THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAMPER
Published by CHRISTCHURCH TRAMPING CLUB INC.
PO Box 527, Christchurch, www.ctc.org.nz
affiliated to Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc.
Opinions expressed or events described in this newsletter might not represent Club policy.
Vol. 73 / November 2003 / No. 6President / Dave Watson / 981 7929 / Club Captain / Sandi Keenan / 981 9583
Vice President / John Henson / 342 3311 / Trip Organiser (day) / Warwick Dowling / 366 2045
Vice President / Andrew Turton / 332 8275 / (weekend) / John Henson / 342 3311
Acting Secretary / Jenny Harlow / 349 2280 / Hut Convenor / Andrew Wrapson / 381 6003
Treasurer / Andrew Turton / 332 8275 / Gear Custodian / Bernard Parawa / 9814931
Editor / Joanna Ibell / 980 3824 / New Members / Alice Yung / 382 3988
Social Convenor / Alan Ross / 384 6425 / Joanne Boereboom / 342 5590
The CHRISTCHURCH TRAMPING CLUB has members of all ages, and runs tramping trips every weekend, ranging from easy (no experience required) to hard (high fitness and experience required). We also organise instructional courses and hold weekly social meetings. Membership rates per year are $35 member, $55 couple, $18 junior or associate.
Equipment Hire: The Club has a range of equipment for hire to members at reasonable rates (tents, ice axes, crampons, harnesses, large and small weekend pack, billies and a mountain radio). Contact Gear Custodian, Bernard Parawa 9814931. Note: Club gear assigned to you is your responsibility; please take care of it.
Our Club Hut in the Arthur’s Pass township has the comforts of home but with the mountains at the back door. - Even better now with real showers and inside flushing loos (BYO toilet paper!). A great place for a few days away; take your usual gear and a pillowcase. Please book before leaving town to ensure there is a bunk available. For keys and bookings phone Andrew Wrapson 381 6003; or if he’s away, Rex Vink 352 5327; or if they’re both away, Dave Watson 981 7929 (or pager 026 252 3284). Hut fees are $6 member, $6 member’s partner, $12 non-member, $4 kids under 12. If you find any problems or maintenance required, please tell Andrew.
Social Scene: We meet on Thursdays 7:30 pm at the Canterbury Horticultural Centre (Watling Lounge), Hagley Park South, 57 Riccarton Avenue (entrance opposite the hospital). A variety of social functions are organised, the atmosphere informal, and tea and biscuits served. If you can give a presentation or have ideas, please contact Alan Ross 384 6425.
Trips: Unless otherwise stated, day trips depart at 8:00 am and weekend trips depart at 7:00 pm on Fridays, from Shell Carlton Corner Service Station at 1Papanui Road (next to Liquor Land and opposite Derby Street). If you aren't taking your car on the trip, park on one of the nearby side streets, otherwise it may be wheel clamped or towed. If you are taking your car please refuel at Shell Carlton, as they are kind enough to hold our trip lists. If you have comments or suggestions for trips, please contact the appropriate trip organiser (listed at top of the page).
Leaders: Please ask for the trip list box (disguised as a shiny red 'Stanley' toolbox) and post the trip list into the locked box. If anyone turns up after this, the service station has a key to open the box. Spare key holders are listed on the box.
Notices
Email: To receive general notices and the newsletter by email (including last minute trips and the list of member email addresses), email Linda at .
CTC Stickers: The club has Christchurch Tramping Club stickers for members to stick in hut books when they visit. Contact Sandi Keenan 981 9583.
Photos: Thanks to the multi-talented Paul Ashton, we now have photos on the web page to accompany trip reports. Please email photos to the editor.
Membership Database: If you know of any updates, errors or omissions, call Rex on 352 5327 or email .
For sale Montrail Vectors, Size 9UK, 1 careful owner, Crampon compatible, Very good condition $300.00. Ph Gareth 354 1488
Heaphy Track 14–20 December 2003. Bernard Parawa is walking from Collingwood to Karamea along the Heaphy track. He is in search of someone to walk the other way, to do a key swap, meeting up again on the way back to Christchurch. Ph Bernard 981 4931
Volunteers Wanted to hut warden in Craigieburn Forest and Arthur's Pass National Park.
Waimakariri Area DOC are looking for keen, experienced outdoors people to hut warden in Carrington, Crow, Edwards, Goat Pass, Hawdon, Hamilton and the new Poulter hut. For more information please follow the 'Volunteers' link from www.doc.govt.nz or contact Hamish Reid on (03) 318 9086 or
Resignations. Willie Dunlop, Heather Clay, Viki Christofferson, Heather Wright, C McGrosky, Helen Murphy, Anne Roulston and Anja Struss. We wish you well in your new adventures.
Found – Don Carnielo found a camping stove at the club hut some months ago (apologies, the erring editor forgot to put the notice in.) Give him a call to reclaim it - ph 338 9865
Pat Barrett has a new book out called ‘True South – Tramping experiences of the South Island Hinterland’. Cost is $44.95 plus $1 packaging and postage. There is a 10% discount for 6 or more books. Jenny Harlow (acting secretary) is willing to coordinate orders. Email her on (or try calling 3492280) by 27 November 2003
Station 73 café is open for business between 8.30 and 5pm every day during the summer. It’s based at the old Springfield railway station and is also an information bureau.
A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE CHRISTCHURCH TRAMPING CLUB
Instalment 3, the 1940s
Club records show that at least 25 male members of the Club joined the forces during the Second World War. Recruitment must have been gradual because at Easter 1940, we tramped the new track from Lake Taylor over Harper’s Pass to Aickens with a party of 24 men and 16 women (eat your heart out, Sandi). A photo of a club party at Homer Tunnel at Christmas 1940 shows fewer men and by 1942, the club was almost devoid of young males. Several members were killed, wounded or made prisoner while overseas.
Tramps continued largely on the Port Hills or Peninsula. Bike trips were also featured until shortage of tyres made this difficult. Some long weekend trips were made to the West Coast by rail and a couple of carriages were detached from the train and put on a siding as a base camp for club use. There must have been a special effort to run Christmas trips and these went to the Marlborough Sounds in 1942, to the Mt Arthur Tableland and Cobb in 1943 and from Hanmer to Lake Tennyson and Lake Rotoiti in 1944. On the 1943 trip, a member went missing for 2 or 3 days and the Home Guard turned out for the search.
The end of the war in 1945 saw a gradual improvement. The programme still focused on the Peninsula and social activities expanded rapidly now there were sufficient dancing partners. Christmas trips became more adventurous. In 1945, 22 members visited Mt Ruapehu, Wanganui River and Mt Egmont. In 1946, 23 members tramped Hollyford Valley, Martin’s Bay and Big Bay. The 1947 trip was a combination of the Heaphy Track and Pelorus Sound and in 1948 we returned to the Wanganui River and Mt Egmont. Northland was visited in 1949 by 28 people.
Club work parties helped repair the Packhorse Hut in 1940 and this was repeated in 1949, The Adams Memorial Hut was built in 1948/9 (see club newsletter July 03) and we worked on the first youth hostel at Arthur’s Pass.
In 1947 our name was changed to the Christchurch Tramping Club. We became incorporated and affiliated with FMC. About this time, some people who are still with us joined the club. These include Noel Tweedie (who joined in 1944 and is our longest serving member), Don Roberts, Jim & Val McKie and Merv. & Stella Woodham. Stella’s excellent and detailed publication for our fiftieth anniversary (1982) is the source of much of the information in these articles.
David Henson
Calendar of Trips and Social Events
Sunday 2 November Leader:
Little Mt Peel: Start at the Blandswood road end and go up Deer Spur. This track climbs steadily through mixed forest and ferns. Views of the plains can be glimpsed. A good dose of rain will make the tarn at 900m more interesting to look at. This trip can be exposed and snow may be around so warm clothing is advised. / Grade: EasyMap: J37
Approx: $30
List closes: 30 Oct
Sunday 2 November EARLY START: 7:00am Leader: John Easton 981 9414
Big Mt Peel: Usually the leader will follow the track to Little Mt Peel and then travel along the easy tops to Big Mt Peel and then return the same way. This provides for a long day – bring a torch just in case. But John may take an alternative route to Big Mt Peel. Bring warm clothing / Grade: ModMap: J37
Approx: $30
List closes: 30 Oct
Thursday 6 November Club Night
A video "Do or die lost in the bush" This gives 4 real life accounts of situations people have found themselves in. What went wrong and what were the consequences? And most important how could they have been avoided. This is a MUST SEE from a safety perspective.
Weekend 8 and 9 November Leader: Frank King 942 8368
Big Tops Hut: High above the Otehake sits big tops hut lost until Frank and Honora recut the track. Visit this special place with someone who knows it well. / Grade: Mod/HardMap: K33
Approx: $40
List closes: 30 Oct
Saturday 8 November If weather poor, contact leader. Leader: Adrian Sullivan 331 7188
Ribbonwood Stream, Mt Manson: Ribbonwood Stream is located at the very end of the Craigeburn Range, and is the stream, which formed the large gravel fan, which separates Lake Grassmere from Lake Pearson. Initially there is a short gorge before the stream opens out into a basin, from which the tops of the range are accessible. There are many ways out. / Grade: Mod-HardMap: K34
Approx: $20
List closes: 6 Nov
Saturday 8 November Leader: Sandi Keenan 981 9583
Mt Pearce, Haytor: This is a semi-regular club trip in the Banks Peninsula region. Sandi always leads trips at an easy pace with plenty of breaks for refreshments. Should be an enjoyable day out with good views over the sea. / Grade: EasyMap: N36
Approx: $10
List closes: 6 Nov
Thursday 13 November Club Night
DO NOT COME TO CLUB! It’s Show weekend and no club. Even I (Alan Ross) will be on a trip!
Weekend 14/16 November Show Weekend Leader: Gareth Gilbert 354 1488
Nina, Lake Christobel, Rough Creek: Visit the new Nina hut on the way up the valley before climbing over to Lake Christobel. Return to the hot pools via Rough Creek. / Grade: ModerateMap: M32/L31/M31
Approx: $45
List closes: 6 Nov
Weekend 14/16 November Show Weekend Leader: Steve Bruerton 322 6196
MacCaulay Valley Base Camp: 4WD access with Steve will allow a great opportunity to visit this stunning area in the Two Thumb Range with towering peaks all around. If the NW howls Steve will find a dryer location. / Grade: AllMap: I36
Approx: $50
List closes: 6 Nov
Weekend 14/16 November Show Weekend Leader: John Henson 342 3311
Faerie Queen, Gloriana: From a high camp above Ada Pass the prominent peaks of Gloriana and Faerie Queens will be the object of our time. / Grade: HardMap: M31
Approx: $40
List closes: 6 Nov
Weekend 14/16 November Show Weekend Leader: Trevor Scott
Lake Minchin Hut Fishing: The classic fishing trip with an opportunity to stay in one of the newest huts around. You will need to provide your own tackle etc. See Trevor. / Grade: Easy/ModMap:
Approx: $35
List closes: 6 Nov
Sunday 16 November Leader: Mike Newlove 355 8360
Mt Thomas, Pinchgut Hut: Instead of going just to the top of Mt Thomas, this is a round trip via the shingle flats of the Okuku river. / Grade: ModMap: M34
Approx: $15
List closes: 13 Nov
Tuesday 18 November Club Night
MEAL OUT at the Thai Smile Restaurant 818 Colombo St. Meet from 7:30pm. Please put your name on the trip list or . I must give final numbers to the restaurant on the 15th.
Thursday 20 November Club Night
Slide Show by Peter Eman and team. “We stepped out of the helicopter into utter wilderness.” Join us on our 8-day adventure through southwest Fiordland via the Dark Cloud Range back to Civilisation.
Weekend 22 and 23 November Leader: Trevor Scott 356 1154
Libretto Range: From the Boyle Village this trip climbs up onto the Libretto range and travels north along these great Lewis Pass tops. Camp on the tops and return via the highway. / Grade: ModerateMap: M31/32
Approx: $40
List closes: 13 Nov
Saturday 22 November Leader: Adrian Busby 383 4046
Bob’s Nob, Lake Rubicon: Travel up the Kowai valley to the hut for morning tea. Head up the valley behind the hut and onto the ridge overlooking Springfield. Travel back on this ridge to the locally named Bob' Knob (not on the map) and drop down to cars at Big Tree car park. / Grade: Easy-ModMap: L35
Approx: $15
List closes: 20 Nov
Sunday 23 November Leader: Scott Fowler 349 6232
The Gap, Castle Hill Peak: Travel up the Kowai from 630m, then up to the gap, then along to Castle Hill Peak, which, at 1998m, is the high point of the Torlesse Range. Back down the Kowai. Ice axe and crampons required. Alternatively, this could be run as a moderate trip by starting and returning to Porters Pass at 930m. / Grade: Mod-HardMap: K34, K35, L34, L35
Approx: $15
List closes: 20 Nov
Thursday 27 November Club Night