Information for prospective members

General Information Day trips Overnight trips What gear to take  General Points for Safe and Enjoyable Tramping

General Information

Where Do We Tramp?

Despite our name, we tramp inland more often than on the Peninsula. On day trips we may travel to areas up to 150km from Christchurch. Weekend trips are usually further afield, frequently in the Southern Alps.

Trips

We run roughly equal numbers of overnight trips and day trips and cater for all levels of fitness. 

Trips run all year round, with a higher frequency during the warmer months. There is always at least one trip each weekend except over the Christmas holiday period. 

Longer, 3-4 day trips run over holiday weekends, and on other weekends when participants need to arrange time off work.

The club frequently runs base camps at various parts of the South Island. On base camps, we usually stay at a lodge or camping ground, and make day trips or (less often) overnight trips from there.

Monthly Club Nights

Club nights are held on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Horticultural Centre, Hagley Park, near the Public Hospital (Entrance off Riccarton Ave). We usually have a guest speaker, frequently accompanied by a slide presentation.  The door opens at 7.30pm and a gold coin donation covers the cost of hall hire and a light supper.

Other Events

We often organise social events such as restaurants, barbeques, bowling, evening walks and so on. The highlight of the social year is the club's annual Barn Dance, held in mid-winter.

Newsletter

Members receive a monthly (except January) newsletter. This gives details of upcoming trips, club nights and social events, as well as general notices and trip reports. Members may place advertisements (eg to buy/sell gear) in the newsletter.

Membership

Before joining the club, you are required to come on three days tramping with the club (overnight trips count as two days). This will enable you to decide whether the Peninsula Tramping Club is for you. 

Prospective new members must be at least 15 years old, must be proposed by one and seconded by another member of the club and may then be elected to membership at the next Committee meeting.

What Membership Offers

Your annual subscription covers: 

• printing and postage of the newsletter, 

• upkeep of club equipment

• membership of Federated Mountain Clubs (this entitles you to a discount on the Dept of Conservation's Annual Hut Pass, and other travel and gear discounts). 

• access to hiring club equipment (tents, billies, stoves, ice-axes) for private use, for a small fee.

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Day Trips

On day trips, we meet at a place and time specified in the newsletter. Non-members are requested to contact the trip leader before coming on a trip.  We rely on car-pooling to get us to and from our destination. Travel costs are shared by all. Adverse weather may mean a trip is cancelled, or goes to an alternative destination.

Overnight Trips

Overnight trips need to be booked in advance with the trip leader by the date specified in the newsletter.  As for day trips, we car-pool, with passengers meeting the drivers' costs. Additional costs include dinner ingredients, hut fees and a small club gear hire charge for each night out.

We ask that you don't pull out of a trip after closing date unless you have a very good reason. Trip leaders spend a lot of time arranging a trip and late withdrawals can send them back to the drawing board. 

On overnight trips we either stay in huts or (especially on harder trips) camp out. The club provides tents, cookers and billies. 

Usually the trip leader arranges the evening meal, and participants provide their own breakfasts, lunches and snacks.  When packing, leave room in your pack for 'party gear' such as tents, billies and dinner ingredients. 

If the weather forecast is bad, the trip leader may cancel or change the trip.

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What Gear Do I Need To Take?

The following are our suggestions for what to bring on trips. There is some flexibility in this list owing to the wide variety of destinations we visit.

DAY TRIPS

OVERNIGHT TRIPS

Everything you would take on a day trip, plus the following:

More on Gear...

• The leader will let you know of additional requirements for individual trips (eg ice-axe, crampons). If you haven't got something, get in touch with the leader who may be able to help you out.

• When purchasing major items of gear (eg pack, parka, boots, sleeping bag), don't hesitate to seek advice from an experienced tramper.

• Always pack for all weather conditions, regardless of the weather forecast.

• To keep gear dry, pack it in plastic bags, and make use of a pack liner or pack cover.

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General Points for Safe and Enjoyable Tramping

• Your trip leader is responsible for your safety and you must follow their instructions. Please keep in touch with the party and help make the leader's job easier. If you want to leave the group for any reason, be sure to tell the leader.

• Please make the leader aware of any medical condition or allergy you have and any medication you carry, so that they know what to do if the need arises. There is a club first-aid kit on all trips, but please take your own minor first-aid requirements.

• On weekend trips, leave room in your pack for your share of the 'party gear' - i.e. evening meal, tents, billies, etc. Keep track of the party gear you are carrying, and remember to return it to the leader at the end of the trip.

• Provide your own breakfasts, lunches and snacks.

• It is important to eat well, prior to and during tramps. Always maintain a high intake of water - don't wait until you become thirsty.

• On weekend trips, remember to do your share during the setting up of the camp, cooking, washing up, etc.

• You will have to organise your own transport to and from the meeting place in town. Please place your boots in a plastic bag for transport.

• We normally tramp in shorts - even in winter (although many amongst us wear longjohns under our shorts). NEVER tramp in jeans. Wet legs dry much faster than wet jeans.

• Make sure that your footwear is suitable for the terrain being covered - sturdy with good support. Much of our tramping is away from formed tracks. We leave boots on for all river crossings.

• Blisters should be treated as soon as they are noticed. Do not let them develop.

• It is club policy that no person on a club trip may shall smoke in a hut, lodge, tent or other enclosed space. At all other times, please show consideration to your companions.

• When travelling on a steep slope, should you dislodge a rock, warn those below by loudly shouting "ROCK!".

This sounds like a lot of do's and don'ts, but they are really just commonsense rules for safety and consideration for others. 

In practice our trips are relaxed and informal. We look forward to seeing you out with our club.

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