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Club trips for TAC club members
Coming events...
Feb/March:
Interesting
places
March:
Mt Damper |
Mt Taranaki Traverse |East
Ridge
April:
West Side
Trip reports
Tararua's |Tongariro
crossing |Surf to Summit to Surf
Coming up ...
An Update from Bryan
The Trip Files – March
2012
Summer continues to be patchy. The
Sunrise Summit would have been a ‘pea-souper’, so was postponed till the fine
morning – much to the disappointment of three keen new members. Welcome to the
club Lenie, Kathrin and Emily.
It was a great thrill to
see the first Surf to Summit to Surf Challenge get under way. Though the
forecasts may have been a bit 50/50, it turned it on for a fantastic and
challenging day. Five hardy members took up the challenge and loved it.
Congratulations to Liam
Paterson and Karyn Humphries on taking out line honours.
Check out the report and
times, and then ask yourself – who do I want to beat next year?
Registrations are already
coming in for trips as far out as West Side on 14 April. While I don’t like to
limit numbers, sometimes it may be necessary for safety or logistics reasons. If
you are interested in any of the trips below, give me a call and let me know. I
would rather you express your interest early and then pull out closer to the
time, than ringing me the day before a trip.
Bryan Krijger
Trip Coordinator
(06) 751 1449
(027) 2070880
bryan.krijger@clear.net.nz
Interesting Places
and Features on the Mountain – February & March 2012
There’s plenty of interesting spots on the mountain not too far of the beaten
track.
Most of these walks will be of an easier nature, so you won’t need to be an
in-form mountain runner to enjoy these more social and maybe educational
outings.
If you are new to the area, or never leave the main tracks, then come along
see what you don’t know about the mountain – plane wrecks, hidden waterfalls,
geological features, new routes.
Subject to demand, they will run most fine weekends during February & March.
Where they will go each time will depend on which knowledgeable club member is
leading it – they will be taking you on one of their favourite walks.
Put your name down and I will keep you in the loop of where the next walk will
go, and who is leading it.
Phone Bryan Krijger on 7511449 for more info and to be kept in the loop.
Mt Taranaki
Traverse - 3rd March
Up, over and round!
Starting at Dawson Falls, head up to the summit via Fanthams Peak then over
the top and return along the round the mountain track.
This is a full day, so a good level of fitness is required.
Registration required by Tuesday 28th February 2012.
Phone Bryan Krijger on 7511449 to register.
Mt Damper
– 10-12 March.
This is a three day
trip in the Mt Damper area taking in Mt Damper, an abandoned coal mine, and the
impressive 60m Te Rerepahupahu Waterfall. There is one very small DOC hunters
hut along the way, and a tent will be required for the second night.
Don’t let lack of a tent put you off registering though.
Due to transport logistics (a second vehicle is required to transport the group
from the end to the start, so the main vehicle is then left at the end), the
number of spaces available is just four including the trip leader.
The cost for this trip is the shared fuel bill of both vehicles. The hunters hut
is free.
Grade: Fit and strong. This trip involves quite lot of climbing with heavy
multi-day packs (ie tents). The days are not excessively long though.
For more information or to register phone Bryan on 7511449 by Friday 2 March.
Mt Taranaki East Ridge – Saturday 24 March
 
Time
to be a little more adventurous, and get away from the tourists.
Head up from the skifield and climb East Ridge onto Sharks Tooth. Then drop
through the ‘chimney’ into the crater. Descent will be via a tame North Ridge.
This is a steep and direct climb. You will need to be good with heights and a
good sense of adventure is essential.
Registration required by Tuesday 20th March.
Phone Bryan Krijger on 7511449 to register.
West
Side - Saturday 14 April 2012
Check out the very
different look and feel of the mountain on the western side. It is an area of
constant change and almost feels like a different mountain altogether.
This is a
fantastic trip with a continually changing panorama on a fine dry day, so this
is an exception to the ‘go anyway’ mantra and will be postponed in the event of
bad weather.
Grade: Fit.
Phone Bryan on
7511449 by Tuesday 10th April to register.
Trip reports
Surf to
Summit to Surf – Saturday 11 February 2012
After a false start last year, the inaugural S2S2S got underway this year in
near perfect conditions with five on the starting line – with some ‘competing’
and some there for the challenge.
The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Here is some of the feedback.
Awesome event! I love the 'choose your own way' part to it, unlike any other
event I've done! – Liam P.
Thanks for setting up an awesome race. It was thoroughly enjoyable even though
Liam gave us all a whipping. – Josh G.
With two young guns on the starting line, it is clear that for next year I’ll
need to introduce age categories.
Look for this to become an annual event on the club calendar. Now that some
times have been set, it’s up to you to see who you’d like to beat next year!
Thank you to the supporters on the start line, and Trevor Wood at the side of
the main road cheering everyone on.
A big thanks to Charlie Andrews as he kept tabs on everyones whereabouts during
the day.
And now the results. The event was self timed, so these are from those who
submitted their times.
Overall – Male Overall – Female
Liam Paterson – 5:21:29 Karyn Humphries – 7:54:00
Josh Girvan – 6:28:00
Bike – Male Bike – Female
Liam Paterson – 2:19:18 Karyn Humphries – 2:53:00
Josh Girvan – 2:37:00
Mountain – Male Mountain – Female
Liam Paterson – 2:54:35 Karyn Humphries – 4:49:00
Josh Girvan – 3:42:00
Congratulations Liam and Karyn as the inaugural King and Queen of the Bike,
Mountain and Overall Champion.
Tararuas – 13-16 October 2011.
Party members – Bryan Krijger, Karyn Humphries, Danny Roguski, Lodge Duck.
The Tararuas proved reliable in its alpine ruggedness – Rain, snow, wind, no vis,
navigation. Every day had its own unexpected challenges except the last day of
under 2hrs on flat tourist track. While I could go into it all in my usual
analytical style, we all decided to go for a highlights package from each of our
perspectives. Besides, what happens on trip stays on trip – you should have been
there for what we aren’t telling you!
Danny R.
Strange as it may sound, but simply reaching Mitre Peak (the highest point in
the Tararuas) and ‘bagging another peak’ was one stand out.
But most rewarding for me was leading and picking route selection on the
numerous steep and slippery snow covered very steep ascents/descents along Tarn
Ridge and Kings Ridge. We’d elected to take one axe in case of snow conditions
and I relished being up front with the axe finding ‘bomber’ holds amongst the
slippery snow covered rock and tussock.
Bryan K.
It’s the little things in life that make the difference. Arriving with wet boots
and gear at a cat 3 hut on the exposed ridge top after 6hrs of rain, strong
winds and stinging hail you’re not expecting much, but finding a pot belly with
coal no less, really was a wonderful surprise. It meant we could start the
longest day with dry gear – yay!
Danny did a great job on what ended up a very long day, arriving at our ‘bail
out’ option hut just on sunset. Surviving that very long day with one of my
heaviest multi day packs is cause for quiet satisfaction.
I think the thing I’ll remember most is not the trials and tribulations each day
threw at us, but the laughs. And there were plenty of them with lots crazy
banter as we went.
Highlights or “lessons” for surviving the Tararuas, by Karyn Humphries.
Day one began lazily, meandering along what seemed a commercial track of at
least a metre wide before embarking intrepidly along what nature naturally gives
us – tree roots, vertical climbs and slippery encounters……with Bryan awkwardly
demonstrating how not to hang onto a flexible tree branch. With backpack beneath
him and that look in his eyes, I could see that the only way forward was to
tumble into the stream. Unbeknown to me, this first hiking lesson was a
forewarning of what was yet to come.
“Stay sharp Karyn” became my mantra.
Day two presented sleety rain, but for us three musketeers we were determined to
reach Mitre Peak. Another robust hiker had set off before us with bigger
intentions. However, he backtracked all windblown and drenched.
Knowing what gear we had (bothy bag and EPERB as extras) we thought we would
give it a go. So we embraced the hail on the highest peak (Mitre Peak) of the
Tararuas without a view, but a cairn to prove it, according to Bryan. Yehaaa! I
was ecstatic to reach the summit!
Suddenly, without warning, Bryan presented lesson number two – ‘the tussock
tumble’. Superb self-arresting was witnessed. All I could do was watch and take
note that, yes Bryan you chose a descent with a fairly good run out. Thank
goodness for that as Bryan was carrying The Bothy Bag and EPERB.
“Stay sharpER Karyn”.
Reaching that second hut after encountering some epicly steep, slippery descents
was rewarding enough, but, to be announced by Danny that it had a chimney, and,
the boys getting a fire roaring, was heaven. Not to mention losing a sock and
glove to overheating by the excitement of it all. Sorry Bailey, they were your
gloves.
Day three we woke to snow.
“Cool” I thought. At least we were starting off dry.
We had to climb back up a peak barely 10 metres lower than Mitre with cooling
temperatures. Some careful route tracking by Danny, whilst sharing one ice-axe
got us to that peak. However, it then seemed no way forward and highly likely no
way back.. Frozen tussock, high winds and no visibility. This day was especially
epic for me. Bryan had forewarned us of this ridge, that in dry conditions we
would have to be hugging the steep cliff tightly and be dependent on the tussock
for hand grips. But, the tussock was frozen and we could not see this cliff. I
was very thankful for Danny and Bryan’s careful navigating skills. Couldn’t
believe what I had to traverse, with thoughts of no way down and no way back. My
mantra to “stay sharp” and “you can do it” was used to its hilt. One precarious
step after another whilst holding onto dare life, and sharing one ice-axe got me
there.
This day was an enduring 10 hour up and down trek on steepish narrow ridges. But
the clouds parted to reveal amazing views of what we had encountered, and still
were to encounter.
I really look forward to conquering what we could not due to the weather and
time constraints.
Cheers Danny and Bryan.
And Melanie, that Chocolate Bark recipe was magic for this epicly enduring 4 day
hike…..
Lodge Duck.
Dark, so very dark most of the time. Occasionally, briefly, I saw the light and
a camera in my face before be stuffed unceremoniously back in the darkness of a
pack. Oh the indignity of being treated as some sort of novelty item.
Unnacceptable for a duck of my standing. Next time I’m planning my own trip –
solo!
click on the pictures to see large view - click
on back button to return
Tongariro Crossing – Sunday/Monday 11/12 September 2011.
Party members – Bryan & April Krijger, Murray
Peat, Andrew Jordan, Mark Clegg.
Two years ago I went on the crossing trip lead by Greg Banks, and the conditions
were slushy underfoot as the freezing levels were around 3000m for the week
before (and that was in August). This time I had high hopes due to all the snow
about from the recent polar blast, and freezing levels below 2000m for the week
prior. Well we got the firm underfoot this time, but unfortunately the other
part of the forecast also proved more than correct – gale force northerlies.
Undeterred and true to the mantra ‘go anyway’, we set off in dry conditions
sheltered from the wind through a snow free Mangatepopo Valley. By the head of
the valley it was steadily raining. Nice firm snow greeted us along with
increasing wind as we entered South Crater. The further we went the stronger the
wind got, until the gusts were blowing us sideways – and this is in the relative
shelter of the crater with a 200m high ridge between us and the wind. By now the
rain was a wind driven sleet.
We stopped for a crampon and gear stop and the far end of South Crater. It was a
real team effort, as coats came off to hurriedly put extra fleece layers on. We
all did our best to put crampons on as our fingers grew very cold and wet as
they were down to thin polyprops for this exercise. Finally ready to go, dry
gloves and back into the waterproof (yeah right) mitts.
We advanced less than 50m along the eastern crater wall before deciding that
even if we safely crossed the high point, what lay before us was three hours
heading directly into winds easily gusting over a 100k. That’s a tough ask when
some already have wet boots, and all have bitterly cold hands with only one or
no more dry inner gloves. Retreat to Mangatepopo Hut it was.
At the hut it was a bit of a gear testing debrief. Everyone had something to
take away from it – make sure the boots are well waxed, put your (down) sleeping
bag in a drybag (to save embarrassment, no names mentioned here), don’t put your
cold wet inner glove back in your mitt (change them). Gloves were a common
problem, and while there seems to be no perfect answer, one thing is for sure
you can never have too many spare pairs!
For me personally, I discovered that a wet windstopper glove as an inner is
still comfortable (unlike the wet polyprop) so have added another pair to the
kit. Shelter from the elements during that crampon stop would’ve made things a
lot more comfortable (though the wind further on would likely have turned us
round anyway), so I have also added a Bothy Bag (a lightweight shelter put up in
seconds). And I discovered the seam sealing on my waterproof gauntlets was
falling apart which explained a few things – it pays to regularly and thoroughly
check your gear for issues.
To round out the trip was the almost traditional soak in the Tokaanu Hot Pools.
Thanks Andrew for your awesome chauffeuring over the weekend and for taking us
back along the Forgotten World Highway – very scenic in the rain.
Bryan Krijger
click on the pictures to see large view - click
on back button to return
To register
or for further information on club trips contact the
trip co-ordinator
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