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Not be missed - December section night featuring legend Pat
Deavoll's ice climbing exploits
8pm 2 December Section Night at Turnbull house. The speaker is
the awesome ice climber Patricia Deavoll. She'll talk about Canadian
water fall ice and her recent trip to the Alaskan Range. This
is one of those section nights not to be missed. We will also
be providing Christmas drinks and nibbles for all. No excuses!
Onwards and upwards, Nicole and Alan Mt Taranaki,
AIC 2002
Upcoming Section Night reminders
January
No section meeting (or newsletter!) in January
February
On February 3rd 2002 we are going to have our annual BBQ at Fergs
with free entry for all. As an added attraction this year we have
also hired the two adjacent indoor beach volley ball courts and
we will be running avalanche transceiver training/practice/competitions
in these simultaneously. Come along for a free night's climbing
or come along to have a go or practice your transceiver search
skills (transceivers will be provided).
March
In March we will be having another of our popular short talks
nights. Contact Caroline (cd@nzalpine.wellington.net.nz) if you
have a few slides from your summer adventures that we should see.
April
In April it is our AGM and Richard Wesley.
Cheap climbing at Fergs
As an Alpine Club member you can now climb at Fergs Rock and
Kayak for only $5 EVERY Monday night, and at any other time for
only $8 (usually $12). Fergs will, however, be more vigilant when
checking membership! Make sure you carry your card and that your
membership is up to date.
For those who are interested, this is a potential saving of $2,756.00
every year! Or, if you just climb once a week on a Monday, you
will save $364.00. This becomes a $284.00 PROFIT after you pay
your Alpine Club membership. At least enough for a weekend trip
to The Bay (or maybe the mountain if you're of that persuasion).
This doesn't take into account the fact that you will all, of
course, be at the 10 Section nights we have each year....
Cardetts move to Paradise
Phil Castle and Beth Burdett have escaped Wellington's vigorous
climate and generally poxy rock and have moved to their new house
in Golden Bay. Rumours that they have climbing on their back doorstep
are quite exaggerated - the nearest cliff is at least 15 paces
away. They'd love to see friends from Wellington, and have space
for lots of tents (except during the 3-week silly Christmas season,
when they are already booked up!). Their address is: Bay Vista
Drive, Pohara. Email: philnbeth@paradise.net.nz. Phone: (03)525-6224.
Our website
Reminder about our web site www.nzalpine.wellington.net.nz.
DISCUSSION GROUP - Over half of Wellington section members are
now subscribed to our free email discussion group. If you would
like to get or communicate articles of interest, trip details
and other information then go to our web site www.nzalpine.wellington.net.nz
for instructions on how to join.
MOVED HOUSE?
Please notify the Club's National Administrator of your change
of address as the labels for all newsletters and club publications
are generated at the HQ office.
You can contact:
Richard Wesley
NZAC Administrator
PO BOX 786
CHRISTCHURCH
TEL (03) 377 7595
FAX (03) 337 7594
e mail office@alpineclub.org.nz
Climbing wall deals: More guilty pleasures
Reminder that Hangdog are continuing their anytime $8 deal.
Editorial shake-out
Along with
a friend, I nearly died on Sunday.
We were practicing
a rescue scenario on the top of "Smallpox" at Whanganui
Bay. I'd carefully set up a bomber three point anchor
under the eye of our instructor Chris, clipped in to become
part of the system, and successfully used an assisted
hoist to get my friend and colleague Mel back up to the
top.
Mel was just
about to lower me off the edge to prepare for her practice
hoist when Chris asked her to stop. Her krab connecting
her to the terminal point and through her to me via the
rope was clipped into one of her gear loops, rated to
hold 50 kg, rather than the right place, her tie in loop.
Now, I'm not a big boy, but I do tip the scales at somewhat
more that 50kg. The most likely outcome was for the gear
loop to snap and for both me and Mel fall about 15 metres
- very rapidly - and end up somewhat the worse for wear
on the forest floor. Ouch.
The lessons?
First, very well spotted by Chris, our instructor. Many
humble thanks. Second, I'd set up and carefully checked
our anchor system, building in redundancy. But Mel was
an integral part of the system and there was no redundancy
at the point she clipped in. I'd checked everything else
but I hadn't checked her. She hadn't climbed for over
a year and was feeling a bit rusty, another good reason
for me to check. A bit of personal responsibility there.
I'll take that into the future.
Funnily enough,
neither Mel nor I was keen on climbing any further that
day. Breathing oxygen was an exciting enough pursuit to
see out the afternoon.
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Having fun? Share it with us!
Tell us what you are doing out there - we wanna to hear about
what everyone is doing out there. Please send your trip reports
to newsletter@nzalpine.wellington.net.nz so everyone can enjoy
your stories. That's YOU!!! |
For sale: Women's plastics
Selling New-never-been-worn LOWA women's size 6 plastic boots
for narrow feet.
Contact Erin Newton, 021 102 2670, erinclimbs@hotmail.com
And here are the club trips!
Rock Climbing trips - 30/1 December 2002
A group is heading up to Mangatepopo/Whanganui Bay/Wharepapa .
Contact the trip co-ordinator.
7/8 December - Taranaki trip
Still plenty of snow for some pre alpine training. Going up via
Dawson Falls/Fanthams Peak. Overnight Saturday at Syme hut. Contact:
Tom Zink Ph: 495 9772, Mob: +64 21 701 267, E-mail: tom.zink@contact-energy.co.nz.
27 December - 12 January 2003 - Aspiring Region
Interest in the trip to this area is strong, with rock climbers
among the party for some excellent cragging on offer in the region.
To lodge your intentions email Steve at sh@nzalpine.wellington.net.nz,
or phone 04-9738079
National Climbing Camp. Godley Valley. 6 -
11 January 2003.
Canterbury/Westland Section is organising the next national climbing
camp. Centred at Separation Stream in the Godley Valley. Climbing
possibilities include D'Archiac and Sybald. They are organising
4wd for access, or it's a one day walk to Godley hut. For more
info contact NZAC HQ or see: http://www.nzalpine.org.nz/site_pages/main_navigation_bar/activities/climbing_camps.htm
Easter 2003 18th to 27th April 2003 - Wilkin
Valley Exploration
Easter Weekend and ANZAC day = only 3 days leave for 9 days away!
There are a host of peaks around the area to satisfy a range of
skills. The Wilkin Valley is in Aspiring National Park. Objectives
could include Castor, Pollux, Alba. Easy tramping is available.
Please show your interest early, because transport booking has
to be made well in advance. Contact: Don French don.f@xtra.co.nz.
phone: 06 377 7117
Queens Birthday Weekend 2003 - The Inland
Kaikouras
A chance to taste early winter snow in the inland Kaiakouras.
Kevin Patterson is planning to get to Tapeaonuku next June. To
get in quick with your place contact him at:
Kevin.Patterson@nzmp.com, ph:04 566 0975
Post Monsoon 2004 (September/October)
How about a slightly longer trip - to Nepal? Several people have
indicated interest in a section climbing trip to attempt several
trekking peaks, Island Peak and Lobuje East have been suggested
as reasonably straightforward objectives. This could include a
non-climbing trek party also. Trip leaders for both are emerging
as discussions go on. To indicate an initial interest email the
trip co-ordinator, trips@nzalpine.wellington.net.nz.
Other Sections trips
Don't forget there are other sections of the NZAC out there. Check
out there trips by going onto the main website www.nzalpine.org.nz
and clicking on the individual section newsletters.
Thanks to everyone making an effort to generate club trips. Remember,
trips can be any length, any level of difficulty and any size
(a trip of two people is just as valid as a trip of ten). We have
a trip template and plenty of suggestions for those who want to
give it a go. Do contact me even if you want ideas for private
trips. Nothing will be set in stone! sh@nzalpine.wellington.net.nz,
or phone 04-9738079
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