Search results by user ID 2686

Avalanche Awareness Course with MSC, 29th July

tombelgrano — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:55:59 GMT

Hey guys,

Mountain Safety Council run these incredible one evening one day avalanche awareness courses for trampers and climbers, the cost is $150 which is cost to them so no chance of any group discounts :( But its a steal when you consider what a guide would be paid for the same time and knowledge.

Anyone getting out into proper winter tramping should have this basic knowledge and anyone climbing should see this as a base on which to learn alot more. In fact, if you're really serious about going into the backcountry, then you should skip this course and do Avalanche 1, which is much more comprehensive.

More about this next term but please reply to me asap so i can book it at tombelgrano@gmail.com if you want to come.

3 LOKO Summits Tramp April 2-3rd

tombelgrano — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:30:56 GMT

On the 2-3rd April i'm leading a trip up to Tongariro National Park to link up all the major summits in a weekend. I'l figure out logistics before we go but basically, somehow, we'l aim to get up all 3 active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Ngarahoe and Tongariro,in that order, traveling in as direct a route as possible (this means no tracks until the base of Tongariro, so ~80% of the walking). In the words of Jukka: Gut.

We'l leave Hunter Carpark at 5.00pm so be there a little earlier and be back sunday night, however, there's the chance of benightment on sunday or sidetracking due to tired drivers on sunday night so there's a small chance of losing some of your monday aswell.

Bring your own food, it will need to be non cookable as we are leaving cookers to save weight. Sandwiches work well for main meals, whatever you bring should beable to be eaten on the move (prepacked).

Cost will be $40 to cover the gas to get up there.

The trip will be in the 'spirit' of alpinism and is a good warm up for the coming winter (and a 24hr ski 3 summits!), we'l pack as light as is safe and only take minimal cooking gear for the single night out in light tents/ bivvy bags. I'l let you know about packing light before we go. We'l probably have to carry all our water as its a bit dodgy between the volcanic contamination and tourist *** in the streams, which is a drag... but we'l manage. Edit: Tama Lakes might be good to drink out of, which would save us half the water!

There will be long sections in the permanent ice and snow up there on Ruapehu so some prev. experience using an axe and crampons would be helpful, let me know if you can't self arrest! Im sure you will still manage, although it could mean sitting out on the steeper Ruapehu Summit.

Also essential are basic navigation skills and a cool head if the weather turns poos (this happens frequently in the mountains)

Check topomaps.co.nz for an idea of whats in store, it goes something like this: 1100m climb and 1700m descent first day (big day) and then 1000m climb, 600m descent, 300m ascent, 800m descent to carpark. And about 30km horizontal distance. (ive pulled these figures out of my head but they are good to within a few 100m) In short, this is a fit trip, with possibly 12hr+ days, heaps of vertical and rough volcanic ground. This ain't exactly the Tngariro xing but its something like it twice, off track, with a bit more vertical.

In saying that... im not that fit at the moment, and we'l take it easy and change plans if we realise things won't work out, and anyone always has the option to bail without needing a reason when we go above the snowline :)

An alternative route is to camp somewhere on the northern slopes of Ruapehu if we can't get to Tama Lakes and then just do Ngarahoe the next day. Which would still be a sick trip.

The club will provide cookers, tents, axes and crampons, you will need sturdy tramping boots, a >30l pack, suncream, lots of water bottles (6-9l) and the usual gear outlined on the website.

If the weather is bad we will all go tubing or maybe climbing at Mangaokewa!

http://www.geokem.com/images/pix/tongarir.jpg

email me at tombelgrano@gmail.com or see me at next weeks meeting to sign up or if you would like to have a chat about whether this trip is for you based on prev. experience.

Much love from your friendly President

Tom

P.S Some kind of burger is required for every summit! i will take deluxe cheeseburgers (they don't rot or freeze and are delicious and full of energy!) Eating these will be fun.

Freshers Tramp, Totara Flats. 1st Tramp of Year 11th-13th March.

tombelgrano — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:06:05 GMT

On behalf of Mikey, your friendly Chief Guide:

Freshers

This is the first trip of the Trimester. Being the first trip, it will be a social one! We are going to

Totara Flats, meeting at the Hunter Carpark at 5.15 on Friday night. We will be taken on a bus to the

Waiohine road end and camp there on Friday. On Saturday, we will follow the track next to the river

to Totara Flats. As well as at Totara Flats, there are a couple of opportunities for a swim along the

way. On Sunday we will then walk out to the Holdsworth road end. Camping will be under flies for

both nights, but if you have a tent and want to bring it, then feel free.

We will arrange everyone into groups for dinner on Saturday. Your group leader will let you know

what you will need to bring for the dinner. You will need to bring your own breakfast, lunch and

snacks.

For a list of gear that you will need, see the gear list page on the website.

The trip will cost $25, to cover transport there and back. You can sign up for the trip online or come

along the first meeting on Tuesday to find out more.

NOTE: We will not stop on Friday night to get dinner. Eat something before coming or bring

something to eat when we get to the road end.

Come along and ease yourself into the new year!

If you have any questions, let me know.

Mike

Chief Guide

Michael.instone@hotmail.com

Who would like to lead a trip? No prev. experience required :)

tombelgrano — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:42:41 GMT

Hey,

it would be great to get some newer members/ non committee members leading/ co-leading/ organising a few trips this year. If anyone had any ideas for locations, activities, novel adventure ideas or link-ups, maybe along the lines of hut bagging, peak bagging, track linking, bushcraft, bushparty etc. as well as normal weekend, day or mid week trips please get in contact with anyone on the committee and float your idea,

As Mikey and Dave are constructing the calender now it would be great to have some ideas,

email tombelgrano@hotmail.com

or michael.instone@hotmail.com

Looking forward to the 2011 calender,

Tom

VUTWC President 2011

Round the Bays

tombelgrano — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:29:47 GMT

From VUWSA:

Thanks to all those who have already signed up to be part of the Victoria University team for Round the Bays. For those of you that haven’t, it’s not too late! Registrations close Wednesday 9 February.

We have been lucky enough to get some VUW t-shirts from the very kind marketing folks at the University, so those who have already signed up will receive a free t-shirt. Please email me your size and I will do my best to ensure you receive a suitable size.

The next 23 people who sign up at the Round the Bays site and select Victoria University as their team will also receive one of our stylee VUW t-shirts, so make sure you get in quick to avoid missing out! You will be emailed if you are one of the lucky 23.

To join the Victoria University team go to http://www.wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/Home_13.htm

1	Go to the online registration page and select "I would like to search for an existing team"
2	Enter Victoria University as the team name and click the "tick" button
3	Select the team in the drop down bar and click the "tick" button
4	Click "join"
5	Complete registration form. All registration categories (Individual/Family/Half Marathon) can be part of a team

Registration packs can be picked up from the Rec Centre at a later date which I will confirm and those receiving T-shirts can pick them up at the same time. Those that are lucky enough to get a t-shirt please make sure you wear them on race day so we can all look sharp and dominate on the day! Everyone who enters our team will also go into a draw to win one of five $20 grocery vouchers!

Please note that we have a limited number of t-shirts and sizes however we will do our best to accommodate everyone. Don’t forget we also have group training sessions on The Boyd Wilson Field on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12- 1pm. Please email if you would like a copy of our training programme.

Re: Flat hunting

tombelgrano — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:27:25 GMT

oh you whore.

Backcountry Recipes

tombelgrano — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:28:04 GMT

http://www.dirtygourmet.com/

Lots of good recipes, most of which ive seen before on various trips but some quite original ones! could be good for the 2011 gourmet trip.

Feel free to share any others in this thread.

Re: Whanganui Bay Rock Festival 29th-31st Jan

tombelgrano — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:34:27 GMT

Here's the latest update & outline of the festival

Saturday 29 January 2011:

7.30 - Registration tent open (also open Friday night) - ($35 per person - you get hangi/Entertainment/Workshops/climbing and camping fees - one payment for 3 days / 2 nights). Please try and register before Powhiri. No pay no stay policy - casual climbing is closed this weekend.

9.30 - Powhiri/Karakia by local Kaumatua.

10am - Lunch - Participate in working bee / working groups are: Hangi Prep, Route Identification, Firewood collection.

2pm - Workshops

- NZAC - Re Bolting

- Hang Dog - Dynamic Belay - How to fall safely, advanced anchor construction

- Hang Dog - Climbing Styles and Techniques - How to climb harder with less effort

3pm - Group of volunteer climbers "Learn to lay a Hangi" ( Heating of stones and placement of food into ground / Pull Hangi out at 5.30pm).

6pm - Hangi - Have meal with Bay Trustees and local Whanau (families).

7pm - Historical talk about the Bay and the tribe "Ngati Te Maunga" by locals.

8pm - 12am - DJ Willie G / Bon Fire.

Sunday 30^th

10am - Workshops

- NZAC - Re Bolting

- Hang Dog - Dynamic Belay - How to fall safely, advanced anchor construction.

- Hang Dog - Climbing Styles and Techniques - How to climb harder with less effort.

Free Climbing

8pm - Outdoor Movie / Talent Quest / Karaoke

Monday 31^st

Free Climbing

Re: Outshone........

tombelgrano — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:31:33 GMT

Im sure we could outshine on the offenso-meter if we even put in a little effort...

Re: Otaki River Tubing trip

tombelgrano — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:24:28 GMT

I always thought that was the primary function?