Wilderness magazine now has an online community – go to www.wildernessmag.co.nz Once signed up you can share on line thoughts, gear reviews, information on tracks etc.
Xmas / New Year We are exploring the feasibility of doing the Waikaremoana Great Walk as an extended New Year break trip. Trip could also include the below: Rua track 6 days Tangihua hut Mt Manuoha – Waikareiti 3 days Whakatane River or Waikare cross over route 4 days Or tramp into the lake via Central Waiau and Pukekohe Range 5 days Anniversary Weekend January 2013 Camp at Home Bay and explore Motutapu Island? A Late Summer Week in the South Island? Maybe a Great Walk for one group and a more remote trip for another group? Where would you like tramp in 2013, 2014 and beyond? Here are some that might interest you - destinations for weekends and long weekends: If you organise it then we will go there:
The most important aspect is to plan the tramping route. You can ask someone familiar with the area to assist in planning the tramping party routes. Check with the booking officer for drivers and arrange the parties and leaders to suit. Arrange the bus to be converted over to a sleeper if required and any gear (tents etc.) loaded. Generally just coordinate everyone and the bus movement for the duration of the trip. And you get a free trip for being the organiser. Interested? Contact Helen 444 1397 At the Senior Citizens Hall, The Strand, Takapuna 7.30 Come along to our usual venue in Takapuna for an interesting and varied presentation of photos and a talk by Ian G. Morris and Garry Brooks, two of the very small party who took on the Tararuas over the Christmas 2011 period. It promises to be fascinating for anyone with a botanical interest as Garry has plenty of orchid pictures, and Ian’s photos should not disappoint either if you are wanting to see some trails well off the beaten track in the lower North Island. A tasty supper will follow, so come and enjoy some fellowship among your fellow trampers. You should perhaps also get acquainted with your new club committee members, elected at the May AGM. See you there, Pam, Gill and Elizabeth Supergold card discounts. On some trips it is apparently worth taking the gold card- the Miranda hot pools offered $8 entry with the card as opposed to $13 for normal entry. The most active tramper award goes to Marianne- 14 tramps up to the 29th of April. Thanks to Ian G for keeping the records Correct money for trips – Please try to bring along the correct money on trip days to make it easier for the organiser.  Are very useful but also potentially dangerous to others………. We had a recent incident where one of our stalwarts received a nasty leg cut from another person’s Leki. Please, either use the rubber pole ends or exercise great care. Follow the person in front of you at a safe distance and never waft your Leki about! not only on the track but also when getting on and off the bus.  Online Payments – the club now has an online banking to make it easier to administer the bank account. Online payments are welcome for:
Remember to insert appropriate references unless you want it to be accepted as a donation! The bank account number is on the trip forms or contact a committee member. See here for contact details. General Information & Safety Guidelines - The committee has updated the General Information and Safety Guidelines. Copies can be found on the bus and the website. Overdue Parties - Helen Orchard has written guidelines for what to do if a party is overdue. A copy will be held on the bus and on the website Useful Info page here. Organising a Day Trip - Gill Sanders is writing a new guide for organisers of day trips. A copy is on the website Useful Info page here and will be given to trip organisers. Safety in the Mountains Guide - This guide was last revised in 2003 and FMC are updating it. Members will receive a copy of the updated guide when they renew membership for 2012/2013. Other news : AGM news will be in the next newsletter.  Chris still has some gear for sale…. Phone Chris Markham : 027 476 9209 1x sleeping bag $30 1x sleeping bag Snugpak $40 1x sleeping bag down $60 1x tent Macpac microlight., new condition $280 1x tent 2 man 3 season new $60 1x tent 2 man cycle touring or camping $60 1x tent 2 man cycle touring or camping, near new $100 1x Alpine technical jacket Macpac, new condition $200 1x Alpine technical overtrousers Macpac, new condition $140 1x skis Spalding 180 cm with bindings $20 1x alpine boots Sportiva size 44 new $300 1x tramping boots Garmont size 42 very good condition $60 1x ski poles 110cm 2 poles ok for walking $20 1x pack Macpac Genesis 70 litres $100 1x pack day pack 20 litres new $20 1x tent single skin, 2 man, new $20 1x oil skin jacket/ coat with hood $100 1x over trousers new condition $40 Wednesday 30 May 2012 at 7.30pm To be held in conjunction with May Social Meeting, Senior Citizens Hall, The Strand, Takapuna Nominations are now open and welcomed for all elective offices of the North Shore Tramping Club, for the year June 2012 to May 2013. The Offices of the Club are:
Nomination forms are available on the bus, or by contacting the Secretary, John Lamb here. Nominations are to be forwarded in writing to the Secretary, North Shore Tramping Club, Box 33-262, Takapuna 0740, not later than 14 days before the election (16 May). The nominations must include signatures of the proposer, the seconder, and the nominee.  30 May NSTC Annual General Meeting Senior Citizens Hall, the Strand, Takapuna 7.30 Guest speaker: Dr. Nick Waipara of the Auckland Council about Kauri Dieback You will all be aware that a number of tracks in the Waitakeres are going to be closed for a year for a trial in an attempt to control the spread of the kauri die- back disease. This will have an impact on both where we can go as a club and where you can go on private trips. Come along to the AGM and as part of it find out from an expert what is going on and which tracks will be shut. Wilderness Magazine reported: About 27km of popular walking tracks in the Waitakere Ranges will be closed in a bid to halt the spread of a kauri tree-killing disease. Formation of protection zones around unaffected kauri in the dense forest west of Auckland City was called for yesterday by Auckland Council's parks, recreation and heritage forum. Officials had reported a higher incidence of the kauri dieback disease in areas more often visited by walkers and survey work showed the need for more extensive measures to protect healthy kauri than the present boot disinfection stations. It is estimated about 8 per cent of the ranges' dense kauri areas are already infected and another 3 per cent probably infected. "The disease may have long-term ecosystem impacts if it continues to spread unabated and uncontrolled," said a biosecurity team report. In some cases where it was not practicable to close a track, there would have to be upgrading and rerouting. Forum chairman Sandra Coney said it was a precautionary approach that still allowed enjoyment of most of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, which had 256km of tracks. Protection zones were proposed for the Cascade Kauri, Anawhata, Waiatarua, Piha, Karekare, Huia and Parau areas, to be reviewed in a year while scientists learned more about the disease and whether a vaccine or cure could be found. You can see the full article including details of the proposed closures here: http://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/view/page/articles/read/updated-auckland-trampers-face-track-closures/  The Mountain Safety Council have published their the list of courses for the rest of the year is with this newsletter. It will also be on the web page. Please note that the club will refund 50% of the cost of courses on completion and on tendering of receipt to the Committee. It is in the interests of the club to have you well trained. We commend these courses to our members For more info see the brochure following or the MSC website here. 
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