2024
Photo: Simon
2, 9, 16 January Kia pai te wā ō pōhutukawa nui
Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.
28 January Steak, salads and sausage sizzle - General Committee’s barbeque
The General Committee is hosting a barbecue for club members from 5-9 p.m. at Simon Davis's home in Petone.
Please bring your own kai for the BBQ and kai and inu to share. RSVP ttc.secretary@ttc.org.nz
30 January A month in the Balkans Jonty Crane
Jonty visited Montenegro’s five beautiful and diverse national parks, hiked the Peaks of the Balkans, a 192 km trail through the Accursed Mountains of Kosovo, and explored Montenegro and Albania.
06 February Waitangi Day
Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.
13 February A search for diamonds and fossils in southern Africa Ken Fraser
In 2022 Ken looked for diamonds in Namibia and fossils in South Africa.
20 February Understanding what we see when we look at native bush Hera Cook
Hera liked the look of the vegetation shown in this photo. Chris Horne later explained to her that it shows a degraded monoculture, mainly crown ferns - everything else had been eaten out by deer.
The native bush we see when tramping has often been severely altered by mammalian herbivores - deer, goats, pigs and wallabies. Hera's presentation is aimed at helping us to understand more of what we are seeing when we look at vegetation.
27 February Challenges of the Kaimai Range Peggy Munn
The Kaimai Range offers interesting tramping and is not without its challenges. The aim was a full south/north traverse. We didn’t quite make it.
05 March Crossing Rabbit Pass - fiction and reality Tim Jones & Melanie Vautier
Tim and Melanie each did crossings, thirty years apart, over the Waterfall Face and Rabbit Pass between the Wilkin and the East Matukituki in Mount Aspiring National Park. Tim has written a novel that draws upon his experience of the crossing.
Copies of Tim’s book Emergency Weather will be on sale on the night at the discounted price of $30. It was favourably reviewed in the Listener when it was launched.
change activist Tim Jones.
12 March The Pacific Crest Trail Richard McLaughlan
In September 2023 Richard completed the 2,653 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.
19 March New members’ evening
Joining the Tararua Tramping Club is a great way to meet like- minded people, make new friends, and go on some amazing adventures.
You can register this evening for the 2024 TTC Bushcraft instruction course.
26 March Up the Waitaha to Ivory Lake Sarah White and Paul McCredie
After their ‘epic pilgrimage’ to Ivory Lake up the ‘gnarly but impressive’ Waitaha River, the three party members felt happy and blessed. They had spent eight days in ‘the best tramping area in the country’, the weather had been good, the huts cosy and comfortable, the views magnificent and the company ‘unsurpassed’.
02 April Old Ghost Road: Done Liz Martin
It took five attempts, but finally, in January this year, Liz was able to walk the Old Ghost Road, quite a bit of it in fog.
09 April The lure of Lake Unknown. Minos Peak and other ventures New Year 2024 Nina Sawicki
Located high above the Dart River among the ranges of Mt Aspiring National Park, Lake Unknown is ‘an alpine lake with an unrivalled sense of majesty and grandeur’ [Wilderness magazine], and ‘simply surreal’ [Adventure magazine].
16 April Does it rain inside your raincoat? A tale of precipitation, perspiration and inspiration, told by Nigel Barrett
Are your base layers drenched after a day in the hills? Nigel lived with this sweaty reality in good old PVC parkas, oilskins, and breathable rainwear without finding anything that worked for him, until he discovered Paramo Rainwear, made from Nikwax ‘Analogy’ directional fabric. He is launching this unique product in New Zealand.
23 April Skiing in Japan Vivienne Radcliffe and Simon Davis
Vivienne recently skied(approve sites) eight different ski fields in Hokkaidō (北海道), with endless 'Japow'.
Simon has been skiing at Shiga Kōgen (志賀高原) in the Joshin’etsukogen National Park, located in the Japanese Alps on the island of Honshū (本州中部). Shiga Kōgen is the largest ski area in Japan.
30 April The 1080 controversy: risks, rage and realities Wren Green
Wren was technical advisor to the panel set up by the Environment Risk Management Authority (ERMA, now the EPA) that reassessed 1080 in 2007.
07 May Tour Te Waipounamu 2024 Marcus Baguley
Marcus shares his experience of the 1,300 km ultra bikepacking race traversing the length of the South Island and covering remote high country stations and hiking trails.
14 May Writing a history of mountaineering in New Zealand Paul Maxim
180 years of climbing, hundreds of individuals, famous mountains and faces, plus social fabric, changes in gear and equipment, photography and the odd mystery thrown in. It's never been done before. How is Paul getting on?
21 May Stepping up to Makalu Wayne Perkins, Leonore Hoke and Cathy Wylie
The physically challenging trek to Makalu Base Camp (5,100m) suits adventurers who are looking to avoid the popular, crowded trekking routes of Nepal and want an authentic experience trekking amongst the giants of the Himalayas. Wayne, Leonore and Cathy did it in autumn 2023.
28 May Winter club 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 this winter. Speakers include: Belynda Jack, Paul McCredie (winter tramping), James Gilbert-Milne (Snow craft for Trampers course), Jack O'Carroll (Alpine Instruction), Vivienne Radcliffe (Tararua Lodge, skiing, ski touring).
04 June Packrafting: changing backcountry travel Marie Henderson
Marie has done a packrafting trip on the Clarence River and the Hollyford-Pyke loop. She describes packrafts as 'little blow up boats that are, like, halfway between a tyre tube and a hardshell kayak', and says 'people do the paddle bit in their packrafts and then look like trampers when they are in carry mode'.
11 June It’s Quiz Time! Social Committee
Get a team together, or join one on the night, and enjoy a challenging
but fun evening fuelled with wine and nibbles.
Compete fiercely against other teams of quizzers to
answer fiendishly difficult questions artfully devised by last year’s TTC
Quiz Champions.
Win the highly sought-after and prestigious title of TTC Quiz Champions 2024.
This is a clubrooms only event.
18 June A fascinating trip to three Caucasus countries Diana Barnes
Diana went on a two-week trip to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia,
countries with contrasting cultures, languages and writing systems.
25 June Two short presentations
Lewis Pass to Lake Rotoroa Lynne White
Five club members walked from Lewis Pass up several river valleys, over Waiau Pass to Lake Constance and Blue Lake, and finally down the Sabine River to Lake Rotoroa.
Schormann to Kaitoke Leonore Hoke
Inspired by Andy Carruther’s talk and film about the Tararua S-K traverse, Leonore signed up to Lynne White’s plan to do it in nine days. The reality was that rainstorms and gale force winds stopped their progress. They found themselves grounded in Dundas Hut and Maungahuka Hut, and after 11 days walked out at Ōtaki, with not a crumb of food left. It was a challenging experience and they both gained a new appreciation of mighty Tararua Ranges.
![Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 1] Les Molloy](https://ttc.org.nz/FixtureCard/2024ClubNights?action=imgtpl&G=24&upname=2024-07-02%20les.png "Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 1] Les Molloy")
02 July Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 1] Les Molloy
Part 1 deals with a beech forest wilderness in NW Honshū, a heavily forested island south of Kagoshima with the highest mountain in southern Japan, and four sites in Hokkaidō, including the mountainous Shiretoko Peninsula, with its unique relationship with the winter sea ice that surrounds it.
09 July Granite towers and icebergs Rob & Angela Vanderpoel
Rob and Angela spent five fabulous days in Patagonia hiking the ‘W’ trek under the granite towers of Torres del Paine, and went on an awe-inspiring 11-day expedition cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula. Expect massive icebergs, breaching whales and penguin antics.
16 July Birding, wildlife and fauna in Costa Rica and the Cayman Islands''
Peter Smith and Trish Gardiner-Smith revisited old haunts in Costa Rica and went on a self-drive birding tour. Afterwards they visited family in the Cayman Islands and looked at the wildlife there.
![Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 2] Les Molloy](https://ttc.org.nz/FixtureCard/2024ClubNights?action=imgtpl&G=27&upname=2024-07-23%20les.png "Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 2] Les Molloy")
23 July Japan’s Natural World Heritage [Part 2] Les Molloy
Tonight, Les takes us to the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands.
30 July Ecological overshoot: a regenerative response Paul Bruce
Relocalisation and regenerative lifestyles closer to nature offer pathways from our destructive fossil fuel-powered way of life to a livable future.
06 August Paddy’s perspectives on Patagonia Paddy Gresham
Magnificent mountains, lovely lakes, raging rivers, huge glaciers, endless fiords, soaring condors, stranded shipwrecks, lonely roads, friendly people and wind, wind, wind. Paddy reflects on his four trips to this special part of the world.
13 August Hypothermia: prevention and management Dr Jenny Visser
Jenny discusses recent changes in the definition of the stages of hypothermia, how best to recognise hypothermia in the field, and practical aspects of prevention and field management of hypothermia.
Jenny is Senior Lecturer and Director of Travel Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, the academic lead for the University of Otago’s postgraduate qualifications in Travel Medicine, and National Medical Advisor (The Travel Doctor). She has worked in clinical Travel Medicine for over 20 years.
20 August 2024 TTC Photo Competition
The annual opportunity to be entertained and inspired by the best work of the club’s photographers and to pick some top tips on photographing trips.
27 August Annual General Meeting
Have your say at this year’s AGM on the management and running of our club. What could we be doing better and how?
03 September England’s South West Coast Path Susan Guscott
Susan hiked the 1,000 km South West Path around England's south west peninsula, a National Trail running from Minehead in Somerset along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. The Path traverses soaring cliffs and plunging valleys, averaging nearly 600m of climbing per day.
10 September Girl of the Mountain Trish McCormack
Trish is the author of an entertaining crime novel about climbing guides at Mt Cook in the post-war period. She did her master’s thesis in history on women climbers and wrote the Te Ara New Zealand encyclopaedia entry on legendary climber Katie Gardner.
Trish' book will be for sale at a discounted price of $30 - cash or you can copy her bank details.
17 September Nelson Lakes club meet March 2024
Over 30 members participated in the third club meet. It was another great opportunity for people to tramp and socialise with a broader cross section of club members. Trips ranged from rambles to a full eight-day mission.
24 September Traversing Tararua - twice Isla Ashby and Louise Hammersley (VUWTC)
Armed with their inventive dance moves and irrepressible humour, Louise and Isla braved the weather during their rugged 14-day tramp. In a 22-minute film of their trip, they reflect on challenges faced by women in the backcountry.
01 October Tasmania’s Three Capes Track Alan Benge
Alan did a four-day fully guided walk along the spectacular Three Capes Track in Tasmania National Park in perfect weather, enjoying marvellous cliff scenery along the rugged Tasmanian coast.
08 October Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa Outdoor Access Commission David Barnes
David is the Commission’s local Regional Field Advisor. His work includes a couple of projects aimed at improving access to corners of the Tararua and Ruahine ranges.
15 October Humboldt and Darran Mountains Monique Bon and Mathew Denys (WMTC)
Monique led an Easter tenting expedition into the Humboldt Mountains, while Mathew headed into the Darran Mountains aiming to reach point 2024 near Lake Turner.
22 October Wild ice skating 2024 Alan Knowles
Alan skates us around icebergs on Hooker Lake, out to the island on Lake Clearwater and tangles with tourists wanting in on the action.
29 October Field Hut centenary Paul McCredie
On Labour Day our very own Field Hut marks its 100th birthday! We look back on the history of the hut.
05 November Ski touring on the Mahu Whenua Traverse Andy Carruthers
During a 40km alpine journey in the Southern Alps, Andy and his team of adventurers experienced the magic of ski touring in New Zealand’s remote backcountry, tackling epic challenges and enjoying breathtaking views.
12 November Hikes, wildlife and cities in Europe Anne Dowden
Anne’s travels included rowing in Venice, refugio hiking and via ferrata climbing in the Italian Dolomites, the Walker’s Haute Route and da Lavas Glacier in Switzerland, hikes and wildlife in northern Norway, and quirky urban adventures.
19 November Secrets of the Great Walks Mike Gilbert (WTMC)
Considering doing a Great Walk? Mike has knocked off nearly all of them and learned a thing or two about how to prepare - from booking to transport logistics - and what to expect.
26 November Capital Kiwi Project Paul Ward (founder) & Jeff Hall (community ranger)
The Capital Kiwi Project is a mission to restore a large-scale population of wild kiwi to the hills surrounding our capital city. As of last month, 138 kiwi had been released.
03 December Rediscovering the abandoned Te Hanga Ridge Track Chris Munn
Four intrepid TTC members set off to conquer the Te Hanga Ridge in the Kaimai Range, a 4.5 km section of track with an impressive reputation for its difficult slow travel and navigation. In the end, they prevailed.
10 December Christmas at the clubrooms Social Committee
Enjoy a convivial evening with fellow club members. Mary Kane and Jenny Olsen will lead singing of Christmas carols, and Nina Sawicki and Eva Durrant will present items. Wine, Christmas cake and mince pies will be served. You are welcome to bring a Christmas present for a child in need.
17 December Ngā mihi o te wā
Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.
24 and 31 December Ngā mihi o te tau hou
Photo: Marg Pearce
Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.
Hāere kaha i ngā puke
Go hard in the hills