Trip intentions

Classic main range loop. I'm mainly doing this so I can visit the steel ladder, but am also generally just keen to check out the Hector-Maungahuka traverse.

None of the days should be particularly long or arduous. We'll get lots of tops though, so this is very weather dependent. Dates are subject to change based on arbitrary metrics determined by me.

You need to be a competent tramper, etc.

Cost = petrol + very basic breakfast and dinner. Feel free to bring more interesting stuff to add!

Rough plan:

Walk into Kime in the afternoon of day 1.

Wake up early and pop up to the top of Hector for the sunrise, then back to Kime & spend the day crossing to Maungahuka.  Hopefully we'll have plenty of time left in the day, and can continue through to Aokaparangi.

Day 3 zoom past Anderson memorial (maybe a cheaky side mish to Jac's Biv?), and sleep at Waitewaiwai.

Day 4 easy walk out along the valley.

This year we've decided to put together a team to take part in Relay for Life on the 30th/31st of May at HNRY Stadium 

For those who don't know. Relay For Life is a yearly event run by the Cancer Society across the country to raise money for those in our community suffering from cancer and also for the Cancer Society’s support services, health promotion programs, and cancer research. It's a great way to help give back and remember all our loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

Pricing: Tickets are priced at $25. Late sign-ups are $30, so sign up quickly! - MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP ON THE RELAY FOR LIFE WEBSITE!! 

To Fundraise: Reach out to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and anyone else to sponsor you and support our team!! You could even promise to do a number of laps for however much you raise. 

The event runs all night and your team members take turns holding a baton while they run, walk, dance, or jog around the field competing for the most laps (or not!). HOWEVER, if you don't feel like pulling an all-nighter you can stay for a couple hours or come back to join us in the morning! 

Join our team at - https://wellington.relayforlife.org.nz/t/victoria-university-tramping-club

Please check out Relay for lifes FAQs here: https://relayforlife.org.nz/faqs

If you have any other questions or want to help, feel free to email me at hazelamurray@icloud.com

We're staying the night at Atiwhakatu Hut in the Tararua forest park! Situated in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, we're almost guaranteed incredible views of the night sky. We'll have a late celebration of International Dark Sky Week by carrying in a heavy telescope and collecting data for scientists!

We'll also deliver a 5kg #orangebucket full of hut maintenance supplies. This supports GWBN's "Caring for our Huts" initiative, which encourages all hut users to do their bit to prolong the lives of the Wellington region's (and Aotearoa's) precious backcountry network! More details here: https://gwbn.org.nz/caring-for-our-huts-2/

Route:

I've reserved 4 bunks at Atiwhakatu Hut (it's a standard hut, but it must be booked). Trip is capped to 4 people, as only a few spaces were left when I booked. This trip is easy-medium. The walk is 2-3hr (7.2km) each day, with lots of steep but short ascents/descents.

Day 1 (Sun 31 May) - We'll meet at Kelburn campus at 9:30am and leave shortly after. We'll drive 1hr 45min to Mt Holdsworth carpark (near Masterton). We'll walk to Atiwhakatu Hut along the Atiwhakatu Track, which is 2-3hr. The track is steep at times to ascend/descend several bluffs, but overall it's mostly flat. There are lots of streams and narrow swingbridges to cross. There is an active slip we'll have to navigate carefully by crossing the adjacent river. We should arrive at the hut by 2-3pm, where we'll stay the night.

Day 2 (Mon 1 Jun) - We'll leave the hut by 10-11am latest and return to the carpark via the Atiwhakatu Track. We'll get to the carpark about 1-2pm. It's the same 1hr 45min drive back home. Potentially stop in Masterton or Greytown for coffee and shopping?! We should arrive in Wellington by 4-6pm.

Atiwhakatu Hut info

Atiwhakatu Track info

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. I also recommend a towel/togs, as there are nice swimming spots at the hut and carpark.

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

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

Food:

Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks, drinks (NO glass please!), and some emergency food in case we get delayed. Have breakfast on Tuesday before arriving at Kelburn.

Cost:

- Roughly $20 fuel per person

- $10 for your reserved bunk

Hey hey hey party people!!

Do you know the difference between a rock and a boulder? Well I dont! But thanks to our kind friends at the GEOLSOC we might be able to find out!

On Wednesday the 27th, instead of a normal climbing night, we will be doing a joint bouldering session at Faultline with members of GEOLSOC and then once we have finished that, we will be on to JJ's for some drinks!

Deets:

- Meet outside Faultline at 5:20pm, head inside at 5:30pm. 

- Cost: $15 + $3 for shoe hire (this is a special discount for members of VUWTC and GEOLSOC). Let staff know you're a member of one of the clubs when you're paying. 

- Is this your first time at FL or hangdog? Fill out this waiver before you arrive: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/v3kb6qbyfvel6rtnjazoja/web and wait by the desk after checking in for your safety induction by FL staff. 
 

I really cannot tell the difference between this Boulder and ROCK - Hopefully GEOLSOC can point it out to us!

The Details:

Meet at Freyberg pool for a 5km run up towards the airport around the bays. 
Finish up with a cheeky dip at oriental bay.

Get some coffee afterwards for the hell of it.

Bronze Wings - By Hayden

Like a seabird

Flowing flying — shining

Wings of bronze

Salt stings the nose

Clouds offer a comforting embrace 

Always a journey

freedom can be so enticing

is freedom really found far from home

or is it found where the salt mets sand 

bush meets grass

between stepping out the door or staying in

catch an uplifting wind

carrying to shore

salt tarnishs the soul

returned to the same place

never the same