2024
Photo: Simon
2, 9, 16 January Kia pai te wā ō pōhutukawa nui
Ka kati te whare karapu.
The clubrooms will be closed.
23 January Steak, salads and sausage sizzle - President’s barbeque
Cathy Wylie is hosting the President’s barbecue for club members from 5-9 p.m. at Simon's home in Petone.
Please bring your own kai for the BBQ and kai and drink to share.
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 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. There is a $4 entry charge.