North Shore Tramping Club (Inc) Background The North Shore Tramping Club has a membership representing a broad cross section of age groups. The standard of tramping done by the club is representative of the areas we have access to. Most of the day trips will focus on the area surrounding Auckland City (ie Waitakere Ranges, Hunua Ranges) with longer day trips going to areas further afield (eg: Waikato area, Coromandel Ranges, Northland). Opportunity is also taken for coastal walks and family days to local reserves. Every attempt is made to arrange trips further afield around NZ and the longer public holidays usually mean a trip to some great tramping areas. The social side is not forgotten and a variety of functions is usually on the cards. We are not averse to the odd Wine trail, 10 pin bowling night, etc. Some of our aims * To encourage tramping and associated activities on the North Shore of Auckland * To foster an interest in the native flora & fauna and general outdoors of New Zealand. * To organise trips and activities for members to experience and enjoy the great NZ outdoors. The club is affiliated with the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC). NSTC (incorporated) is a non-profit making club by intention. Any funds collected through activities of the club are generally for the purpose of providing for trip costs (transport, gear, food provision, etc), newsletters, affiliation fees, etc with a bus replacement fund being the main reserve. Activities There is a Sunday day trip most of the year along with a number of overnight weekend trips. The big trip of the year tends to be the Christmas trip which is often spent in the South Island and Easter also gives an opportunity to wander further afield. Day Trips: Usually involve c. 4~7 hrs tramping (uphill/downhill included) for all parties and are self catering (ie: don't forget your lunch and something to drink!) - a day pack is usually sufficient to carry the necessities for the day. There are different grades of tramp on the day - long, medium and easy. First timers do the easy one on their first outing. Note: Please be aware that TRAMPING is hard walking not gentle strolling Week-end Trips: Week-end trips are normally Full Pack jobs and again involve c. 6~8 hrs tramping although longer days are not entirely unknown on some trips! For the weekend/overnight trips we normally split into groups of approximately equal fitness and go and DO it! Each group typically will take a share of the commonly catered food & gear (tents, billies, cooker's, etc). A club bus is used for transport with seating in day trip mode and mattressed flat deck mode for overnight trips. Easter & Christmas Trips: These trips give the opportunity for some substantial tramps particularly in the case of the Christmas trip. A typical trip may be 4~5 days with longer durations in some areas. Typically Easter will provide a trip further down the North Island to area's such as Kawekas, Ruahines, or the South Island whilst Christmas generally ends up in the South Island. To go on these trips you must have done a suitable weekend trip with the club to demonstrate your readiness for a longer tramping trip Joining Details In order to join the club it is required that prospective members undertake at least two qualifying day trips ( qualifying means a tramp of reasonable duration rather than a family style of trip). Membership forms can be obtained from the club bus, the web or can be sent out by arrangement - the forms will require the signatures of the day trip leaders and seconded by a committee member. Pre-existing Medical conditions should be made known to the committee upon application (this is of importance to all members as medical resources in the wilderness are not always easily available). Current fees: (payable on membership confirmation) * Family $39.00 * Ordinary $39.00 ( 18 yrs or older) * Junior $21.00 (under 18 & not working) Meeting places for trips Sunday Trips (Trips are held wet or fine.) Depart from The Strand in Takapuna (outside the cafe by the library) at 9.00am unless otherwise stated in club newsletter. Please arrive 15 mins early for briefing etc. Weekend Trips (These trips require booking) Depart from Como St in Takapuna at 7.00pm on Friday night unless otherwise stated in club newsletter. Gear Requirements: Sunday Trips: Day Pack with plastic liner Change of clothes Parka & overtrousers First Aid Kit & insect repellent Shorts Sun protection - hat/glasses/sunscreen/lotion Ample lunch & drink Jersey or woollen shirt Boots if possible Hat (woollen/warm or sun) Torch & spare batteries & bulb Mitts or gloves Weekend Trips: Sturdy Pack Plate, Mug & cutlery Strong plastic liner (Orange Survival bag recommended) Drink bottle Parka & overtrousers Handerkerchiefs Woollen or polar fleece hat or balaclava Toilet gear & small towel Mitts or gloves Toilet paper Woollen or polyprop shirt and/or jersey Torch & spare batteries and bulbs Longjohns (wool or polypropylene) First aid kit & whistle & insect repellent Shorts (do NOT wear jeans) Sun protection - hat/glasses/sunscreen lotion Complete change of clothes Map & compass Boots & spare bootlaces Matches in waterproof container & candle 2 pairs of thick socks Safety in Mountains booklet Light shoes or sandals Pencil & paper Sleeping bag & foam pad/thermarest Money for Emergency Bag cover or groundsheet Optional items - Camera,bathing togs,snow goggles,bushcraft manual, GPS All gear should be carried in waterproof plastic bags If in an OUT PARTY make sure you have left enough room in your pack for your share of party food and equipment ie: tents, stoves, billies etc. If in a BUS PARTY you will need your DAY PACK and a bag for your other gear all of which will remain in the bus. Leave a set of dry clothes in the bus for the return journey. Common Gear: The club uses a variety of tents mainly of the alpine double-skin tensioned pole type (2-3 person) as well as some larger double-skin A frame types (4-5 person). Cookers are generally of the Coleman Peak 1 style using liquid fuel Food is pre-catered using dehydrated vegetables/fruit/meat along with rice/noodles/mashed spud type of fare. Crackers/bread/spreads are typical for lunches. Vegetarians can be catered for but requirements must be notified when booking for trips. Personal extras (energy bars, etc) can be carried by individual members. Trip costs: An overnight costing will include club bus cost plus food and common gear for the duration of the trip. No meal is provided on the night of departure and the final meal stop on return is paid for by the member. Hut fees are generally not included in the price and it is the individual members responsibility to organise hut tickets etc. Organisers of trips will generally advise hut gradings. Club membership does offer a discount yearly hut pass as a benefit of FMC affiliation. Membership will provide a regular newsletter and periodic FMC bulletin as well as an FMC membership with various discount offers. Bookable trips: A DEFINITE place on a bookable trip is secured only by full payment, a deposit secures a PROVISIONAL place and priority of allocation will be given to MEMBERS. Refunds of trip costs (for whatever reason) are at the discretion of the committee. Address: North Shore Tramping Club Inc PO Box 33-262 Takapuna North Shore City Web URL - http://www.nstc.org.nz/ Email - postbox@nstc.org.nz