You are cordially invited to the annual summit luncheon between the good folks of VUWTC and AUTC.

Snowcraft experience required. Cricket, sock wrestling, and table-traversing experience strongly preferred.

Staying at the TTC lodge, room for 16 of us to go.

We will be staying in the TTC Lodge with members from the AUTC (Auckland University Tramping Club). Many shenanigans will be undertaken, mulled wine will be drunk, cricket will be played on the summit plateu, and we will wrestle over socks. Perhaps we may sing songs too.

Gear required is the same as was used on Snowcraft. So please ensure you have all the right layers and crampon compatible boots. 

Food: We will do a group meal on the Saturday night that will be shared with AUTC. That is the only shared meal. The rest will be self catered. 2x Lunches, 2x Breakfasts, and plenty of snacks!

Helloo,

A debut to Maungahuka hut has been calling me recently so join me if you’re interested spending a few days on some fun weather exposed ridges in the Tararuas !

These dates are very weather dependent, but I’m hoping that this or least some time in the last week of October works out. 

Regarding those who sign up, people will be picked at the discretion of myself for ease of transport. I have had to cut down ths numbers due to lack of cars, so if your keen and have a car please contanct me !

The plan is to leave early on the 27th, drive the hour to Otaki forks, and then walk the 5-6 hours to Kime hut. 

The next day we will cross the peaks to Maungahuka hut (7-9 hours).

Day 3 we will most likely go all the way back out (8-10 hours) and get home late on the 29th

This route is a very advanced tramping track; 

• The track is a poled route along an exposed, narrow ridge. There is no shelter, visibility can often be poor, and sections of the route are very steep and difficult. Only experienced and well-equipped trampers should take this route.
• The walk to Kime hut is a steep forest track climb opening into an extremely exposed alpine ridgeline - with a 1300m + elevation gain over the 10km track. Kime hut sits at 1400 metres so high fitness levels are required.
• From Kime to Maungahuka (6.8km) the ridge is very narrow in places, with steep drop-offs and sections of rocky outcrops. We will traverse across the notoriously steep double peak formed by the Tuiti and Tunui summits with the help of the long steel ladder. The hut sits at around 1300m, situated beside a beautiful tarn with wicked views - thus the appeal of this trip.

I will release more details closer to the time ! 😍

. 

CHANGED ROUTE:

DAY 1 - WALK TO WAIOPEHU 

DAY 2 - WALK TO SOUTH OHAU 

DAY 3 - EITHER : walk out via river (if it is low enough to be safe) or walk out via Gable End ridge

Kia ora all!

If birds, the bush and bingo are up your alley then this is a tramp for you. Over three days we will walk up the Ōhau river, up and over twin peak, and back down through the bush. Over this time, each of us will have a bingo sheet of native birds to spot – with huge prizes (like bird-sightings) up for grabs!

This trip will run from Saturday the 17^th till the Monday the 19^th of October, leaving Saturday morning and getting back Monday evening.

I will send out a gear list closer to the time but feel free refer to the website for a general idea (just normal tramping things – plus maybe binoculars and a bird ID book if you’re feeling enthusiastic).

Dinner will be provided (and divvied between packs) but you will need to bring your own breakfast, lunch and snacks.

There is a chance the route will change slightly if it rains a lot (or is forecasted to) and we need to avoid the river.

Numbers are limited by hut capacity, and by drivers (2 people with cars would be great!)

Cheers,
Micah (soon to be bird spotting pro)

(The cost is for 2 dinners + fuel for driving to and from)

TRAMPS WEEK! - Kime-Renata Loop

Dates: Saturday 17th to Monday 19th

Max group size: 5

Need a driver! I'll shout you a pie!

• Sat - Drive from Hunter Carpark to Otaki Forks, walk to Renata Hut (5-6 hours) 
• Sun - Renata to Kime Hut, lunch at Elder Hut (6-7 hours) 
• Mon - Walk out to Otaki Forks via Field Hut (4-5 hours) 
   

Will be taking it chill, main risk is if bad weather while we're exposed on the ridgeline, and the cold. Everyone should have sufficient warm layers for temps as low as 0C overnight. Potential of high winds when going past Elder Hut. We will adjust the plan according to the weather 

 

This addition to the VUWTC Tararua Tramp Week involves 2 groups tramping the Southern Crossing over the weekend, coming out on Sunday. The reason for having 2 groups is so that we can do a car swap, exchanging keys when we meet along the track and driving theother groups vehicle(s) home. One group will tramp from Kaitoke to Otaki Forks and the other from Otaki Forks to Kaitoke. Below plans are outlined for each group.

Southern Crossing

DRIVERS NEEDED (Jack will give you a piece of his Blue Boots as a reward <3 )

Kaitoke - otaki Forks Group

Day 1 Friday 16th: 

Meet at Hunter Carpark at 7:30am, depart at 8am. Arrive at Kaitoke Roadend and on track by 9am. Tramp to Alpha Hut via Marchant Ridge. (8-10h)

Day 2 Saturday 17th:

Tramp from Alpha Hut to Kime Hut, meeting other group on the way, swapping car keys. (5-6h)

Day 3 Sunday 18th:

Walk out from Kime Hut to Otaki Forks, drive back to Hunter Carpark, swap back cars. Make ways home! (6-8h)

Otaki Forks - Kaitoke Group

Day 1 Friday 16th:

Meet at Hunter Carpark at 4:30pm, depart by 5pm. Arrive at Otaki Forks and on track by 6:15pm. Tramp to Field Hut !!Headtorches!! (3-4h)

Day 2 Saturday 17th: 

Tramp from Field Hut to Alpha Hut, meeting other group on the way, swapping car keys. (8-10h)

Day 3 Sunday 18th: 

Walk out from Alpha Hut to Kaitoke Road End via Marchant Ridge, drive back to Hunter Carpark, swap back cars. Make ways home! (8-9h)

**All times are according to DOC**

**Alternative Group Option** 

We are looking at the option of one group doing this route as a trail run over one day from Kaitoke to Otaki Forks on the Sunday. (35km)

Hut Tickets

Each Hut on this trip requires 1 standard hut ticket. This means that everyone should be bringing 2 Blue Hut Tickets.

Hut Ticket Retailers

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 1-2L water, 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.

VUWTC Gear List

Fitness Levels

Due to some longish days on track and long exposed sections along the tops, this trip will require a moderate level of tramping experience.

Food

You will need to organise your own food for this trip. 

You will need to bring:

• Dinner x 2
• Lunch (x3 for Kaitoke to Otaki Forks group, x2 for Otaki Forks to Kaitoke Group)
• Breakfast x 2
• Snacks!!

Food inspo

Huts do not have gas provided so if you have a cooker you are able to bring along to share with the group please let me know.

Note: Feel free to organise shared meals with others in your group if you wish.

The Billy Awards is the premier awards night for VUWTC, to celebrate the adventures and misadventures of the year. Everyone is welcome, whether you've been to one meeting or every single one of them.

If you haven't received an email with the address. (You've signed up on the day), flick us an email and we'll lyk!

TIME: Arrive from 6pm, we'll start cooking at 6:30, awards and Heels after dinner.

WHERE: A flat in Northland; sign up to be emailed the address closer to the date!

FOOD: Taco extravaganza! Taco night on steroids. Bring a couple of ingredients to contribute; fancy and/or weird contributions welcome. BYO drinks if you'd like. 

HEELS: With any luck our annual publication, Heels, will be ready to go!! 

AWARDS: The most important part!! We want to hear your best stories; now is the time to dob in your friends. 

To nominate someone for an award, fill out this form!

https://forms.gle/xEXKXmd2pyaT3Jkc7

The more detail in nominations, the better! Tell us every little detail, like that time a certain someone had a misadventure, or a time someone really stood out in the club this year!

Categories may or may not include:

⛰ Tramper of the year
🧗Climber of the year
🦸 Most promising new member
🛖 Hut bagging champion
🚕 Golden chariot
🗺 Most geographically challenged
❤️‍🩹 Worst injury
📝 Most trips organised
🏕 Most trips attended
💩 Piker of the year 
🌮 Best tacos host
❓Something else?

Come along for one last tacos of the year, and to celebrate all that we've done this year!