President’s Desk
Hiya folks,
Happy new year, hope you all had pleasant summer break, but it feels like summer is only just getting started in Taranaki, so let’s hope that the sun keeps shining on our maunga for a few months yet…
Firstly, our congratulations to George Mason for being named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in this years New Years Honours list, for his service to conservation, philanthropy and his community. George is a life member of the Taranaki Alpine Club and his service to our club has been amazing and this a thoroughly deserved honour.
There’s been a whole lot going on since the last HiTAC came out. The club trips have been cranking. The Kawakawa Bay climbing jaunt pre Christmas was a clear success, so too I hear was the recent East Ridge trip. Huge thanks to Mark Hall for stepping into the breach and leading that one, lots of positive feedback and everyone keen for another crack anytime.
Trips keep coming this month, with a rock and rope weekend booked on the weekend of the 15th of February care of Greg Banks and Captain Ritson, introducing some of the newer members to the local crags. Also coming up is a summit trip up the Khyber Pass route, watch the face book page for this one or contact Ange.
Then there’s the Snotgobbler Challenge. Can the TAC climb every (guidebook)route on the Snotgobbler Wall in a single weekend? 12 routes, all trad, grade 17 or less. Revive some classics, experience a sandbagging, justify prematurely grey facial hair (guys and girls). Sometime late Feb/ early March. Again, watch the facebook page for details and hassle the old heads to make it happen… you know who they are, like mangey old dogs, they love the attention….
Club night this month is the annual barbecue, this year at the Ngamotu beach, because west is best. Come along and burn a steak, have a swim and tell outrageous lies about what you climbed over the summer break.
There’s something else.. .. The Open Climb is a sell out. So come Saturday the 8th of Feb, 200 unsuspecting punters are going to be queuing at Tahurangi to be guided, coerced, cajoled and cursed into making, what will be for most of them, their first and probably only summit.
Putting something like this together is a big team effort, it’s an annual statement of how well this organisation functions as a club, and everyone who has signed up, or been strong armed to help, thanks for your support….. And please turn up…. no seriously.. turn up.
The funds raised from this event raises covers our insurance and most of the annual repairs bill for the lodge, without it we wouldn’t be able to do half of what we do to make this such successful club.
If you have been signed up, please be at the Lodge the night before, if you haven’t signed up yet but can be available, please contact me ASAP, we still have a few roles we need to fill on the day.
See you all up there,
Ivan Bruce
El Presidente!