Hey, 

Planning on taking my car down to Takaka for a week or two of complete sport bumming at Paynes Ford once exams are over and i have sorted accommodation. Now Terra has bailed to go climb in the snow in summer (go figure) and Sam has gone back to the land of sand, it is just me and Whit in the car and we think its a shame not to go down with a full load (inuendtastic; a taste of the humour you can expect during the car ride) 

So, at the moment it is pretty low key, in my car there is room for 3 extra. If there are more than 3 people interested then one of those people needs some wheels!

The plan would be to head down around the 19th November and stay for as long as people want. Camping at Hangdog at $4-5 pn (for those who haven't been, this place is the intersection between hippies, NZ sport bums and traveling climbers from the world over: fantastic), eating at camp most nights and hopefully (toxin warnings permitting) gathering the odd bit of sea food for a protein fix. 

Climbing as much as possible (rest day every 3rd or 4th usually), lots of hangdogging, redpointing, onsighting and whipping of NZ classic sport routes.

Pre requisite climbing skill for Paynes in minimal, i can get you and your partner leading and belaying leaders in a day if you have only top roped (the easy stuff at Paynes is just that!), and i have special techniques (ask Whit) for helping you to improve yourself on the rock. The wide range of climbs at every grade makes progression here easier than anywhere else in NZ. However, the fun climbs really start at grade 18, concentrated in the low 20s, so if this is you, its especially fun. Grades are soft and so are the falls (dynamic belay 101 is first lesson!) and the place isn't too busy at all that early in the Summer, and its not too hot yet! So anyones welcome to come! 

We can sort out gear once i know if anyone wants to come, but getting a few extra draws shouldn't be a problem, i have a rope but would prefer if people brought their own. Not sure on the club status of 50 or 60m singles?

If you have never climbed before it might be best to wait for Rock Craft 1 or contact me about some other beginner trips around Wellington and the central North Island (which i am always keen for!).

Getting back!

My car will be booked over one way in all probability, either staying in ChCh, at Terra's in Takaka or in some bush in Picton. Otherwise, it may be available to anyone wanting to do some South Island commuting if i am not with it (the 2-3 weeks before christmas) So return would be by drop off/bus to Picton or ChCh/Nelson Airport. It will be 'winging it' a bit, this isn't an official club trip, there is no solid plan,  so be prepared to improvise a little (if you call taking a Bus or Hitching to Picton improvising) for transport home.

There is also a strong chance we get bored of Paynes depending on the amount of time we spend there so an adjourn to Mt Somers, Charleston or Castle Hill or anywhere else for that matter, is likely on the cards.

So, if you would like to express interest in coming for the whole/ part of the time please do so :) At the moment it would just be great to have a few more VUWTC climbers down there, its quite the social environment.

Cheers!

Tom 

  tombelgrano@gmail.com

0226109449