beechleaves Newsletter of the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club October 2006 Issue 9 mail: MTSC P.O. Box 245 Palmerston North web: www.mtsc.org.nz Right: Roaring Stag Hut by Tim Swale Upcoming club nights Charity Tramp+Cycling India+Vietnam/China 7.30 pm, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at the Manawatu Aero Club Rooms, Airport Drive 3rd October - Tramping for charity In April, 198 teams of 4 people tramped through some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery around Taupo in the 100 km Oxfam Trailwalker. Lyn McCurdy was part of a team including Warren Dickson and MTSC members Dianne Broadly and Don McDonald. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and funds to help fight poverty and injustice in the world's poorest countries and to take up a physical challenge to boot. Lyn will speak to us on her teams experience, they com- pleted the walk in 32 hours - a bit behind the Hong Kong team that ran it in about 11. 17th October - Cycle touring through India In 2004, John and Ann Rhodes, of Greytown, rode their tandem bike to Ladakh in northern India. This slide show features Delhi, Shimla, the Himalayan crossing from Manali to Leh, and the Spiti Valley. If you recognise the name, John is editor of the FMC Bulletin you receive with your club subscription. Well worth making it out to this club night! (Photo: www.ourreallybigadventure.com) 7th November - Intrepid journey to Vietnam and China Darlene Westrupp left for Hanoi on the 24th of September and will end up in Beijing three weeks later. She is trekking through small villages, paddy fields, up and down mountains and of course two days on the “wall”. She is staying in basic local accommodation with three overnight train trips. She’ll be traveling with Wendy Ross who will co-present the talk. This talk is perfect for all of those who are interested in Intrepid Journeys or looking at travelling to China or Vietnam. Change of email address: I have followed Howard’s lead and changed my email address to [email protected] to ease collection of club items in my inbox. Please use this in future. 1 President’s Report Photo competition + Interclub Quiz by Howard Nicholson email [email protected] or phone (06) 357 6325 Tired of hanging around town? Looking for somewhere "exotic" to go? Then look no further than the trip card for inspiration. From Taranaki to the Kawekas, from the chilly Tongariro tops to October 2006 the luxurious warmth of Te Puia Hot Springs, the last trips of the current line-up are many and var- ied. As always, contact the trip leader for details. The next trip card is now being put together, so please contact Tony to list your favourite desti- LEAVES nation. The skiing is not over yet, and I reckon that Liz and Hugh could find you a place in the lodge so that you can indulge in some spring skiing. It has been a busy year for them, and I know from feedback that many people appreciate the way that they manage the lodge bookings on behalf BEECH of the club. Finally, after the snow melts we will need plenty of helping hands to help spruce up and main- tain the lodge. Please give some serious thought to signing up for a lodge work party this summer. Have fun! line up your bindings. When you lean out your Chief Guide’s top ski slides sideways down the hill so you Report need to start again! by Tony Evans The weather is slowly improving, the sum- mer trip card will be completed soon and I ex- pect that, like me, you are all looking forward to spending more time in the hills during the warmer months. The solution is to stand below both skis but on your left leg. Cross your right leg over and Snow Stuff clip into your lower ski. Now you can put all by Ken Mercer (Ski Captain) your weight on the uphill edge of that ski Here is the problem: for some reason (!) you’re whilst uncrossing your legs and clipping into standing on a slope alongside your skis and the other one. would like to put them on. In the picture the slope is left to right and you’re standing below Caffeine your skis (looking into the page). Perhaps you Stopping for a coffee once or twice during the even cut them into the slope a bit so they’re day is enjoyable and allows the slopes to be at- more level. You step into the left ski (the top tacked with renewed vigor. An effect of caf- one). Getting the bottom one is now really dif- feine is to boost the metabolism, which proba- ficult as you have to lean out from the slope to Mt Pirongia track Photo: Garry Grayson (Mt Pirongia Trip | 16 September 2006) 2 bly accounts for improvements in athletic per- Want a new challenge? formance. My hands and feet often suffer from the Contributed by Doug McNeur cold. My trunk can be sweating but my toes still Try Extreme Ironing! go numb. Light-heartedly I’ve considered alco- This sport combines life on the edge in the hol as a solution. We all know that alcohol ex- great outdoors as well as spotless clothing. For acerbates hypothermia because of is vasodilata- the smoothest look in the hills, pack up your iron, your ironing board and take them with October 2006 tion effects. It is just what I need, more blood in my toes (remember, I’m not cold – just my you. Feel the rush as you perch on a mountain feet!). Unkind people have suggested that alco- top and literally, clean up! Yes folks, this is ac- hol would also improve my skiing but I can do tually a sport. The first world championships LEAVES without those side effects! were held in Germany in 2002. People have Back to Caffeine. I’ve recently discovered ironed in caves, on mountain bikes, halfway up that it is a vasoconstrictor – having the opposite rock faces and even underwater. Books have been written on the subject and it has its own BEECH effect to that of alcohol. So the cup of coffee is probably contributing to my cold toes. Conse- website: www.extremeironing.com. Many quently, as we head into spring, I’m planning on thanks to the team at the Wilderness magazine drug free skiing, for the mornings at least. for sharing this interesting (?) piece of informa- tion. Has anyone else seen an unusual "sport" they'd like to share? New club members DoC Annual Booklet The club welcomes: Contributed by Doug McNeur Marion Beadle (Feilding) DOC have recently released their annual book- Lyn Charlton (Dannevirke) let which summarises what they've been doing Pauline Hall (PN) over the last year. This will be at the club nights Peter & Diana Marshall-Lee (Feilding) but one of the bits of information in it was Kristin Perry & Wes McIver & Family (P.N.) that the Tongariro crossing attracts more than Eva & Ross Schaller & Family (Lower Hutt) 60,000 people per year. No wonder it seems Martin & Ruth Wittchow & Family (Hastings) busy! Department of Conservation Hut and Track Notes Rangiawahia Hut DoC is seeking public feedback on the possible relocation of Rangiwahia Hut on the Ruahine Range. The hut’s current location is on the slip prone Rangiawahia Track which is very unsta- ble. A detour around a major slip has been in place for several years, but the slip face is con- stantly deteriorating and a long term solution is needed. One proposal is to shift or rebuild the hut on nearby Deadman’s Track. If you have feedback, contact Arend Renting ([email protected]), Department of Conservation, Private Bag 11010, Palmerston North. For further details contact: Jo Greig (Community Relations Manager, Department of Conservation, Palmerston North Of- fice. Email: [email protected]). 3 Upcoming trips TRIP GRADING The times listed below include tramping, rest and meal stops. In assessing the trip times and grades, terrain, weather and party fitness (a party is as fast as its slowest member) must be considered. As October 2006 these factors will never repeat themselves, times are only estimates. Contact the trip leader if you are unsure about trip gradings for a specific trip. LEAVES ALL All welcome EASY 4 hours per day, pace slower than Easy/Med. Does not relate to terrain. EASY/MEDIUM 5 hours per day at a pace slower than medium. MEDIUM 7 hours per day at a standard walking pace. BEECH MEDIUM/FIT 8 hours per day at a pace faster than medium. FIT Over 8 hours per day at a pace faster than medium/fit. TECHNICAL Qualifying requirements to be announced by the trip organiser. Thursday Trampers you are interested in going on the Saturday or 5 October Easy/Medium Sunday please ring me. I am willing to coordi- Bev Akers 325 8879 nate a trip for the Sunday if anyone wants to Phone for details. go. I am planning to leave from the Stanfield road end and climb up to the A Frame hut and Lake Dive (Taranaki) travel along the road towards the Takapari trig. 7-8 October Easy/Medium Gary Bevins 325 8879 Depending on time and the weather and the We drive up early Saturday morning to Mt groups wishes we could go onto the trig or take Egmont-Dawson Falls carpark. Then its a matter one of the other paths down to the valley.