Armstrong Saddle area, Ruahine FP, 31 July 1999 Banner Pix: Above Armstrong Saddle, heading to Top Maropea Twenty one keen people headed up Highway 50 and down Wakarara Road for a day’s tramp in the snow in the Armstrong Saddle area. The weather was looking good as we headed up to Sunrise Hut. Within about… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 13: A hug for a forest giant and another that made Santa go pop!
Solstice 1995, Central Whirinaki Hut, Whirinaki FP, 1995 and 2006. Leaving the airport layby about 7.10am, a group of 19 set off up the Napier Taupo Road for the Whirinaki Forest. On arriving at the car park, we found the day trippers preparing to leave on their excursion. Our packs were loaded with Christmas goodies… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 12: Trip marred by make-up, hairdo and fingernail blunders
Makahu river trip, Kaweka FP, December 3 1994 Banner Pix: Makahu Stream As we were unable to get a permit for No Mans, we decided on this river trip from Makahu Hut into Pinnacle Stream, down the Makahu Stream to Makahu Road where our vehicles would be waiting. We arrived at the Makahu car park… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 11: Alarm clock failure is followed by very hard time
Ruahines, Queen’s Birthday Weekend, 30 May 1 June 1981 Banner Pix: Aranga Hut, 1986 and today (no longer part of the DoC estate) Three of us left Gwavas Forest at 9.15am, after an alarm clock failure. We started walking up Sentry Box spur about 10 and called in to Sentry Box Hut, where we found… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 10: Of mists and rain and suntanned blowflies…
Howletts Hut – Ruahines, 28-29 January 1995 Banner Pix: Howletts hut and loo, looking south along Daphne Ridge to Taumatatua Seven weekenders left Moorcock Saddle in anticipation of spending the night at the highest hut in the Ruahine range (1385m). Humid temperatures and misty rain made it necessary to wear parkas so it was a… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 9: A failed search for Bob’s Spur
16 June 1984 It was another one of those crisp winter Hawke’s Bay mornings as 19 members of the Napier Tramping Club found themselves on a special mission in search of Bob’s Spur. After travelling in close convoy across the country roads, we reached the base of Three Finger Spur (the route we would use… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 8: Stretcher-bearers! A Labour-intensive long weekender
Mokai, Iron Bark Hut, Lake Colenso, Ruahine Corner, Aranga, Golden Crown, Labour Weekend, 23-25 Oct 1998 Friday We went to Taihape and up to Mokai, driving beside the Rangitikei River with its magnificent gorges and masses of kowhai trees in flower. After parking the vehicles and getting changed, we headed up a farm track towards… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 7: How we invented the EEK! scale of river levels
Kaimanawas, Labour Weekend, October 1989 Banner Pix: The North Arm from the junction of the Te Waiotupuritia Stream and Mangamingi Stream, which become the Ngaruroro River Friday saw eight stalwarts leaving Napier at 6.15 and heading for the Kaimanawas for four days’ leisurely tramping. The decision was made to begin at Te Iringa and do… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 6: Mitre Peak was conquered
Tararuas, Easter 1988 Banner Pix: The author, Dyan Coombes, on the Tararua tops It didn’t take more than a few last-minute phone calls to have Murray, Cathy, Carl and myself heading off to the Tararuas in my old ‘Trusty Rusty’ Escort van. We left Napier at 8am on Friday and half an hour this side… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 5: A tale of many parts, including false teeth, glass eye and bent mudguard
Makino – Mangaturutu – Tira Lodge, Kaweka FP, 17-18 Mar 1990 Banner Pix: Looking SSE to North Kaweka and Kaweka J from the Ballard Hut turnoff Our weekend started well, with Ted Angove (who was going on the day trip to Te Puia) taking off with our diminutive Ray’s pack in his van and us… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 4: Kaweka J Anniversary Trip, 6 October 1984
The club’s 10th Anniversary Tramp Banner Pix: The HTC memorial cairn, and Mts Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe are the view on a beautiful day Among the 35 who turned out for the Anniversary tramp this year were Doug and Mehyrl Fraser, Bevan Campbell and Matthew Porteous, Patricia Donovan (a previous treasurer), Geoff Robinson from the Heretaunga… [Read More]
A tramp down Memory Lane, Episode 3: Longview Hut and beyond
Longview Hut, Pohangina Saddle, Ruahine FP, Saturday 16 February 1980 Banner Pix: The old Longview Hut The vehicles left Tiffen Park at 06.45 for Moorcock Base. The two-hour drive saw continuous changes of weather, but lowering clouds greeted us when we commenced our walk along the road paralleling the Moorcock stream. There were 11 day… [Read More]
