The floor is lava! (feat. boardwalks and Alpha hut)

DRIVER WANTED - let me know if you can help, there will be free chocolate cake with the club logo on it!

The floor is lava!!

The Greater Wellington Backcountry Network want our help to install boardwalks over that terrifying enemy (or friend) of the Tararua tramper: mud!

This is your chance to meet several of the backcountry maintenance legends that are GWBN. We'll be walking Dobson's track and installing wooden "rafts" on the worst of the mud. We'll rendezvous with helicopters carrying supplies, and then help carry the rafts to their drop-off points.

My plan is to stay overnight at Alpha hut, fingers crossed for clear night skies as the area is great for stargazing (it's in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve).

Alpha Hut info

Tutuwai Hut info

Route:

NOTE: This trip is medium-hard difficulty. Day 1 involves 775m ascent and TBC descent (reversed on day 2). Alpha has 20 bunks, so hopefully we'll all get one.

Day 1 (Sat 25 July) - TBC, waiting for confirmation from GWBN on the boardwalk delivery plan. Well eventually walk up to Alpha Hut, a 7-9hr walk (TBC km).

Day 2 (Sun 26 July) - Leaving by 9am, we'll return to carpark the way we came (7-9hr). Stop for fish and chips in Petone on the way home?!

Gear:

Please bring overnight tramping gear. Key things are a tramping pack, warm clothing, a windproof raincoat, tramping boots or trail runners, a sleeping bag, a bowl/cutlery, a headtorch, a big water bottle, and a first aid kit/personal medication. Bring a pot/cooker if you have them.

You can borrow club gear (eg packs, sleeping bags), but please ask in advance :)

Full gear list here.

Food:

Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks, drinks (NO glass please!), and at least 1 day's emergency food in case we get delayed.

Cost:

- Roughly $15 fuel per person

- Hut payment ($15 for a blue standard DOC hut ticket, you can buy at outdoor stores eg Bivouac, Macpac) - also can use DOC hut pass, or camp for free if you bring a tent