Each Wednesday and Sunday two or three tramp options are available to
members.
These are published in the monthly Newsletter and contain the following
information:
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Title and area: e.g. Mt. Cass - east of Waipara.
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Terrain: e.g. tracked or untracked, open country or bush, gradient
or elevation, rivers if any, interesting features.
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Cost: Based on kilometres travelled to/from tramp start.
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Time: Approximate walking time,
including breaks.
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Grade: 1 to 5; 1 being
easy to 5 being hard and demanding
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Departure: Place and time.
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Leader: Name and telephone number.
Members are encouraged to consult tramp leaders if additional information
or clarification is required.
All tramps, unless marked Non-Qualifying (N.Q.) are qualifying trips for
prospective members.
These generally fall into the following three categories.
EASY
Terrain: Typically follow straightforward well-marked
tracks through forest, and poled routes along river flats or over low
passes.
Experience: Suitable for those who have done very little tramping.
A time to learn tramping skills rather than using all of them.
Fitness: Generally walking on well-formed tracks over
easy terrain for no more than 4-5 hours per day, with no major river crossings.
MODERATE
Terrain: Typically involve straightforward alpine passes,
and follow well-known tracks or routes. Can involve travelling along riverbeds
or on tussock tops.
Experience: Must have tramping experience, and be competent
at map-reading and route-finding. An ice-axe may be required in winter
and spring, and experience at river crossing is essential.
Fitness: Need to be capable of tramping for 6-8 hours
per day over a wide variety of terrain.
HARD
Terrain: Routes are largely untracked,
following stream beds, bush spurs and rocky tops. Typically involve crossing
high alpine passes into seldom visited areas.
Experience: Navigation skills are critical, as well as
experience in bush-bashing, tops travel, tricky route finding, river crossing
and rock scrambling. An ice-axe and crampons are often required, even
in summer.
Fitness: Trips will often require more than eight hours
of strenuous tramping per day.
Reprinted with permission from Tramping in the Southern Alps: Arthurs
Pass to Mt Cook by Sven Brabyn and Elise Bryant, 1994.
Cost of transport for backpacking or base camp trips
A charge for the cost of transport will be shared among participants.
So, that’s all about The Over Forties Tramping Club. If it sounds
like you, then please give our
Membership Officer
a call for joining details
If you have any queries, just ring a Committee member, who’ll be
only too pleased to answer any questions.
Taking the first step is always the hardest. However, once you’ve
done a couple of tramps, you’ll be able to decide if it’s
for you or not.
We look forward to meeting you on the tramps.
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