Fixture Card 2023 Club Nights

Use for ski forms We welcome new people at all club activities

2023

3, 10, 17 January  

Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.

24 January President’s barbeque - our first 2023 get-together

TTC President Simon Davis hosts a BBQ for club members at his home in Petone from 5-9 p.m. Please bring your own meat for the barbecue and food and drink to share.

31 January Racing the Divide - Marcus Baguley

Relive the highs and lows Marcus experienced during the 2022 Tour Divide bike race from Banff, Canada all the way to the Mexican border.

07 February The Kanchenjunga Circuit - Jonty Crane

Jonty trekked around the Nepalese side of the world’s third highest mountain. The trek began where bananas were growing; a week later the overnight temperature was -10C inside the tent at nearly 5,000 m above sea level.

14 February A week in the Canadian Arctic - Barbara Camfield & David Holland

During a lodge stay at Lake Ennadai west of Hudson's Bay, Barbara painted, David fished and together they observed migrating caribou, inquisitive bears, and the fall colours of the Arctic tundra.

21 February Canyoning in the Tararua Range - Justin Hall

Exciting adventures await those who dare to climb, slide, jump, plunge and abseil down Tararua canyons such as Chamberlain Creek and Isabelle Creek.

28 February Researching kauri dieback disease - Dr Monica Gerth

There is no known cure for kauri dieback disease, but research is being carried out on the microscopic pathogen Phytophthora agathidicidmicrobe that causes it and how to control it. Dr Monica Gerth is a molecular microbiologist at Victoria University.

07 March Two short presentations

Te Hekenga traverse - Anna Davison
Anna and three other club members traversed the Ruahine Range, enjoying a circuit of sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes.

A cruise from Doubtful Sound to Puysegur Point - Cathy Wylie
Cathy shares her 11-day Fiordland cruise on the 20 metre vessel Affinity.

14 March Counting our kererū - Sam Rammell (VUW)

The Great Kererū Count (2014-21) produced data that was difficult to interpret. Sam is using a statistical data integration method to make an accurate count of the national kererū population.

21 March The Dragon's Teeth High Route - Andy Carruthers

The Dragon's Teeth High Route, a demanding traverse of the Douglas Range in Kahurangi National Park, is ‘best suited to very fit and able trampers’ and recommended only ‘for the brave and (those) experienced in following vague trails’.

28 March Traversing the eastern ranges of the North Island - Kirstine Collins

A few days before the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Kirstine set out to hike a 780 km route from Baring Head to the East Cape, through the series of ranges that form the backbone of the North Island.

04 April A traverse of the Twins in Kahurangi NP - Nina Sawicki

Climbing the Twins became a long-awaited dream for Nina when she spotted them from the old Loveridge Hut some 20 years ago on a romantic get-away with her (now) husband.

11 April Rafting the Clarence River: a cautionary tale - Alan Knowles

Alan takes us on a five-day, 200km journey down the Clarence, with an altitude drop of 700m.

18 April The Photographers

The recently-formed group of club camera enthusiasts show and tell how they are going about improving their photography skills and techniques. A preamble to the annual photo competition.

25 April No meeting because it’s ANZAC Day

02 May Three parallel rivers of Yunnan and Tibet - Les Molloy

Les did a two-week horseback trek through the remote, wild landscape of the upper reaches of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween rivers and later journeyed from Yunnan to their source in Tibet.

09 May Upgrading Robin Saddle Hut - Paul Maxim

Dave Bamford, John Wild, and Paul went into the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland to climb the striking Mt Irene. Captivated by the beauty of this remote location, they volunteered to upgrade the 60-year-old Robin Saddle Hut for the Backcountry Trust.

16 May Tales from a maturing mountaineer — Dave Bamford

Dave shares some stories of personalities and places over the last 60 years, from Butterfly Creek to remote mountain corners of the world.

23 May The health of Wellington’s natural ecosystems - Dr Roger Uys (GWRC)

Roger reports on the environmental health of natural dunelands, forests and wetlands in the Wellington region, and the effectiveness of the GWRC’s Key Native Ecosystem programme in managing them.

30 May Winter activities

Come along at the earlier time of 7 p.m. for a glass of gluhwein, and find out how the club can help you to enjoy some great adventures in the snow this winter. There is a $4 entry charge.

06 June Girls on Ice - Dr Lauren Vargo

Girls on Ice is an international programme that takes 15- and 16-year-old girls on expeditions into the mountains to experience art, science and outdoor exploration. Lauren was an instructor on a Girls on Ice expedition in Alaska last year.

13 June It’s Quiz Time!

Get a team together or join one on the night and enjoy a challenging and fun evening competing across a range of topics against other teams of quizzers for the prestigious title of TTC Quiz Champions 2023.

20 June Travels in Nepal and India - Rob Vanderpoel

From 2012 to 2018, Rob and Angela Vanderpoel went travelling and trekking in India and Nepal four times, both on and off the beaten track.

27 June How we avoided Cyclone Gabrielle - Lynne White

Challenged and inspired by the West Coast’s remoteness and grandeur, Lynne went on an adventure up the Waitaha River to Ivory Lake and back via the Tuke.

04 July Africa overland in the seventies Peter Smith

Fifty years ago, Peter drove his Land Rover from London to Capetown. Before setting off, there was much planning and preparation to be done. On the way, there were many challenges.

11 July Epic adventures of ShelterBox fundraisers Landon Smith

ShelterBox Adventurers take on extraordinary challenges to raise funds for providing emergency shelter and supplies to displaced families around the world made homeless by conflict and disaster. Landon is a Director of ShelterBox New Zealand.

Is there an epic adventure on your bucket list that you’d like to turn into a fundraising venture to help shelter a family in need? If not, there are several other ways you can support the vital work of ShelterBox.

18 July South Westland: Two loops, a river, and a night in Haast Peggy Munn

When bad weather closed the Copland Pass route, Peggy and the five other party members got out their maps and came up with a replacement trip - the backcountry Mataketake Tops Loop, the Moeraki River and the Stafford Bay Loop. ‘It was such fun discovering new country, in perfect weather’.

25 July Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Tim Park (Manager)

Ōtari Native Botanic Garden is dedicated solely to native plants. Ōtari Wilton’s Bush, in part an ancient remnant of Wellington’s original forest, has walking trails and prolific native bird life. Tim’s team is building on the history of the botanic garden and working to improve visitors’ experiences in the forest.

01 August Gertrude Saddle and the Hollyford Track - Chris Munn

In a brand-new, squeaky-clean Kia Niro EV and ‘without a clue’ about strategies for managing EV distance travel, Chris, Peggy and Janette headed off down the West Coast to Te Anau and beyond. Some ‘interesting adventures’ ensued before they even put on their boots and gaiters.

08 August 2023 club meet at Hanmer Springs Peggy Munn et al

Twenty-two people had a fabulous time on a broad range of trips, from local day trips to multi-day trips further afield.

15 August Annual General Meeting

Have your say at this year’s Annual General Meeting on the management and running of our club. What could we be doing better - and how?

22 August 2023 TTC Photo Competition

The annual opportunity to be entertained and inspired by the best work of the club’s photographers and to pick up some top tips on photographing trips. See the Photo Competition Rules.

29 August Two landscape photographers in Europe - Jacky Challis/Graham Lonsdale

Having secured places on a photography workshop in Iceland, Jacky and Graham planned a seven-week photographic extravaganza, touring the south of Iceland and Italy, France and Scotland, from the majesty and grandeur of the Dolomites to the moody glens of West Scotland.

05 September Heartbeat defibrillator/CPR training - Wellington Free Ambulance [Clubrooms only]

A public access Automated External Defibrillator (AED) purchased recently by the club is installed outside the clubrooms. Tonight Wellington Free Ambulance provides training on its use, what to do in a medical emergency, and how to perform CPR.

Contact Pete Smith by 3rd if you would like to attend: peter-smith@xtra.co.nz

12 September Tararua S-K film - Andy Carruthers [Clubrooms only]

From the 2023 New Zealand Film Festival, a documentary about the trailblazers who have tackled the toughest challenge of the Tararua Range, the 74 km Tararua S-K (Schormann to Kaitoke) Traverse.

19 September The world’s first predator-free capital city - Alastair Henshaw

The aim of Predator Free Wellington is to remove every single rat, possum, stoat and weasel from the Wellington area — a transformational project made possible through the collective efforts of thousands of Wellingtonians.

26 September Hunting game animals in New Zealand - Susi Lang

As trampers we encounter hunters at huts and in the bush, and sometimes game animals. Tonight our librarian Susi, a hunter, tramper, hut bagger, flyfisher and photographer, talks about hunting skills and bushcraft, responsible and ethical hunting, rifle handling, safety practices in the backcountry, places where she has hunted, the Roar and more.

03 October Bagging Tararua: 50 huts in 41 days - Anna Watson

Anna and James were relaxing at home in Upper Hutt one wintery evening when James threw out an idea: bag every single hut in Tararua in one continuous tramp. And that's exactly what Anna, James and their dog Boo did.

10 October Harper Pass in July: no NOBOs or SOBOs - Janette Roberts

Janette’s winter trip this year was up the Hurunui, and over Harper Pass to the Taramakau, in the first week of July. ‘Needless to say’, she says, her party met no other trampers. Not one NOBO or SOBO to be seen.

17 October Chamonix to Zermatt: Hiking the Walker’s Haute Route - Jonty Crane

The 200 km Haute Route takes hikers on a visually stunning journey between Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn through glacial valleys, alpine meadows and enchanting villages, passing by 10 of the highest peaks in the Alps.

24 October The 4,500 km / 60,000 vertical m Tour Divide - Darryl Carpenter

The Tour Divide from Banff to the USA/Mexico border is the longest and toughest bike packing race in the world. Rookie ultra-distance racer Darryl faced the usual hazards - bears, mountain lions, freezing rain, overwhelming heat, horrendous mud. What could possibly go wrong?

31 October A return to South America - Peter Smith & Trish Gardiner-Smith

After attending their son Nigel's wedding in Chile, Peter and Trish explored the Mt Fitzroy area of Argentina. They look back on four visits to South America over a period of 46 years.

07 November [50 year and life members’ night] Between the Black Sea and the Caspian - Peter Gates

Peter and Caroline Gates toured Georgia, Armenia and Turkey and trekked parts of the trans-Caucasian trail in Georgia, the lesser Caucasus in Armenia and the Krakar mountains of eastern Turkey.

14 November Mumbai to London overland in the sixties - Bob Stephens

In 1967, along with two school friends, Bob took a Landrover from Mumbai to London, via Kathmandu, Darjeeling, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey.

21 November The ‘meaningful mahi of ZIP’ - Erin Drummond et al

As a field ranger with Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) last summer, Erin carried out fieldwork in some wild and beautiful landscapes of South Westland. Presented by Marissa and Andrew.

28 November Nepal: Mera Peak and Langtang - Bharat Pancha

In 2019 Bharat climbed 6,470m Mera Peak, one of Nepal’s most alluring trekking peaks, reached via a culturally stimulating journey through remote picturesque villages and forests. This year, on a trek to Langtang, Bharat and his party visited a village destroyed by the 2015 earthquake.

05 December A trip to Westies Hut, Fiordland National Park Sarah Fisher

Remote Westies Hut is located inside a sea cave big enough to drive a bus into. Sarah’s trip was an adventure complete with Fiordland crested penguins, Hector’s dolphins, amazing podocarp forests and a hut builder who literally jumped ship.

12 December End-of-year ‘Christmas finale’ Social Committee

Enjoy a convivial evening with fellow club members. Wine, Christmas cake and mince pies will be served and the TTC band will play Christmas carols and tramping songs.

19 December   Ngā mihi o te wā

Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.

26 December   Ngā mihi o te tau hou

Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.

Hāere kaha i ngā puke
Go hard in the hills