and a passing container ship. 6 members went on the mid-winter trip to Big Hut in the Rock and Pillar range. The route up was via leaning lodge  in windy, overcast conditions reaching the snow line and then across the ridge with its spectacular rock formations. Pot luck desserts were enjoyed by all, in the hut that night and the following morning there was short trip to Stonehenge and Museum rock in icy snow before a windy descent. There was a brief report on the tramps with Weston School in Herbert Forest. Wednesday walker trips included Hamden beach, Cattle Creek in the Haka valley giving splendid views in the gap between the Kirkliston and Grampian ranges as well as the Hunter hills and Big Ben in rough, windy conditions. Forthcoming trips to Mt Stalker and the Huxley Forks hut were described.

Trish Pope and Gail Papps gave a talk on their recent walking holiday in Ireland. The trip was dominated by rain but the party of 12  and their Irish guide didn’t let that spoil what was an extensive tour of some of the most picturesque counties of southern Ireland and an excursion into the Northern province to see the world famous Giants Causeway. Highlights included the Dingle in County Kerry and a boat trip in 4 metre swell to Skellig Michael a small island of the West coast famous for the puffins and an ancient monastery dating back to the 8^th century. There were some dramatic photos of walking across the Burren a limestone area with an abundance of flora.  The traditional Irish hospitality was much in evidence wherever they went and helped to lighten the mood after some very wet looking days.

Club Report – August 2012

Monday, August 13th, 2012

There were several trip cancellations in the last few weeks because of wet weather.

If members wish to receive cancellation notices they should give the secretary their email addresses.

A First aid course is being held at Camp Iona 7^th to 9^th September, cost $145. Contact Neville Corry Ph 4372531. These are becoming hard to organize, and may not continue.

A new addition of  “Safety In The Mountains” is available for the bulk price of $5 each.

Janis Russell and her partner are walking the “Spine of the South Island” next year and have requested organizing help from the club and any one else interested.

A planting day is being held at the Orokonui Scenic Reserve on the 2^nd September. Contact Dave Mellish, Ph 43 95895.

Trip reports.   Several car loads visited The Orokonui Scenic Reserve, and similar numbers next week went ice curling in Naseby.

Wednesday Walkers trips have been to Boundary Creek, the Seacliff-Split Rock-Green Point circuit, Mt.Shrives(858m) in the Hunter Hills, and the Domett loop with the saddle in cloud and snow lying.

Coming Trips. 19^th August, a bike ride from Port Chalmers to Aramoana. Contact Noel Pullan.

25 – 26^th August, Big Hut in the Rock and Pillars with the Otago Tramping Club. Contact Maurice Gray.

2^nd September, Snow Craft Course at Awakino. Contact Neville Corry.

Our Guest Speaker Dave Mellish spoke on his fishing trip with 11 other blokes to Vanuatu. Based in Port Vila, they made several boat trips among the coral islands, swimming and snorkeling. However the main reason for the visit was big game fishing, and they managed to catch two tuna, having hooked four all at the same time, and some barracuda, but lost the one marlin they hooked.

Dave was impressed with the gorgeous flowering plants on the islands, the Brahman cattle grazing under the coconut palms, and the attractive fruit and veggie markets. He found the locals very friendly and helpful.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to the active Mt. Yassur volcano on Tanner Island. At only 330m above sea level, he was able to climb up and look down into the glowing crater which let off a reasonable explosion every two to three minutes. He captured it live on video with rocks flying up in the air, though fortunately the wind took them in the other direction.

Club Night – July 2012

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

The club night was attended by 25 people. The president made several announcements including that the trip programme for August onwards was available in hard copy for those who did not have  on line availability.  Similarly those wanting hard copy trip reports could contact Robbie Verhoef. The end of year function will be held on 8th December and the Herbert Forest Guided Walks day would be on 28^th April. The committee have also considered the future of the locator beacon when the recommended battery life expires next year. The current thinking is not to replace it because several club members have their own and they can be hired for a small fee which could be recovered in the travel costs of the trip. There were a few points made and the final decision will rest with the new committee. There was an appreciation shown for Noel Pullan who took and excellent photograph of the erection of the steel ladder on Hoods Creek track and which has now been framed and presented to Blakely Pacific.

There were several notices including various newsletters and notice of a planting day on 2^nd of September by Dave Mellish. More details at the next club night or contact Dave. An animal control programme has been suggested by the Club in Herbert Forest. Blakely Pacific has responded positively and will pick up costs. A local school has expressed interest in guided tramps by the club in Herbert Forest for year 8 and there was a request for more volunteers to support this.

Trip reports included Ben Ohau on 17^th June with 6 people climbing up from the car park across the west face in generally good conditions. They reached the top by 12.30 and then continued on a ridge eastwards eventually dropping down to Greta stream and returning by an old farm track.  On the 24th June  10 people went up Kurow hill by various routes on a frosty morning continuing along a ridge and dropping down to the Awakino gorge returning downstream to the  cars near the main highway observing  a falcon and hawk along the way. Wednesday Walker trips included Blue Mountain cave (otherwise known as chinamans cave) via Dunback with a so called shortcut on the return by the edge of the forest. There was a shorter walk in Kuriheka with a strong southerly bringing rain and hail to start with but with the benefit of well positioned haybarns and lastly a familiar farm walk at Ngapara but with more escarpments and old machinery on a stunning day.

Jane Green gave a presentation on her trip last year to Norway, a country with 4000 fiords, 0.5 million lakes and 2500kms of coastline. She took a ferry / cruise starting at Kirkeness one of the most northern settlements in the world down the coastline to Bergen and then on by bus and train to Olso. She experienced the midnight sun and the photos of fiords and picturesque settlements along the coast showed the stark beauty of the country. We learnt about the traditional fishing industry and the effect that the flourishing oil and gas industries have had on the development of Norway. The final overland trip showed how varied the landscape is from the world’s longest fiord up over a high pass with glaciers and down to the pastoral lands surrounding Olso.

Club Night – June 2012

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

 At its last Club meeting the following trips were reported on.
White Horse Hill, Waimate. A short steep walk on a sunny day.
Dunedin Hills. 9 trampers optimistically headed down in driving rain to Leith Saddle. Their optimism was rewarded by the sun coming out on their arrival, and they enjoyed a round trip along the Pipeline Track to Rustlers Ridge and Burns Saddle, coming back along Swampy to Leigh Saddle in windy but clear conditions with great views.
Queens birthday weekend saw 5 lads  head up theOtehake River in the Arthurs Pass National Park to camp for 2 nights at the hot springs. As the middle day was wet and the river up, a relaxing day was had in the hot pool. They got home just before the snow arrived, though minus a stolen spare wheel.         See  Trip Reports for full details and photos.

The Wednesday Walkers had walks in the sheltered Herbert Forest on a cold S W day, Moana Station on the Kilmog, Verbakel’s farm, and Cape Wanbrow on another cold day.

Coming Club trips are to Ben Ohau on the 17^th June, Awakino Gorge / Kurow on the 24^th June, and “Winter Fun at Tekapo” in early July. Check the Trips / Programme for details.

The Club  hopes to run first aid and snow craft courses later in the year.

Guest speaker was Glynne Lloyd on his fascinating bike ride with three others through Tibet from China to Pakistan. This was a journey of 1200k during three weeks that took them over several passes as high as 5500m asl. and included a side trip to Everest Base Camp.
The trip passed through Lassa where the Dali Llama’s Winter and Summer Palaces are, and over the Himalayas to Katmandu. The road started out as a good sealed highway, but soon deteriorated into a dusty rough gravel road with snow and ice on the top pass. There were lots of road works, using mostly manual labour. The bikes and riders stood up to the trip well in spite of arriving with four bike frames and only seven wheels. Another wheel was acquired and quickly adapted to fit. One of the group was an orthopaedic surgeon who used his skills to mend a bike frame with a bike tube!
We were treated to scenes of monasteries with meditating monks, prayer wheels, guest houses, simple lifestyles and friendly people, as well as the stunning scenery which included views of Mt.Everest with its ever present cloud stream.  
A trip of a life time.

Club Night – May 2012

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

The Club held its 36^th Annual Meeting on the 14^th May 2012. There are slight changes to office bearers with Bronwyn McCone remaining President and Neville Corry becoming treasurer. Uwe Grasmueck is newsletter editor. Subs were increased slightly for family and social members.

The Club is a nominee for the Trust Power Otago Community Services Award.

Mountain Safety are running a First Aid course in June.

Trips organized by the club over the last month included a South Temple social trip by 4 members.

The Hoods Creek Reopening day was held on the 15^th April in brilliant weather with about 90 attending. Groups then walked the various tracks in the Herbert Forest which is owned by Blakely Pacific.

Mount Buster near Naseby was climbed on a blustery day by 8 members, with a visit also to the Buster gold diggings, which at 1200m are the highest gold diggings in New Zealand.

The Routeburn Caples circuit was walked by 5 members. Incidents they came across included saving the Routeburn Falls hut from burning down upon walking into the hut to find a white spirit stove burning out of control. Luckily there was only smoke damage. There was a search and rescue operation happening in the Caples Valley, with helicopters everywhere. Members were impressed with the quality upgrade of the McKellar Saddle track.

The Wednesday Walkers climbed Station Peak from Little Roderick, walked the Benmore Walkway to the peninsula with brilliant autumn colours, climbed Mt.Difficulty from The Dasher, and did an anticlockwise circuit which included the Earthquakes Reserve near Duntroon.

Coming Club trips are the Elephant Hill – Mussen circuit on the 20^th May, Dunedin Hills including the Pipeline and Swampy on the 27^th May, and Otehake River in Arthurs Pass on Queens birthday weekend, where a soak in the hot pool is a must do. More details are on the NOTMC website.

Guest speakers were Club members Ann and Steve Leidecker who walked several day trips in the Appenine and Apuane Mountain ranges of Italy in September last year with a group of 12 friends.

They based themselves in Sommocolonia where they rented a very reasonably priced villa. Sightseeing in the pretty towns of Lucca and Barga started the trip. Then a day walk, including an extensive limestone cave tour, in the Apuane foothills. The views from the steep ridges were spectacular.

The third day saw them in the Appenine foothills climbing 2054m Mt.Prado, the route taking them up through the green beech forest and along a long ridge above the tree line.

The next day saw them walking through colourful heather, tussock, and wild bilberry meadows close to their Villa in the Appenine’s. Mt.Rommechio at 1700m and Cima del Ormo at 1850m were their objectives with a 24k round trip.

The last walk showed the limestone and high grade marble of the Opuane Mountains, where they visited a delightful church built into the cliff face, and saw the marble quarry that Michelangelo used for his masterpieces.

The pictures and talk were an enticement to members to visit this scenic part of Italy with its many well marked tracks.