AVON TRAMPING CLUB

PO BOX 13-164, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

                                        

                         Upcoming Events

 

Club nights                                      Tuesday  17th November 7:30pm                                     

Christmas BBQ                               Tuesday 15th December 7:30pm                                 

 

Sub Committee Meeting               Monday 9th  November 7:30pm                           

                               

Overnight trips                               Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th November East Hawdon Biv

                                                          Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November Tarn Col, Hawdon

                                                          Wednesday 18th - Thursday 19th November Double Hut

                                                          Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th December Cass Lagoon

                                            Wednesday 16th - Thursday 17th December Three Creeks Hut

                                            Saturday 26th - Saturday 2nd December/ January Cobb Reservoir

 

Social Events                                   Thursday 5th November Mountain Film

                                                          Friday 20th November Pot Luck Dinner

                                                          Saturday 21st November Bike Trip

                                                          Friday 11th December Evening Bike Ride

                                                          Sunday 13th December Tea and Scones

                                                          Thursday 31st December Pot Luck Supper

 

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WOODEN SPOON AWARD

 There have been two serious contenders for this award over the last two months.

First up: a very experienced tramper who had been laid up for a while until he received new knees, was so keen to start his tramp at Mt Dunblane, Hanmer that he walked off without his pack!

Second: this particular tramper discovered an empty water bladder just 5 minutes into the tramp (contents having discharged into interior of pack), then proceeded to head butt a tree that was leaning over the track and for her final act decided to stick her face into a spaniard while setting up a seat for lunch.

Thankyou Bill and Tina!

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NEW MAP SERIES

The new series of topographical maps are now available. For any members wishing to update their maps for a cost of approx $6-$7 please advise a committee member by the end of November.

 

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ROUTEBURN TRACK

Francis is planning to do the Greenstone/Routeburn Track next March, after which he will be staying a few days in Queenstown in John’s cousin’s house. The Routeburn is a Great Walk and needs to be pre-booked. Anyone who would like to enjoy this classic walk, please talk to Francis.

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HANMER SPRINGS WEEKEND 11TH –13TH SEPTEMBER

Eleven members spent 2 nights at Hanmer staying in two adjacent cottages. The women in one cottage and the men in the other. Despite a weather forecast a day out from the weekend mentioning at least some rain, we ended up being blessed with two beautiful, warm and sunny days, especially the Sunday.

On the Saturday 10 of us drove the 45km over Jack’s Pass and followed the Clarence River to the stock road near Lake Tennyson that leads via Maling Pass to St James homestead. We tramped up the easy graded gravel track to the pass – about 2 hours walking and had awesome views of the snowy Spencer mountains across the Waiau valley with the steep fact of Mt Una looking really impressive against the blue sky.

Afterwards two or three went to the pools and we all got stuck into Maureen’s pre-dinner nibbles and this was followed by the Potluck dinner with tons of food and the evening continued with plenty of bubbly.

Next morning several had headaches. With it being a sunny warm morning, 10 of us drove up to Jack’s Pass and from there we climbed Dunblane. The four in the car with the leader, started the tramp half an hour after the others as the leader was late in remembering to return the Holiday home key! We all met briefly on top after a bit of a grunt going up. The last group back, cleaned my brother’s cottage and the 4 of us picked up Joy who had got about halfway to Culverden on her bike. Enjoyed afternoon tea in the sun at the Culverden tearooms and were home by 5pm. A very enjoyable weekend in new areas for most.  

John Hinton

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ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED

Mark Silverman and Diane Kennington are really, really pleased to announce their engagement. No date for a wedding yet but it will be soon! How many couples have met through the club now?

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PET SHEEP WARNING

While out on two Wednesday tramps in September club members have been accosted by very grown up pet lambs. The one on the Methven Walkway closely resembled Shrek in size and was eyeing up Dorothy’s lunch. The other at Hinewai  sampled a gluten free biscuit (didn’t seem to mind) and was very keen to sample anything else on offer. And we all thought kea’s were a problem!

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RESCUE BEACON HIRE LTD

For anyone interested in hiring a rescue beacon there is an internet based company that hires and sells beacons throughout NZ on a next day delivery basis all year round. Full details can be seen on the website www.rescuebeaconhire.co.nz 

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ADDERLEY HEAD

Permission was sought recently to tramp to Adderley Head, Little Port Cooper, which was refused. Apparently people going on the farm have stolen stock, burnt an area of farmland, and left a gate open and stock wandered off the farm. (Unbelievable!!) This has been particularly bad this last year and the Stapleton-Smith’s have had enough. While it was acknowledged that it wasn’t always trampers at fault, permission was still denied. Perhaps it is timely to remind all trampers that while on private land, leave everything as you find it.

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Please get submissions for the November, December newsletter to me by the end of November.

Feel free to submit anything you think might interest other members. Cheers, Ed