Tramping, Tales, Training and Travails
The Atene Skyline Track is a 6-8hr loop track on eastern side of the Whanganui river, about 45 minutes north of Whanganui. It catches my eye as a day trip while returning from walking the Pouakai Circuit. Leaving a cabin bright and early, I drive 45 minutes to the start of the walk. The road itself... Continue Reading →
'Tramping in winter you need crampons and ice axes' I've heard. I haven't tramped in the snow but I want to go have a look. With a small dusting on the Tararua ranges, the Holdsworth-Jumbo circuit is the go - I put an ad on Meetup and a party of five gathers. I wake at 5am and stumble... Continue Reading →
Date: 20/05/2018 – 21/05/2018 Party: Colin, Dan, Raj, Catherine, Jo, Theresa, Carolyn, Larry Night location/s: Paua Hut 'Anyone keen to lead a trip to Paua Hut? It's booked but noone's going'. Knocking off another Orongorongo hut seduces me more than my intended weekend activity - working - so I say 'sure'. As the meetup time creeps closer, storms lash the region. The... Continue Reading →
Date: 06/05/2018 – 07/05/2018 Party: Rachel, Kristyna, Larry Night location/s: Penn Creek Hut Hosting a tramp overnight on Sunday is an experiment - how many keen shift workers are around? With howling gales and rain forecast, the answer is just one. So Rachel and I gear up to walk to Penn Creek, when a mutual friend (MB) puts us... Continue Reading →
Date: 28/04/2018 – 29/04/2018 Party: Gerry, Larry Night location/s: Roaring Stag Lodge Leaving Putara Roadend at 12:30, we cross five minutes of farmland before reaching the first bridge (320m), over a tributary of the Mangatainoka River outside Eketahuna. From here we follow along the banks of the waterway, climbing slowly to 400m and another bridge, much bigger at 1:10 (40min... Continue Reading →
Date: 21/04/2018 – 22/04/2018 Party: Rachel, Mae, Julia, Jeff, Catherine and Larry Night location/s: Tutuwai Hut Meetup has a tramping group I joined a while back to connect with more trampers. The only problem is most trips are often fully booked - so I put my hand up to organise some myself. This trip is my first Meetup lead. Our intention... Continue Reading →
Date: 08/04/2018 – 09/04/2018 Party: Larry & Dave Night location/s: Boar Inn (DOC sole occupancy) A little brotherly outing on a Sunday night, Dave and I set off from the Catchpool carpark at 3:30pm. We climb the Butcher Track, a consistent 300m climb over 1km, entering the Beech forest characteristic of this side of the ridge, with plenty of fantails for... Continue Reading →
Date: 31/03/2018 – 01/04/2018 Party: Larry & D Night location/s: Tutuwai Hut Easter is the last combination of balmy weather and public holidays for many trampers; plans are set to travel far and wide. We had these plans too, but end up going overnight to Tutuwai Hut in the Tararuas instead. We set off at 11:20 from the Kaitoke Scout Camp.... Continue Reading →
Date: 24/03/2018 – 25/03/2018 Party: Larry & 7 respectfully anonymous folks (3 with the initial 'M'!) Night location/s: Haurangi Hut We depart Sunny Grove at 9:30am, shrouded in perpetual shade. We are a party of eight, connected through the Wellington Tramping Group on Meetup. Our destination is Haurangi Hut, a 10 bunk DOC hut available by booking only. M booked... Continue Reading →
Date: 17/03/2018 – 18/03/2018 Party: Larry, Garry Night location/s: Kapakapanui Hut The Kapakapanui track circuit perches on the eastern edge of the Tararuas. It was recommended to me last year as a good first tramp for Gerry and I. Gerry protested due to GHOSTS. So this weekend I took a different G up for his first... Continue Reading →
"You be careful" folks say of my wandering. "Don't you go doing anything stupid". It's a bit late for that, but the concern for my safety is heartwarming, well-founded and heeded. I booked on OTNZ's Advanced Bushcraft course some time back. This entry covers my experience this weekend. I write this in the hopes it will encourage you to book... Continue Reading →
Date: 10/02/2018 – 11/02/2018 Party: Larry Night location/s: Neill Forks Hut The forecast is dire - OK on Saturday, but then rain rising from 8mm to 45mm as Sunday progresses. I have my mind set on an adventure, and it's the only one for just me for some time, so I plan a trip with no unbridged river... Continue Reading →
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