Meeting of the North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club – September 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 8th 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.