Belltopper Falls, Port Pegasus. (c) Chris Hobbs-Massou. The trip was supported by a 2020 FMC Youth Expedition Scholarship.

The recipients of the 2023 FMC Expedition Scholarships have been announced:

Simon Bell Memorial Expedition Scholarship

Monique Bon, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for an expedition into the Humboldt Mountains in Mount Aspiring National Park.

Youth Expedition Scholarships

Sophie Lawson, Otamatea High School, for a trip over the Five Passes in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Nick Pascoe, Whitewater New Zealand, for a mountaineering / packrafting trip from Mt Aspiring / Tititea to the Tasman Sea via the Waiatoto River.

Miro Williams, Otago University Tramping Club, for a mountaineering trip on the ranges surrounding the Waitaha River in Westland.

Mathew Denys, Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club, for an expedition to Pt 2024m in the Darran Mountains.

Leo Easton, Motueka High School, for a South to North traverse of Kahurangi National Park.

Josie Dixon, New Zealand Alpine Club, for a traverse of the Dark Cloud Range in Fiordland.

Joe Fitzgerald, Otago University Tramping Club, for a trip into the Thomas River in South Westland.

Isla Ashby & Louise Hammersley, Victoria University of Wellington Tramping Club, for a traverse of the Tararua Range.

Eugene Yeo, New Zealand Speleological Society, for an exploration of the Bulmer Cave system on Mt Owen, Kahurangi National Park.

David MacDonald, Otago University Tramping Club, for an alpine traverse of the ranges between Lake Te Anau’s North and South Fiords.

Campbell Browne, New Zealand Alpine Club, for a traverse of the Southern Alps from Arthur’s Pass to Mt Cook.

FMC Training Grants

Rotorua Tramping and Skiing Club, for a navigation and river crossing course.

Christchurch Tramping Club, to run an outdoor first aid course.

Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club, to run an outdoor first aid course.

Waikato Tramping Club, to run an outdoor first aid course.

Wellington Section New Zealand Alpine Club, to run an outdoor first aid course.

Congratulations to all the scholarship and training grant recipients on their successful applications. We wish you a summer full of rewarding adventures, and look forward to your trip reports!

You can learn more about FMC’s Expedition Scholarships and Training Grants on our website.

The FMC Mountain and Forest Trust is farewelling its long-time valued secretary and inviting expressions of interest in the vacant position.

A charitable trust founded in 1985, the organisation supports FMC and mountain recreation and conservation research and publications.

The secretary role is voluntary but costs are covered. Experience in meeting procedures and general administration needed. A love of the hills preferred (but not essential).

Position responsibilities:

Attend two Trust meetings per year;

Book Trust meeting venue and catering;

Prepare Agenda and papers for the AGM in May;

Prepare Agenda and papers for ordinary meetings in May and November;

Prepare conflicts register for signing;

Take meeting minutes;

Check FMC Trust emails regularly (about once per fortnight);

Respond to grant requests;

Receive correspondence from FMC;

Work with the Trust treasurer;

Handle (minimal) general correspondence.

Interested? Please send a brief resume to FMC administrator Rebecca Gray at admin@fmc.org.nz by 5 November 2023 or contact Trust chair Jan Finlayson on 021 502297 for more information.

Te Rereatukahia Hut, Kaimai Range. Photo: supplied.

Following extensive testing, the Department of Conservation has not found any further kauri dieback on the central Kaimai tracks that were closed in the vicinity of the original find.

Most closed tracks and all huts are expected to be open again by Labour weekend.

Two tracks - the Wharawhara Tramway track and the Te Rereatukahia Hut track from near the hut of that name to the Wharawhara Tramway track remain closed for a few more months pending further tests being done. Te Rereatukahia Hut will be accessible from the Tuahu and North South Tracks, coming from the south, and from the north it will be accessible via the Old North South Track from Waiorongomai / Pylon Peak.

Intending users are advised to monitor the DOC website for further updates.

Read more on the DOC website.

Kaweka Road access to the Kaweka Forest Park is now open

Cyclone Gabrielle had a severe impact on access to public conservation land in Hawke’s Bay. DOC staff and contractors have been working to re-open access to the sites affected. 

Kaweka Road access to the Kaweka Forest Park, is now open for 4WD vehicles only as the road is still settling. Please drive with care to maintain the road structure. The road is unsuitable for 2WD vehicles at this stage. For more information visit Tramping tracks from Kaweka Road: Kaweka Forest Park, Hawke's Bay region (doc.govt.nz) Lotkow Road is currently still closed due to land slippage.

Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk repairs

From the Tūhoe newsletter:

Cyclone Gabrielle smashed the Waiopāoa bridge and caused a major slip on the steps section headed to Panekire closing the Waikaremoana Great Walk. Genesis over filled the lake to 130% capacity and then held the water causing major destruction to lake edges with major areas of track subsiding into the lake, submerging toilets contaminating the lake and destroying campgrounds, day shelter foundations. 

Only this week a grant was allocated to repair the Great Walk. This is causing (again) another last minute approach to repairing the Great Walk for the Summer Season. Planning needs, people and team reorganisation needs are happening now. 

Tūhoe are aiming to bring all Ōnukurani whārua teams together to work through the next 8 weeks, keeping the Great Walk closed allowing for a proposed opening 10 January 2024.  The repair works will offer valuable training opportunities in carpentry, handling and care of small machinery, and bridge installation, all the while growing their instincts caring for nature. 

While you wait, try out other Te Urewera summer hotspots at the Lake and wider Te Urewera, there’s plenty to checkout for whānau and manuhiri to enjoy over the summer holidays. 

Napier Tramping Club is celebrating its 50^th on Saturday 12 October 2024 with a tramp up to Kaweka J in the morning then a celebration dinner in the evening.

To register & for more information refer to the club's website or email Di or Sue at napiertramping@gmail.com.

Through the generous support of the Maerewhenua Trust, these cash grants help candidates of the Duke Of Edinburgh's Hillary Award and Scouts NZ's Venturer Award with the cost of their backcountry journeys and expeditions.

Check out some of the stories of past recipients on Wilderlife.

The next round of applications closes on 15 November; visit our website to learn more and to apply.

Twelve endurance epics that span a variety of disciplines — tramping, mountaineering, kayaking, cycling and running — and that span five decades.

The stories of a dozen memorable Kiwi explorers trace a variety of interesting routes around New Zealand. Author and designer Ray Salisbury brings them to life with detailed maps, backstories, and narratives that fail to hide his own passion for adventure. From Graeme Dingle and Jill Tremain attempting the first traverse of the Southern Alps, to the nineteen-year-old ‘Wildboy’ who lived off the land as he paddled, walked and swam 8000km of coastline, this is a showcase of the intrepid. The most recent account features Alastair McDowell and Hamish Fleming in their unbelievable 24-peak challenge during late 2021.

Epic shares the realities of boundary-pushing adventure, with accounts of physical and mental battles and brushes with death. Each chapter captures the drama and tension of an expedition. Some of the stories are heart-stopping; some are jaw-dropping; all are intimate and engaging. In a world full of distractions, Epic is a reminder to get out there and experience the wild places of our planet – they are waiting.

Ray has interviewed Sir Graeme Dingle, Geoff Chapple, Alastair McDowell, and others. View the videos at www.hotpixels.co.nz/epic

Written by Ray Salisbury and sponsored by the FMC Mountain and Forest Trust, this 256-page anthology will be on sale from mid-November. Available from Exisle Publishing and wherever good books are sold.

FMC's monthly newsletters help keep members who aren't following our Facebook page to keep up to date with important news and member information. Club secretaries are encouraged to forward this email to the club, include its contents in your own newsletters, or simply remind members to look at www.fmc.org.nz/newsletters each month, where the current and past newsletters are available. 

Anyone who would like to receive the newsletter directly from FMC, may request to go on our mailing list by contacting our administrator.

“We must closely guard the welfare of our National Parks and Reserves. These should not be regarded as the property of our minister or the government. They belong to the people of today and tomorrow. We must fight for their protection if necessary.” Fred Vosseler – Inaugural FMC President (1932)

Copyright © 2023 Federated Mountain Clubs NZ (Inc), All rights reserved.

Editor: Danilo Hegg. Feedback welcome to eo@fmc.org.nz

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