3149 WTC Mountain Film Festival

Weekend 1st - 3rd November 2024

After trying without success to run this event on two occasions last year, due to bad weather, we are optimistically going ahead with our inaugural mountain film festival. The event will be held over the weekend of Saturday-Sunday 2-3 November, but the film festival activities will start Friday night at our Club hut.  We will travel down to Whakapapa Friday afternoon/night and spend Friday and Saturday nights at the hut. Some short films will start after we arrive (commencing 7.30 pm), and our guest speaker Don French will be present.  Don is well-known among the mountain fraternity, as the first, and only person, to have completed the “100 Peaks Challenge”.  (Google for more info about Don).   

On Saturday, there will be scope to climb to the heights of Ruapehu with Don, and Mike Peck of WTC.  The more adventurous will be able to accompany Don and Mike, while others can go to the crater area with Allan. Short walks in the lower regions will also be available. Of course this is all weather dependent. Otherwise, you can stay in the hut, relax and read (or watch more mountain related films if you wish). 

Saturday evening, there will be mulled wine and a delicious, shared dinner (food for this provided as part of the food cost). Then we will have the “main event” of our film evening. A variety of short films will be shown, with mountains and adventure as the theme. We will have as good a sound system and screen as we are able to carry up to the hut, with the lounge set up like a movie theatre.  Don will be doing an extended presentation, including his “100 Summits” as well as lots of interesting stuff about his life in the mountains, both in New Zealand and overseas. 

Sunday is a day to relax, walk, socialise or do whatever you please. It may be a “catch up day” if we have bad weather on Saturday.  We head home Sunday afternoon at about 3.00 pm. 

BYO , lunch and snacks. We will provide a basic breakfast of porridge/cereal and toast (bring your own extras) . Saturday dinner is provided. Bring some cash as we will be selling ice creams and popcorn during the film sessions.  

Leaders: Allan Wickens (027 950 9546)  and Jacqui Dick (021 466 247)    Grades: “Sloth” to “fit” 

Accommodation: $70 for WTC members and $50 for ski members. Non-members $80 . There is scope for pitching a tent outside if the hut is full ($15 per night to use our hut facilities). 

Food : $30 for the dinner and 2 breakfasts.   Transport: (a van or two will be available but an early evening start of the event programme means we will have a 3-day van hire ) approx.$70-80 Otherwise, private vehicles 

FILM FESTIVAL FEE - $25 per person (covers hire of equipment costs) 

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