Hello!

As I have been loving all the collabs between various clubs on campus here at VUW (looking at you Greywacke series) I feel that a collab between the VUWTC and the MUAC (Massey University Alpine Club) is in order. This also allows us to use the MUAC lodge on the mountain!

This is a planned summit of Tahurangi via the Skyline Ridge. As this is a trip that will take place during snowy conditions, It is mandatory that anyone coming has attended a snowcraft course, or can prove they have attended a similar course.

Give this course report by WTMC to get a feel for what this trip could be like 

https://wtmc.org.nz/trip-report/tahurangi-from-blyth-hut-mt-ruapehu/

The Skyline ridge is Mt Cook Grade 1 so its good way for anyone keen to get into moutaineering to get on.

I will be picking people for this course based on level of experience

Bushcraft 2 - An incredible journey for you to develop skills in navigation, river crossing, devouring food in the bush aka foraging, risk management and first aid! This trip is open to all who have a reasonable level of tramping experience and who are ready to learn what to do when things might not go to plan...

For Bushcraft 2, we will be heading to Tutuwai Hut on Friday the 2nd of October at 2pm, meeting at the Hunter Carpark at 1:30 pm. We will aim to be back by around 5pm on the Sunday. 

We will be fly camping at Tutuwai Hut, and the gear list is attached below. If you have your own compass and tararua map (Topo50), please bring it.

https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/resources/gear-list

If you want to learn more about Navigation, sign up to the nav course as well on the 15th of September.

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 Hangdog, which is a top-roping and bouldering gym. This means some climbs will require ropes, harnesses & 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! 

This week: Hangdog (bring cars!)

Schedule:

• Sign up! (Even if you are meeting us there - they need to know numbers ahead of time)

• Meet at Hunter carpark at 5 pm, leave for the gym at 5:10 pm on the dot.

• CLIMB!

• You can leave whenever you like - but drivers need to have the same number of people in their cars that they brought out. (Drivers - make sure the people you drove out know when you want to leave!)

• PAY YOUR DRIVERS 

Costs: $15 entry + $3 for shoes + $3 for your driver

This is not paid for through the club so there is no piking fee if you pull out. Pay at the gym when we arrive/to your driver directly.

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 :)

This course will be run by two club members, Kathleen & Anton. We are not professional instructors, but I'd like to think we're alright teachers & we have experience running similar courses for other clubs. 

We will spend the weekend at Ruapehu, learning the basics of glacier travel & crevasse rescue including:

• How to set up & travel as a rope team
• How to probe out a campsite
• How to make safe decisions on glaciers
• How to build snow anchors
• How to do a basic crevasse rescue

This is just an introductory course that will give you the skills to travel across mild terrain in good conditions. There is still a lot more than we can fit in one weekend, so participants are encouraged to continue practicing & learning after the course. 

As there are only 8 learning spots, this trip will not be first come first served. Participants will be chosen based on:

• Proven commitment to the club
• Leadership or instructing experience
• Stoke - keen people are more likely to use these skills

This criteria is based on the idea that the participants will be able to pass this knowledge on to other club members in a future course of similar format. 
So if you do miss out on this one, hopefully there will be more opportunites coming soon.

Other than that, the minimum requirements are:

• You must have done snowcraft
• You must attend a pre-trip weeknight training session (https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/Event/14522 and/or https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/Event/14523)
• You may also be required to buy a small amount of personal gear, but we will keep this as minimal as possible. 

Regarding Sign-ups: Sign-ups will close on the 30th of Aug and we will let aim let people know who is coming by then.

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

This a class on navigation theory taught by two expert navigators, to be followed by an outisde practical application session on a later date.

Meet at AM103 for the presentation. 

Accessible to all levels of prior knowledge as we will start with basics and work our way towards more advanced decision-making. Emphasis on saftey and teaching skills that can be readily applied out on tramps! Woo!

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 :)