The Second Snowcaft

We run two snowcrafts each year, this is our second one.

Dates: 25th - 27th of Sep

On Friday evening we will meet at the gear shed from 4pm to sus ourselves out, then start driving north by 4:30pm. Bulls is about halfway & has a bangin' curry spot so maybe pop in for dinner on the way, or elsewhere (up to your driver really). We should get to Ruapehu before midnight, then we have to walk about 20min from the carpark to the lodge. 

Saturday morning we will rise at a reasonable hour, have breakfast, and sort the day's gameplan. We will split into groups, and spend the day on the mountain learning snow skills, & checking out some cool scenery. Then we'll head back down to the lodge for a mean feed & a bit of socialising. 

Sunday morning we have to tidy up the lodge but otherwise we can decide what we want to do depending on conditions and how people are feeling. There's potential for more snow stuff, or maybe a trip to the hotpools or other locations on the way home. We will likely be back in Wellington late on Sunday.

What do I need for snowcraft?

A comprehensive list will be sent out to those attending, but here's a rough outline of the kind of gear you need:

• Waterproof jacket, pants & gloves

• Boots that are compatible with crampons - this is very important! Bring your boots to a meeting if you're not sure. 

• Sleeping bag

• Warm clothes - thermals, fleece etc

• Headtorch

• Snow goggles or decent sunglasses

VUWTC will supply helmets, ice axes, and crampons

How do I sign up?

Sign up using the sign up form below. Sign ups will open on the 17th of August and close on the 23rd

Due to the popularity of this trip it will not be first in first served - priority will be given to members that are currently active in the club (coming to meetings/going on trips) & those who signed up for Snowcraft one, but where not selected.
We are allowed 31 people in the lodge so that will be the trip capacity

Snowcraft 1: $150 for those going on the course, and $135 for those leading groups. (These were the costs for snowcraft 1, they may be subject ot change).

• The fees for staying 2 night in the TTC lodge
• 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner/dessert
• Your share of petrol (it's a long drive!)

Organiser: Hazel Murray (email)

An ongoing collaboration with Karori Kaitiaki at Birdwood Reserve. We will be helping to restore a steep Gully of native bush in the reserve, and clearing Kaiwharawhara stream of Tradescandia. This is an important site for Karori Kaitiaki, as it's the home of the future Birdwood Reserve track. It's a super fun way to do some practical work outside that creates meaningful and visible change within the native ecology of our city. Come along and be part of the action!

Please bring gardening gloves, a water bottle and jacket, snacks and if possible a spade, shovel or rake. 

Hope to see you there!

Cost: Free

Trip Emergency Contact:

Max Honiss 022 506 3500

The VUWTC will be particapating in the picnic/protest at parliament. We are supporiting Forest & Bird in vocaliosing or objection of the Conservation Amendement Bill. JOIN US!

Read more about the bill here: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/campaigns/save-conservation-land-amendment-bill

We will be doing a walking bus down from Hunter Carpark to Parliament. Meet at 12:30pm to join the walking bus, or meet us at Parliament at 1pm. 

Join Forest & Bird Wellington … for a community Picnic for Nature at Wellington Parliament grounds as we stand in solidarity with the national March for Nature in Auckland.

Bring your whānau, friends, lunch, picnic rug, and passion for nature. Together we'll celebrate the wild places we love and send a clear message that New Zealanders want strong protection for conservation land, oceans and nature.

Whether you're passionate about wildlife, conservation, climate, hunting, fishing, tramping or simply protecting the places that make Aotearoa special, this event is for you, your friends, whānau, tramping and biking buddies and community.

What to bring - Your Lunch, a Picnic rug, Banners (or cardboard or a sheet to paint your own sign there)
Any queries - Email: wellington.branch@forestandbird.org.nz.


Nature can't speak for itself — but together we can Protect nature and Protect conservation land
 

Welcome to Wednesday Climbing Nights!

Want to try indoor climbing for the first time, or meet some like-minded climbers? Come along to our weekly climb nights! We climb at Hangdog (Bouldering & Top roping) in Lower Hutt, and Faultline (Bouldering) on Willis St.

This week, we'll be climbing at Faultline, which is a bouldering gym. This means no ropes/harnesses and no belaying. There are grades for every level of experience, so no matter how much climbing experience you have you’ll have plenty to get stuck into!

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME CLIMBING AT FAULTLINE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE (https://www.wellingtonclimbing.co.nz/first_visit_fl/) AND SIGN THE ONLINE WAIVER BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE GYM!

This week: Faultline

Schedule:

• Meet outside the top floor of the VUWSA building at 5:00pm to walk down together or outside Faultline at 5:20 p.m.
• CLIMB!
• You can leave whenever you like (we usually finish up around 7:30-8:00 p.m) and return home independently.

Entry costs: $15 + $3 for shoes

This is not paid for through the club—there is no piking fee if you pull out. Pay at Faultline when we arrive.

To get the VUWTC entry price, just let the front desk know you are with VUWTC. Our discounted price is only from 5:30 pm onwards on Wednesdays.

See you there :)

We're helping the Greater Wellington Backcountry Network to install track boardwalks in the Tararuas! This is an overnight trip with camping in the bush ⛺

We'll rendezvous with helicopters carrying supplies, and then help carry the rafts to their drop-off points.

Participants need to be experienced with steep Tararua tramping conditions and capable of heavy lifting.

NOTE: This trip is medium to medium-hard difficulty. The walk involves 5km walk and several hundred metres of ascent.

Dobson Loop track info

Day plan for Sat 12 Sep:

VUWTC people meet at Kelburn campus at 6:45am. We'll then drive 45min to the track start at Kaitoke, where GWBN will meet us at 8am.

1 person will fly up to Dobson's Track, the rest will walk up (including me). The walk involves a mix of steep and flat sections of track. We will drop our packs and tools at the helicopter rendezvous points, and carry boardwalks for short periods. Overall walking time will be at least 2-3 hours, I think maximum time is 5-6 hours.

Gear:

Please bring day tramping gear. Key things are a tramping pack, warm clothing, a windproof raincoat, tramping boots, a bowl/cutlery, a headtorch, a big water bottle, and a first aid kit/personal medication.

Full gear list here.

Food:

Please bring lunch, dinner, plenty of snacks, and lots of water

Cost:

- $7.50 fuel per person

Kia ora koutou!

Ever wanted to escape Faultline and breathe some fresh air while climbing? Ever wanted to learn a few tips and tricks on how to climb rocks? Nau mai haere mai ki ētahi haerenga. 

This trip is one of the missions out to the Wairarapa Coast. Here, you will learn how to spot someone while climbing, use bouldering mats, and progress your climbing skills. If you have gone to a few climb nights, but haven't climbed outdoors yet, this trip is for you. Heoi ano, if you have experience outdoor climbing, please sign up as well as it would be great to have some people with experience.

The number of people we can take on the trip will depend on how many cars sign up.

What do you need to know?

Where will we be going? Baring Head, a famous Welly bouldering spot, about a 50 minute drive from Vic Uni.

What's the plan? 

- Meet at 8:45am on Saturday the 12th of September at Hunter Carpark

- Drive to Baring Head (50 mins)

- Walk to the climbing spots (50 mins)

- CLIMB! (and enjoy the view)

- Leave the climbing spots by 3pm to get back to uni by 5pm.

What should I bring? 

- Walking shoes

- Climbing shoes and chalk

- Warm layers (including raincoat - it gets very windy)

- Kai for snacks and lunch

- At least 1.5 litres of water

- Torch (just in case)

How experienced should I be to go? Baring Head has lots of different grades, but in general this trip will have more variety of climbs for people that can climb 3-4+ at Faultline. Even if you're a bit below that feel free to come along and give it a go. The coastline is beautiful as well if you want to sit and watch the sea + take lots of breaks. 

Here is a link to the climbs at Baring Head! https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/ni/wellington/baring-head

This overnight tramp is for anyone wishing to complete the Jumbo Circuit and stay at an awesome alpine hut.

The days walking on this trip will be 6-8 hours, and anyone signing up should have a medium level of tramping experience. 

On Saturday: We will meet at Hunter Carpark at 7.45 to leave at 8, so that we can make the most of the daylight on our walk (6hrs).

We will then tramp along the valley to Atiwhakatu hut and then straight up to Jumbo, to stay the night. 

I will organise dinner to cook as a group, it will be traditional, delectable and celebratory. It will be nachos. 

On Sunday: Fuelled or propelled by beans we will walk up to the Summit of Jumbo and then along the ridge to Holdsworth

before descending past Powell Hut down many, many stairs and the lovely Gentle Annie track, back to where we started (8hrs). 

Cost: Hut tickets at $25 each, petrol for carpooling and $6 per person for dinner will all be included in the trip cost. 

Pease bring: Breakfast and lunch for two days, a functioning headtorch with spare batteries, sturdy boots and all your other tramping essentials, 

see our quick gear list here: https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/resources/gear-list  

Welcome to Wednesday Climbing Nights!

Want to try indoor climbing for the first time, or meet some like-minded climbers? Come along to our weekly climb nights! We climb at Hangdog (Bouldering & Top roping) in Lower Hutt, and Faultline (Bouldering) on Willis St.

This week, we'll be climbing at Faultline, which is a bouldering gym. This means no ropes/harnesses and no belaying. There are grades for every level of experience, so no matter how much climbing experience you have you’ll have plenty to get stuck into!

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME CLIMBING AT FAULTLINE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE (https://www.wellingtonclimbing.co.nz/first_visit_fl/) AND SIGN THE ONLINE WAIVER BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE GYM!

This week: Faultline

Schedule:

• Meet outside the top floor of the VUWSA building at 5:00pm to walk down together or outside Faultline at 5:20 p.m.
• CLIMB!
• You can leave whenever you like (we usually finish up around 7:30-8:00 p.m) and return home independently.

Entry costs: $15 + $3 for shoes

This is not paid for through the club—there is no piking fee if you pull out. Pay at Faultline when we arrive.

To get the VUWTC entry price, just let the front desk know you are with VUWTC. Our discounted price is only from 5:30 pm onwards on Wednesdays.

See you there :)