Search results by user ID 3394

Carkeek Attempt 2, December 10 - 12

David C — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:11:10 GMT

There will be another attempt on Carkeek this coming weekend subject to favourable weather conditions (and interest!). There will be a sign-up sheet tomorrow night and I'll also call or e-mail around everyone who made the attempt last time to see if they are keen for another go. We'll probably go in from the East, via pretty much the same route as last time, staying at Jumbo Friday night, then across the tops to McGregor Spur. This trip will only happen if the forecast is outstanding across the entire weekend, otherwise something else could potentially be organised. Note that this trip replaces the Taranaki summit camping trip in the calendar, which took place already last weekend.

Also note that Mikey is keen to run another trip this weekend too to the summit plateau on Ruapehu. There will also be a sign-up sheet for this trip tomorrow night, or alternatively you can e-mail him.

A Carkeek remote tramping adventure or some amazing mountaineering on Ruapehu, there's two great options for an awesome weekend either way!

Cheers,

Dave, Assistant Chief Guide

Mount Aspiring in February 2011

David C — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:15:03 GMT

You may have noticed a weekish-long trip appear on the summer calendar this year to Mount Apsiring National Park. Subject to sufficient interest, I'm hoping to run this trip to climb the glistening peak itself and check out some of the other attractions in the park, time and weather permitting, over roughly a week from the 4th.

The plan at this stage would be to fly to Christchurch where we'll pick up transport (and anyone joining us in Christchurch) and drive to Wanaka. From there we'll head to the raspberry creek hut roadend and head up the matukituki river to bevan col and make our way across the Bonar Glacier and the summit of perhaps the finest mountain in New Zealand. We'll camp and/or use the various staging huts en-route. Good weather is crucial for this trip, so we'll allow plenty of time for a good weather window for the climb itself, and of course to get in and out and back to Christchurch. This trip will therefore be roughly a week, but exact dates, particularly the date of return are to be confirmed. If we're blessed with outstanding weather for the entire time we're down there, we should also have time to check out some other interesting things in the area too.

This will be a slightly more ambitious trip and will certainly be bordering on more of the mountaineering side of things. AICI+II or alternative experience will therefore be necessary as well as a good level of fitness and navigational ability. Finally, we'll need to arrange transport down there in advance (particularly flights to Christchurch) so we don't get fleeced. This one thus won't be a tuesday night sign up trip, so if you are definitely interested in coming and can get the time off work/study etc., please can you confirm with me by the end of November.

For those definately coming, we'll then probably organise an AIC III-style weekend to revisit the sort of things we're likely to encounter on the trip, rope work etc. plus crevasse and glacier instruction etc., probably up on Ruapehu the weekend prior to heading down there (28-30 January).

Hopefully if there's enough interest, this has the potential to be an absolutely outstanding trip in what I think is the country's best national park. There's something quite amazing about the mountain too, and it shouldn't be too costly to climb it this way either.

Cheers,

Dave, Assistant Chief Guide
davidcoppack@hotmail.co.uk

Carkeek weekend 12-14 November - a chance to bag the holy grail of the Tararuas

David C — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:14:26 GMT

Flick me an e-mail or sign-up at next Tuesday's meeting at the Welsh Dragon for the 12-14 November trip to Carkeek hut in the deepest, darkest remote region of the Tararuas, with plenty of river, tops and bush travel in (hopefully) some fine summer weather.

For those who haven't heard of Carkeek, it is the most remote hut in the range and a favorite challenge among even the most keen of trampers. There are many interesting and intriguing stories flying around about attempts to reach this place, or get out for that matter, and I'm sure I've even heard someone say you can't call yourself a Tararua tramper unless you've bagged this hut, here's your chance!

Depending on numbers, this trip might entail some variety of crossing east to west, or loops from either the east or west with everyone descending on Carkeek on Saturday night. This hut sleeps 6 + floor space I believe, so we'll take fly's too if numbers look big. Full details of the exact routes, groups and timings etc. will be sent out once numbers are confirmed, but whatever your route prepare yourself for some great bush bashing and a thorough test of your nav, river negotiation and fieldcraft skills - what better opportunity is there to hone your tramping skills for the summer calendar ahead and beyond!

Dave, Assistant Chief Guide
davidcoppack@hotmail.co.uk

Work begins!

David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:42:00 GMT

Manoel begins construction work on our snow walls for the night

Huge expanse

David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:39:00 GMT

There were a few other groups in the area, a couple of other tents were set up on the hill, we camped down in the basin itself

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David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:38:00 GMT

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David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:38:00 GMT

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David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:37:00 GMT

Dropping down onto glacier

David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:37:00 GMT

Kieran leading the way along ridge

David C — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:36:00 GMT