Hello!

This is the final event in a series of trips and social outings in the Greywacke series. These have been trips & social events that have featured both members of the Geology Society and Tramping Club. I personally have never been to Tutuwai Hut. But from I what I can gleam, this an easy-medium trip, with a long (7hrs) but relativley flat walk in. It follows along a similar path that we used to walk into Bushball, excpet we just keep walking past Smiths Creek Shelter. As this is a collab event, and I want to leave room for GEOLSOC members I will ensure we have a pretty fair ratio of GEOLSOC members to VUWTC members. This is a normal overnighter so bring all the gear you normally would, and as it is winter you must remember to bring some warm attire!

If there are enough drivers we can increase numbers!

This is an 18+ trip as we plan to indulge in mulled wine

We are going to Kime Hut! It’s about an hour drive from Kelburn to Otaki forks and then a 5-6 hours walk up, past Feild Hut and above the tree line with some good views to wake up to. We will aim to leave Hunter Carpark at 9am on Friday to get to the hut before dark and get back on Saturday afternoon. 

It’s considered a medium to advance track (especially in winter) and trip will be weather dependent. 

If you want an opportunity to touch grass before the trimester kicks up again, this is your chance! 

Anddd we will go to Duck Island afterwards, as an extra little reward. 

What to bring: It is August and it will get pretty cold up there (there is also no heating) so bring thermals and warm clothing! (If we are lucky maybe there will be snow?) Also bring: boots, raincoats, sleeping bag, head torch, gas cooker and food! (Look at website for full overnight gear list.)

Cost: TBC

We need drivers!! I can extend the number of people coming to 20 if more drivers sign up!

Earlier this year I proclaimed the good news, that no longer should we rely on cars to go tramping, but we could instead use bikes and the train. Unfortunatly the train let us down, and just days before we set off it was changed to a bus-replacement. Perhaps we should of just driven cars.

Despite this setback, I still know deep down that two wheels are better than four. This time we will not rely on the clearly unreliable Masterton Line, and will instead travel on my favourite, and very trustworthy, Kāpiti Line. From there we will ride to the Kapakapanui road-end, and tramp to Renata hut. 

The plan:

• Early morning train from Wellington Station (there's lots of options and I haven't picked but it will be around 7am)
• Ride from Waikanae station to the Kapakapanui Track. (I will see about leaving our bikes at the neighbouring Ngātiawa River Monastery... or else we can lock them to a tree somewhere deeper in the bush)
• Tramp via Kapakapanui (the peak) and down via Maymorn Juction to arrive at Renata Hut (about a 12km walk with a bigish climb at the start)
• Eat and be merry
• Sleep
• Wake up
• Tramp out a different way - turning left at the Maymorn Juction, following that trail down for a while, and then turning off down a gentle spur for a bit of bush-bashing back to the road-end. (See map below)
• Ride back to Waikanae (maybe get dinner out in waikane if people are keen)
• Take the train home

For kai, you will need to bring your own breakfast (1), lunches (2) and snacks (lots). Dinner will be divided between packs on the train. 

A full gear list will be sent out to those going closer to the time. 

This trip is a MF (medium-fit) trip, as it will likely be a long day, and we will need to keep moving at a moderate pace to avoid too much dark tramping given the shorter winter days. Those who sign up should be up for a trip which will include:

• Multiple river crossings (the Ngātiawa river can get quite full quite fast so weather is important in this case)
• Off-track navigation
• Two long days
• Biking (we will just wear our packs as it is only ~10km, so no special equipment is needed other than a bike and helmet)

We are running a hopefully snowy trip to Howletts Hut and Sawtooth Ridge. Along the way we'd like to bag some higher 1600m peaks around the area to try get some good snow. Howllets' Hut is the highest hut in the range so it would be a cool hut to see some great views.

If the weather plays nice this tramp will be slightly difficult as we can't stay in tarn bivvy with more than probably 4 people so please be confident in tramping in some more rugged terrain for 6+ hours.

Snowcraft experience is a must as this is technically an alpine trip regardless of weather we get heaps of snow or not. A head for heights would also be recommended as some of the terrain on Sawtooth Ridge can be quite exposed especially in the snow:)

Here is the route-

 Day 1 Kashmir Road - Howllets Hut

Day 2 Howletts Hut up Tiraha and across Sawtooth ridge, back via black ridge down to Daphne Hut.

Day 3 Back to Kashmir Road.

The second day is open to change depending on weather and how the group is feeling. There are heaps of cool routes around the area so there will be some cool tramping on the day.

Got a pile of clothes with holes, loose buttons, or seams giving up on life? Bring 'em! We're getting together for a few hours to sit, stitch, and hang out in good company 😊

No-one is an expert!! This is just a chance to learn a few new techniques or ways to mend with each other to promote fixing our things rather than replacing them.

Bring

• Your own mending materials (needles, thread, patches, fabric)
• The items you want to mend
• Something small to share for a potluck

Time:

5 – 7pm

Thursday 13^th

See you there!!

Ran this trip last sem. It was alot of fun, although this time itll prolly be a bunch colder, but thats no reason not to go!!

No cap on this trip, its serviced by a bus. Which means all it costs is a bus fare! This is a pretty chill day tramp, although your feet do get quite cold!

Plan: 

• We will all meet at 8:25 at Courtney Place Stop A. From there we will catch the 83 all the way to Eastbourne and get off at Muritai/ Kowhai Rd Stop in Eastbourne, 
• Follow route along gollans stream from the map below.
• catch 83 back from Kowhai road or the Ferry from days bay. Depends how we are feeling (also they serve gelato at a cafe at the roadend)

Gear Required:

• Warm clothes. Think puffer jackets, thermals, and fleece pull overs. It will be cold and you will get wet, so prepare accordingly.
• Wet weather gear. Raincoat and optional to have rainpants.
• Suitable footwear; I wore trail runnners last time. So something like that if you have it. But also boots work. Just don't show up in reebok white sneakers.
• Food. Bring lunch and snacks. That should be all you need.
• Water - bring about 1.5 litres.

If you have any questions then please contact me

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:

• Sign up! (even if you are meeting us down there)
• Meet outside 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 goin biking gang.

This ride is an epic 5-hill bonanza showcasing central wellington's best mountain biking spots.

Meet at the miramar pump track at 11-11.30

We will aim to finish up with a golden hour lap of makara peak at around 5

Please bring lights if you are riding home.