Tena Koutou Katoa
A personal thanks to all those members who have taken the time to update me on their adventures, I have recently survived on the tales of these trips while I recover from silly and annoying injuries preventing me from joining you. If you have also been unable to get out on the rock or maunga recently check out the great pics on our book face page showing TAC members rock climbing at Kawakawa bay on the eastern shores of the beautiful lake Taupo and more recently a walk up the ski field to the policeman with a detour. Big thanks to our volunteer trip leaders and organizers who make these great days out possible.
Following up on those who endured our last club night or lack of one unless you count a dark cold alleyway social gathering. I have been assured that we will once again have access to our long standing club night venue the Blind Low Vision Foundation Hall this coming Thursday 5th May. We can finally share in Peter Leftbridge’s enthusiasm for getting overseas climbing once again.
The way we use the Blind Low Vision Foundation Hall is changing. Firstly those who have chosen natural immunity can now enter the building again. Secondly you may notice at our next club night that a security guard will now open and close for us(almost tripling the cost to the club nights).
As much as the committee likes supporting the Blind Low Vision Foundation we are aware that some of our membership, likely the younger ones, find our current venue not as exciting as our speakers, who the committee endeavors to get up from the south island once or twice a year. Therefore if any club member knows of other suitable one-off or potentially regular venues which can provide a projector screen, seating for 50+, hot and cold beverages, and anything that may make our club nights more attended at an affordable cost please let myself or one of our committee know.
If you have a strong desire to get on the snow this winter and spring and have no idea how the spiky things go on your boots or how to hold the pointy sharp thingy, make sure you keep an eye on the HiTAC for our great value volunteer run instruction courses which covers these things and more useful top tips.
Every year we have requests to redo snowcraft one but instead if you don’t have someone to head into the hills to get more practical experience get in touch with our Trip coordinators about buddy walks which match up inexperienced and experienced members for snow walks on suitable terrain and conditions. Big thanks to all those who have mentored people through TAC buddy walks and we are always looking for a bigger pool of experienced alpinists to share their mountain knowledge with our new members.
Ngā mihi
Conrad Murray
President