HiTAC September 2020

President’s Desk

Hi folks,

First on the agenda this month, we’re changing our response to Level 2 at the Lodge to a more nuanced scenario, and overnight stays are once again allowed. However, (there’s always a catch) the number of nocturnal inhabitants are to be limited to no more than 14 in the lodge overnight and no more than 7 per bunk room, to allow for social distancing.

To make sure that this has a chance of working , all overnight stays need to go through the booking officer. The booking officer will be giving preference to club members, but you might want to think about booking ahead to avoid missing out. So, don’t just turn up with your bag and slippers and expect a bunk, even if you are a member.

If this doesn’t work out and we find the lodge becoming a writhing mass of unreserved, socially intimate humanity after dark, we’ll have no option but to go back to closing the lodge, so best behaviour eh.
Please use the Covid QR reader that is now at the lodge and follow the instructions on the signage that’s just been put up.

Which means that the final Snow craft 1 course this year can go ahead and stay in the Lodge, unlike the legends from the previous course who camped out around the lodge overnight in the snow. That’s a committed bunch right there, clearly, we are attracting the right kind of punters!
Maybe it’s another symptom of Covid, maybe no one wants to go out anymore, or maybe no one’s been out, but getting speakers for Club nights has been a bit of a mission this year. So please, if anyone has ideas for club nights, or if there is anyone they’d like to hear from on a club night, please let us know.
But this month’s night has been pulled from the abyss by the last-minute heroics of Andrew Jordan and Pete Lethbridge. So Club night this week will be a mixed session, with Andrew reporting on the Remarkables Rock and Ice festival that took place in Queenstown last month, and Pete is going to give us a talk on his trip to Mustagh Ata in Western China.

And as I write this, it’s snowing again, yeeha!

See you all out there.

Ivan Bruce
El Presidente!

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