Author: Graeme

May 2023 Update:  Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Hi everyone

hopefully our weather settles down again, Wednesday’s are starting to get a bad weather reputation for walking – it’s broken the rhythm and I’ve been guilty of getting some times wrong, especially now we’re into winter hours.

Welcome
A ‘formal’ welcome to Avis Williamson, Bill Cubitt, Kay Seddon and Margaret Maxwell as confirmed new members.  We are enjoying walking with you.

Mid-winter / 35th Anniversary Celebrations
All club members and partners are most welcome to attend our 35th birthday lunch on Wednesday 5 July 2023, at the Taieri Bowling Club commencing 11.30am.  The cost is $15 per person.  Numbers and payment please to Eleanore, Jill Dodd or Jenni by Friday 23 June.

You are welcome to pay online or cash directly to one of the above.  Online if you don’t have the club’s bank account details recorded: 11-8367-0204225-11.  Please use your name and 35th lunch as reference.

If you have any dietary requirements, let us know.

Andrew Simms, Chair of the Taieri Community Board will be our guest speaker.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
This will be held on 24 August at the Taieri Presbyterian Church Hall at 1.30pm.  Jonah Kitto-Verhoef, Project Manager, Predator Free, Halo Project will be our guest speaker.  This will be timely as a follow-up to the coming week’s planting out day, and will provide a bigger picture perspective to what has happened to date and what the future will bring.  We will provide the AGM agenda in due course.

Kelvin Heights:  Arrive Sunday 25 February 2024 – depart Friday 1 March 2024
Anne Ward has some planning underway so pencil in the above dates.  Accommodation is at Lakeland Park Christian Camp, $30.00 pp per night.  Anne has booked the Shotover Block (lounge/dining, commercial kitchen, outside patio and bbq area;  the block has 7 dorm rooms with bunks for 4 people in each and unisex bathrooms.  Also booked 6 cabins that are suitable for 1 couple each, but will have to use the shared facilities in the main block.

We are planning 4 days of walking for both hikers and trampers, no biking this time.  We will have more detail later but feel free to contact Anne at [email protected] if you need any more information at this point in time.  Thanks Anne for all your work to date.

Website Password
As previously advised this change will be made very shortly and will be advised separately to everyone by the Web team

Fuel reimbursement
Just a gentle reminder that the club will reimburse trip leaders who undertake a recce for a trip costed at $10.00 and over, on the basis of the programme set trip fee, times 3 passengers.  For audit purposes, an email to the TRTC Secretary ([email protected]) setting out the date on which the recce took place and your bank account is all that is required.

Thanks everyone, I look forward to catching up ‘in the hills’ and remember ‘some people walk in the rain, others just get wet!”

Phil Keene 28 May 2023

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates

February 2023 Update: Taieri Recreational Tramping Club 

Hi everyone, 

Good to see the weather is back in the summer pattern after last week’s welcome rain, and it is  looking pretty good for the Bannockburn walking and cycling trip starting this Friday. 

A few bits and bobs including from last week’s Committee meeting. 

Mid Winter Xmas Function/ 35th Club Anniversary
Yes, we have been walking and talking for 35 years so it was decided to have a combined function  to celebrate, more on this later. 

Trip Programme
You may be aware but to stress forms have been emailed to get suggestions in by 16 March for the  winter programme.

At the committee meeting we reconstituted the sub committees to do this, with John Gardiner  (convenor) and Pam Cocks and Jay Devlin (convenor) and Jan Butcher responsible for the trampers  and hikers programme respectively. Each sub committee will invite and co opt some additional  members to assist with ideas and formulate the programmes. 

Changes to upcoming trips
There have been a few of these lately, all with good reasons! To assist with the coordination of  changes please discuss with the convenor of the appropriate group your proposed change before  advising theTRTC webteam to update the website. Just to ensure the left hand knows what the right  hand is doing….. 

Bus trips/ Upcoming trips
Bus trips were planned to be a component of the Maungatua Traverse and Gabriel’s Gully trips in  mid March and early April. I have made enquiries of possible providers to get costs.  

Because of cruise ships there are no buses for the day of the Maungatua Traverse (15 March) and  the per head cost for Gabriel’s Gully (5 April) is approx $50.00, that’s $100 for couples! (compared  with $16.00/ $32 the last time we did Gabriel’s Gully). The committee has decided therefore that  we will use cars for this trip and get transport organised as much as possible before the day. A  caveat – I am still awaiting clearance from Rayonier/ Matariki Forests for the trampers component  before we get this trip finalised. 

We will replace the Maungatua Traverse on 15 March with track clearing – third time lucky! Hi vis tops 

The committee has approved the purchase of some replacement tops as some were starting to show  wear and tear – a good sign!

Access to DCC reserves
Where access to a DCC reserve requires a particular permission including via any locked gate, the  enquiry is to be made by email to [email protected] 

Club personal locator beacons
The third plb ex Ramblers held by Keith Munro and used for recces is currently with Phil Keene to  be taken to the Bannockburn week, but will be returned to Keith after this trip. 

Phil Keene (President)
28.02.23

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates

November 2022 Update 

It’s been a wee while since the committee meeting but there’s been a fair bit of water  under the bridge since then and I’m away again next week to do five days volunteering for  DOC, cutting and marking tracks and cleaning huts on the eastern side of the Takitimu  Mountains, in behind Dunrobin station, in the head waters of the Aparima and Wairaki  rivers ….this area is now part of Te Araroa trail. Thanks to all who have been fronting  meets n greets for me over the last few weeks! 

Disclaimers of liability
This topic was discussed at the committee meeting following a member’s suggestion that  the club obtain signed disclaimers from members. We discussed the need and pros and  cons but were unanimous that the club did not require this, the main reason being that the  no faults ACC legislation covers eventualities, this being the reason other clubs similar to  ours do not require disclaimers. We did agree that from time to time we should outline  aspects of our trip guidelines over lunch or at morning tea stops and we will do this after  new year. 

A Third Way
We discussed the suggestion to allow a bit more flexibility in group dynamics without the  need to formally change the trip guidelines. We have currently two larger groups out most  days and without formally re-establishing the third ‘ramblers’ group, it was agreed that with  the hikers group, should folk wish to have a shorter walk they could have a clear  discussion with the leaders on the day to outline when and how they will return to vehicles  or another pre-arranged meeting spot. They must confirm to trip leaders that they have  finished accordingly. Such an option should only be exercised taking into account the  context of the day’s walk, weather etc. 

Trip Programmes
I think most members are now aware that the Upcoming trips on the website is now the  authoritative list and the webpage has been changed so that a legible hard copy can be  printed from there at any stage. If anyone requires a hardcopy and does not have a printer  please let a committee member know so one can be arranged. I will complete trip  gradings for the post New Year walks before the end of the year and the programme will  be updated. 

Fuel Costs
Ross completed another assessment taking into account information from the recognised  sources and some minor tweaks have been made.

Password for Protected Areas of the Website
As previously advised this will change from time to time to comply with the overall privacy  policy we looked at earlier in the year. The committee agreed we would change the  password once the renewal of membership cycle following the AGM was complete….so we  will provide a separate note on this. 

Xmas Function
Thanks to Jay for making a booking at Taieri Mouth Hall. We had assessed other  possibilities but these did not eventuate. Following feedback from Committee members  when they have been walking and talking, it was agreed that we stick with the status quo  and members bring a small plate of food for a shared lunch.  

Bannockburn 3-8 March 2023
Thanks to Anne for this provisional Itinerary to date (subject to change). Anne will speak  on it briefly at the Xmas lunch on 14 December, and will ask for a show of hands to gauge  interest etc, and this will also help with finalising details.

Friday 3 March – Travel to Bannockburn Old School (available from 12noon) 

Saturday 4 March –
Trampers – Devils Creek Track – (steep climb) travel over Cromwell Bridge, turn left  towards Tarras & travel 6km, carpark on right
Hikers – Park cars on right over Bannockburn Bridge in carpark and walk on track to Old  Cromwell Town (5.2km) and return. Toilets/Coffee shop

Sunday 5 March –
Everyone to drive to Domain at Camping Ground behind the bowling green and walk 1.2  km along road to start of track. Heading up to Stewart Town

Where everyone will stop for morning tea. 

Trampers – from Stewart Town – Long Gully Loop Track 11K and back to cars at the  domain.
Hikers – from Stewart Town – down through Slucings to Fulton Road and back to cars at  the domain. May wish to stop at coffee shop on way back to cars.

Monday 6 March –
Combined walk – over Bannockburn Bridge. Park cars on left. Lovely river walk stopping  for morning tea and lunch along way. Return on same track

Can have vehicles available if anyone doesn’t want to walk return. 

Tuesday 7 March- BIKE
Bannockburn Camp – Pisa Moorings – Smiths Way (take lunch or buy at coffee shop at  Pisa Moorings) approx. 24Kms each way. Can have transport

Available for those not wanting to bike return – Grade easy

Wednesday 8 March – BIKE
Hard Ride – Bannockburn Camp – Lake Dunstan Trail – Take Lunch to have at domain in  front of Yacht Club
Easy Ride – Bikers transported to Alexandra to bike Clyde River Track and meet up with  others at domain for lunch
Return to camp either by biking or transport provided

Thursday 9 March – BIKE
Travel to Gibbston Tavern carpark, off load bikes to bike Gibbston River Wine Trail 8.7km  to Bungy Jump, then onto Arrow River Bridge Trail

To Arrowtown for lunch 12.7km (pies from bakery yum yum) 

Return on same track back to Gibbston Tavern carpark (maybe pizza for tea before  returning to camp) 

Friday 10 March –
Clean up at camp prior to departure, must be departed by 12 noon

MEALS – will have meeting and arrange teams when we get better idea of numbers 

ACCOMODATION – 4 B/room house with kitchen (ideal for 4 couples), 2x bunk rooms  sleep 16 in each with separate room at either end of each bunkroom (20 per bunkroom).  Also sleepout with 4 single beds. Need to supply own bed linen/towels/pillows & single  fitted sheet for bunkroom beds 

KITCHEN- separate dining room which seats 60 plenty fridge/freezer  space/cutlery/crockery/cooking utensils/heating etc/barbeque/outdoor swimming pool. 

COST – $21 per person per night (was going to charge $22 night as we have to provide  own toilet paper/cleaning products/dishwash etc 

Feel free to contact Anne on 0274891366 or [email protected] if you have any  questions in the meanwhile. 

That’s all for now and will see you on 30 November. 

Many thanks 

Phil

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates

President’s Update – August 2022 

Hi everyone 

Thought I would provide an update following the Committee meeting on Thursday. I’m writing it in  Wellington and the rain has followed us here, in buckets. Hopefully the rest of the week is better as  we head to sunny Nelson on Wednesday. Hoping you will all be out walking on that day – especially  as it’s been hard not getting out in the wettest July for a while, if ever…. 

1. The applications for membership from Neville Griffiths and Julie Mackenzie were approved so  officially welcome aboard folks.
   
2. Covid: the Committee has agreed that we will no longer require participants on our walks to  show evidence of double vaccination for Covid. The national standards no longer require this  when entering sites/public transport etc; however, we agreed we should ensure that Mask  Guidelines are followed. So we recommend masks are worn when sharing vehicles and also  in public, inside venues etc.
3. Whilst the AGM meeting place is not strictly a public place, we would also encourage the use  of masks on the day. We decided we should still proceed with afternoon tea (remember to  bring a small plate of finger food – thanks), as it’s a timely opportunity to socialise given the  run of wet weather. Antony Hamel has reconfirmed he will speak on his upcoming  publications on Dunedin walks.
4. A reminder that the third locator beacon (previously used by the ramblers) is now held by  Keith Munro (ph 021 0854 0355) for use by folks undertaking recces and we encourage you  to take it when out checking on upcoming walks. Just make sure you contact Keith well in  advance to make arrangements for pick up and return.
5. The Trip Grading system currently being ‘trialled’ was approved as our ongoing system to  allocate trip gradings. Feedback has been positive and it seems to help meet expectations  when folk are checking out their capability to undertake a walk.
6. In anticipation of the AGM, the Committee will recommend that the current level of joining and  subscription fees remain the same, as approved last year, and that honoraria were set at  $50.00 and be paid to the Secretary/Treasurer, the three members of the TRTC web team  and the Audit Reviewer.
7. Note for the election of officers at the AGM, I can advise that myself (for President), Jenni  Wright (for Secretary/Treasurer), and Ross Davies (for Communications Officer), will offer  ourselves for re-election. Also Karen McInnes, Jay Devlin, Jan Butcher, John Gardiner, and  Pam Cocks, offer themselves for re-election to the 5 /6 core committee positions.
8. It may be that some folk are not receiving the emails from the TRTC web team. If anyone is in  doubt, please send a note to the web team ([email protected]) and get things checked  out. Also, while trip organisers and the web team strive to get a note out about cancellations  or last minute changes within our guidelines, if you are in doubt about whether a walk is  happening, feel free to ring the trip organiser or myself to follow up. 

Hopefully be back out 10 August so looking forward to catching up then. 

Cheers 

Phil

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates

Taieri Recreational Tramping Club: President’s Update  4 June 2022 

Hi everyone

As mentioned at this weeks meet n greet I would bring you up to speed on the work John Gardiner, Ross Davies and myself have been doing on Trip Grading, as well as a proposal on fuel costs for those in town, as well as requests from the TRTC Webteam for information for weekly reports.

Draft papers were submitted to the Committee this past week, and we have agreed we would pilot our new system, then formally consider it at our meeting in late July.

Trip Grading:  Appendix 1

At the AGM two years ago it was agreed that the incoming committee would consider this, given the subjective aspect of current ratings such as easy, medium and hard, and everything in between!

John, Ross and myself have met 3 times so far, and can recommend both the Black Road Grocer and Adjo for their coffee and cake.

We have assessed a range of different methods of trip grading. We have considered a paper that sets out the different approaches across a wide range of NZ tramping clubs, as well as some Aussie Bush-walking clubs that I looked at while in Perth, in addition the Aussies have a national standard for rating tracks, and quite good too.

As you can see we are suggesting a numerical rating system; we have assessed it (e.g. distance, ascent, time) against the last 34 trips the club has done to date, and independently Ross and I allocated the same rating for well over 90%  of the walks.  We have allocated trip gradings to the balance of walks on the current programme to the end of June and will shortly address the balance of the current programme.

We would like to get your feedback as we complete the programme, so that e.g. over coffee and cake the trip leaders just ask how you rated your walk and to provide this to the webteam.  A digital profile for each walk completed would be helpful.

The intention is still to have 2 walks per week that cater for all walkers.

We will update the ‘Upcoming Trips’ on the website and also re issue the Trip Programme asap.  The new Trip Grading system will be on the website alongside the Trip Guidelines and the links will also be in the Trip Programme.  For day to day trip planning, the ‘Upcoming trips’ list on the website should be considered the most current list.

Car passenger Reimbursement of Vehicle Running Costs

Ross has prepared a proposal which the Committee supports. There are now quite a number of vehicles in town that are driven to a central starting point when a trip is north or east of the City, say on the Peninsula, or over the Motorway/ Kilmog etc.  After assessing meeting points in town that are all 19km less than leaving from PJ Park, and current fuel prices, the change means that passengers joining a town based car would pay $5.00 less than the cost shown on the trip programme, rather than the full trip fare on the programme.  $5 will be a minimum discount. To stress a full fare would be paid if the car leaves from Peter Johnstone park.  The Committee will formally look to approve the proposal at our July meeting.  This change can take effect from the Split Rock trip on 8 June.

Information for weekly reports

The web-team – they are doing such a great job – have for the last few weeks been asking trip leaders to provide specific information in advance of the weekly report, so that members can be clear about what to expect on a trip, and help decide the best option on the day.  They have had good feedback. They will continue this and as mentioned also build in a request for feedback on the revised Trip Grading system.  In addition with a digital trip map etc. we would quickly build a profile of our walks with the new trip grading classification.

What to do

Please take 5 to consider especially the appendix 1.  Take the opportunity to talk to John, Ross or myself during the upcoming trips as well as provide feedback to trip leaders on how you rate the walks.

Many thanks

Phil

Appendix 1 Trip Grading

Notes:

Tracks
Higher grades will include sections of easier track e.g. Grade 2 might include footpath sections.

Ascent
Usually trips return to the start point so there will be just as much downhill as uphill.

Moving Hours
These don’t include morning tea, lunch, or rest stops which usually add 1-2 hours for time away from vehicles.  All times are estimates because of variables like weather, leadership and general group fitness (a group is as fast as its slowest member). 

Rests
These are approximate but indicate the likely frequency of stops for rest, regrouping, refuelling, and rehydrating.

Grading
Trips won’t always fit neatly within the different factors and expectations.  Where possible variations will be clarified by leaders before the trip.  Some will fall between the grades and will be graded as in between e.g. Grade 3.5 will be harder than Grade 3 and easier than Grade 4. 

Hazards
Leaders are encouraged to explain specific hazards in advance, like stream crossings, overgrown vegetation, rope sections, exposure to weather.  However, any of our trips may include steep slopes, uneven terrain, tree roots, unbridged stream crossings and other obstacles. 

Cautions
Although trips are graded, any trip may be more difficult on the day due to conditions like recent rain, deteriorating weather, or fallen trees. 

Feedback
The grading system is to clarify the different levels of our trips to give guidance to newer members and to help all members decide which trips to go on, and to be prepared. Feedback is needed on the factors and criteria of the grading system (which are the more important?) as well as how the grades are being set.

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates

Taieri Recreational Tramping Club 

April 2022: President’s / Committee update 

Hi everyone 

I thought it may be timely to provide an update following meetings of the Committee, given that in  the Covid environment we have been understandably having variable turnouts, also not having all  walkers leaving from Mosgiel and so missing some of the verbal updates. 

It has been great to be getting back into the regular pattern of a Wednesday walk, and lo and behold  the weather always seems to be fine! I certainly missed the hills in Aussie, but there were other  compensations. 

Firstly though, a special thank you to Betty and Jim for sharing the details of their 60th wedding  anniversary with us at the car-park last week – such a wonderfully varied and interesting life  together. Also, a big thanks to them for leading many walks down through the years. Betty and Jim  have requested not to lead from the coming trip list, but I know they are willing to share their  advice. Of course, we hope to walk and talk with them both into the future! Thanks again to them  for those special chocolates last week. 

Winter Trip list 

This is ‘complete’ and the webteam has posted the trips to mid-June on the webpage, under  ‘upcoming trips’. Please take five to see if your name appears! John Gardiner, Ross Davies and  myself will look at the gradings of trips on behalf of the committee, as it has been an outstanding  matter from AGMs for a year or two. We will get the full list out shortly after I have completed  some wording changes to the introduction. 

Note in your diary though, the mid-winter lunch is at the Mornington Tavern on 6 July and the  AGM will be 18 August. Antony Hamel has agreed to speak on his upcoming revised publications  on walks around Dunedin. 

Note also: Winter hours start on 1 June, meeting at 9.15am for a 9.30am departure. Trampers will also note we have a track clearing day on 11 May to assist Art and Neil. 

Vehicle costs 

These have been assessed from a number of angles and various permutations considered by the  Committee. Ross made recommendations to the Committee based on the formula on the website,  but with up-to-date fuel figures (they are the most significant component) from the Ministry of  Business……. AA figures are outdated, but when updated, we will do some additional work on the  other variable costs and if necessary, we will adjust again. 

The Committee has agreed with a proposal to cover recce costs for trips $10.00 pp and over. We  consider that this will assist in ensuring recces are undertaken as well as not leaving trip leaders out  of pocket. The reimbursement will be at the agreed $ multiplied by 3 (passengers). To keep the  audit reviewer satisfied, we will require a simple email to the Secretary ([email protected]) 

advising the date and destination visited. We want to ensure that folk feel comfortable in applying  for reimbursement, but note that it is voluntary. 

COVID 

The committee has agreed to keep the current practice of ensuring walk participants are fully  vaccinated. This has worked well and we will reconsider the practice as national guidelines change. 

Privacy Act 2020 

We have received information prepared by the Federated Mountain Clubs and distributed to affiliated members (the club is not one). Clubs like ours are bound by the Act. The advice has been  considered by the Committee and has adopted it. 

We will prepare a short note for distribution to members and do a slight redesign of the application  for membership form. Our Secretary will take on the role of ‘Privacy Officer’. We will ensure that  members addresses are not held on the website (they are good to have for possible health and safety  events, sending of cards etc), and we will need to change passwords more regularly to the restricted  information on the website. Should members wish to have their information restricted they should  notify the Secretary. A little more on this later! 

First Aid 

We are making some initial enquiries from providers to get a revision underway in order to keep  this up-to-date for those interested. Again, we’ll be in touch shortly. 

Many thanks, and keep getting out and about enjoying this wonderful autumn weather. 

Phil
021 0358551
[email protected]

Link to President’s Update information Library  for previous updates