Gear and Food for Day Trip

WEAR - Wool or polypro Tshirt, shorts, socks, boots or strong shoes, gaiters, wool or fleece jumper.  No cotton clothing, jeans, track pants.

IN YOUR PACK:  Pack with plastic liner, torch, sunscreen, personal first aid kit, toilet paper, survival blanket, emergency food (muesli bar), money for transport. Additional Clothing:  Long johns, long sleeve wool or polypro top, raincoat and over trousers, hat and gloves.

FOOD – lunch, snacks, water bottle

IN THE BUS - Spare clothing for changing into at the end of the trip and plastic bag for dirty boots

GROUP GEAR (supplied by leader):  Shelter (tent fly), map and compass, personal locator beacon.

The Department of Conservation has gear list available for short walks and day hikes.

Gear and Food for Weekend Trip

 In addition to the above: -

IN YOUR PACK:  Sleeping bag and liner, sleeping mat, tent, cooker, gas bottle, matches, pot, plate, spoon, mug, cutlery, spare dry clothes for night, light camp/hut shoes, toilet gear, small towel, hut tickets or DOC pass, money for transport.

FOOD:  Breakfast, 2 lunches, dinner, snacks and emergency food (muesli bar, noodles, dehydrated meal)

Winter or Mountains

Additional warm top, woollen or fleece trousers, outdoor gloves, warm hat, extra socks.

Snow

Sunglasses, sunscreen, crampons and ice axe

What to take to the lodge

Weekend and mountain gear plus pillowcase and hut shoes. Crockery, cutlery, pots & utensils are provided.  

If it’s your first tramp with the club, you’ll be briefed by the trip leader or club captain.  If you are not sure of anything, please, please ASK!  

Make sure that a family member/friend knows where you are going and what time you will be back.  Advise them of WTC contact details in case they become concerned.

Trip Grading

Whilst trips are graded, NZ terrain can be challenging and you should develop your fitness with some extended walks before a trip

Easy – Up to 4 hours per day, pace slower than E/M, formed tracks, suitable for beginners, frequent rests

E/M – Up to 5-6 hours per day, pace slower than M, formed tracks and less formed bush tracks

M – up to 6-7 hours per day, at standard walking pace, bush tracks and off-track routes, can involve river crossings, short sections of steep terrain, some experience required, good fitness, regular rests

M/F – up to 7-8 hours per day, pace faster than M, bush tracks and off track routes

F – over 8 hours per day, pace faster than M/F, mixture of bush tracks and off track routes, high level of fitness and experience required

Booking

If a trip interests you, give the leader a call to discuss, book, or ask more details.  Provide your name, home and cell phone numbers, email and an emergency contact (name and phone).

Bookings and cancellations for all trips must be made by the Wednesday night before the trip to allow appropriate transport to be arranged.  Any person withdrawing after this day without good reason will be charged the full cost of the trip.

Meeting Place

We meet at the McCaw Lewis Chapman car park at 1 London Street, Hamilton.  

Unless otherwise stated:

Weekend Trips leave on Friday nights at 7.00 pm sharp.

Day Trips leave Sunday mornings at 8.00 am sharp

Payment

Cash –give to the leader after the trip.

Cheque – made out to Waikato Tramping Club

Internet – Waikato Tramping Club, 03-1555-0091625-002, use your name and trip number/description as reference.   Please make sure reference is updated for each payment.

Transport

On most trips a hired bus from CCR is used with a designated driver.  The hireage and fuel costs are covered by the transport fee.  Where private cars are used, a fuel cost is calculated and transports costs will be advised.  All money is paid to the leader.

Although muddy gear can be unavoidable while tramping please help keep the vehicles clean.  No muddy boots inside, bring a plastic bag to store dirty boots, bring a change of clothing for after the tramp.

Good Tramping Practice

Generally, we tramp together as a party.  However if the party splits, stay with the group that best suits your abilities – fast, medium or slow.  If you are new to tramping, stay with the slower folks until you know your pace.  Always be in sight of the persons in front and behind you.

Do not go off on your own.

Tell someone if you need to stop or leave the track for a toilet stop.  Leave your pack on the track.

Always stop at all track junctions, windfalls and stream crossings – do not continue until the party has reassembled. 

Carry your own first aid.  If you have any medical conditions, taking medication or recovering from illness please let the trip leader know prior to tramping.

Keep the vehicles clean – have a change of clothing and footwear in the vehicle for after the tramp.  Bring a plastic bag or two for boots and wet gear.

Clean your boots between trips.

Safety

A PLB and tent fly are carried on all trips. 

If you are unsure of anything, talk to the trip leader.  The Club does its best to provide safe trips, however outdoor activities attract some risk.  You are responsible for your personal safety.  Please make sure you choose a trip suited to your level of confidence, experience and current fitness.  Make sure you have the required gear and tell the leader of any medical condition.

If someone is concerned because a trip is late back, contact either Club Captain, President, or a committee member.

For information on safety or furthering your knowledge with courses NZ Mountain Safety is a valuable resource - http://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/

Environmental Code

“Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints”

Protect the environment for your own sake, for the sake of those who come after you, and for the environment itself

"The land is the property of a great family, some of whom are living, a few of whom are dead, most of whom are yet to come"

Protect Plants and Wildlife – Treat NZ’s forests with care and respect.  They are unique and often rare

Remove Rubbish - Plan your visits to reduce rubbish, and carry out what you carry in

Keep Streams and Lakes Clean – Clean and wash well away from water sources.

Toilet Waste - In areas without toilet facilities bury your toilet waste in a shallow hole well away from tracks, huts, camping sites

Take Care with Stoves and Fires – Portable fuel stoves are less harmful to the environment and are more efficient than fires.  If you do use a fire, keep it small, use only dead wood and make sure it is out before leaving.

Camp Carefully – Leave no trace of your visit

Respect our Cultural Heritage – Many places have a spiritual and historical significance.  Treat these places with consideration and respect.

Keep to the Track – Where one exists to lessen the chance of damaging fragile plants

Consider Other People - People visit backcountry and road-end areas for different reasons. Be considerate of other visitors who want to enjoy that natural environment.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/plan-and-prepare/care-codes/

 Club Management

The management of the club and its assets is in the hands of the General Committee consisting of a President, two Vice Presidents (one each from Skiing and Tramping sub committees), Treasurer, Secretary, Club Captain (Tramping), plus two other members from Tramping and 3 from Skiing.

The Tramping Sub Committee consists of Chairman, Secretary, Finance, Club Captain, Social Convenor, Website Manager and Transport, Membership and Marketing Officers and are responsible for tramping activities.

The Ski Sub Committee has the following committee positions – Chairman, Secretary, Finance, Bookings, Club Captain, and Marketing Officers.  They are responsible for the Waikato Hut/Waikato Mountain Lodge and skiing activities.

Please contact a committee member if you are interested in helping with our committee activities.  All are welcome to attend meetings.

A Club newsletter is published monthly containing information about upcoming meetings, planned trips, member’s account of previous trips, and other items of interest. 

In April of each year the Annual General Meeting is held.

Each year, a photo competition is held with the following categories:  Alpine, Natural History, Tramping, Club Character and Best Overall.  These are judged by an outside photographer and presented at a Club Meeting.

Club Rules

Members participate on club trips on the understanding that they are subject to the direction of the trip leader.

Firearms and dogs are not allowed on club trips.

Persons under the age of 14 years can only participate on club trips with approval of the trip leader and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Except for official club trips, all members wishing to stay at Waikato Mountain Lodge, Whakapapa, must book by mail or fax with the hut booking officer, on the hut booking form, prior to the trip.

Our club constitution is available from the Membership Officer.

Contributing

We are always looking for people to help out at the club (both on and off the committee).  Please contact any committee member to discuss or you might like to help in the following ways.

• Help out on Club Nights
• Contribute articles and photos to the monthly newsletter
• Help out at the Waikato Ski Club or at the Lodge
• Lead trips
• Drive the Club van
• Contribute stories and photos to our Facebook page (either post articles directly or send them to our Website Officer)
• Visit our Facebook page and "Like" it
• Offer suggestions on how we can improve the Club website