The Chief Guide's Report

Mike Sheridan

Yes folks we need some serious material,so here it is. 1981 has been a tremendously successful year tramping-wise. Well patron-ised trips run just about every weekend and eight or so involving 30-plus peoples. Pretty good,huh?

This year has seen a reliance on a key group of about six or eight people to organise and lead trips which can be quite a toll on your energies and enthusiasm. This is always the case in any successful club. However,to be ongoing we must continually encourage more people to "pull finger". Next year we won't see a few familiar faces and to be as active as this year we need more keen people who are willing to donate some time. It is quite easy to be a passenger and follow,but have a thought for the people willing to donate their time for you. Be positive;don't just talk about it.

All three instruction courses this year were a tremendous success, each of the Bushcraft,Rockcraft,and AIC having 30+ people.

Bushcraft was held just after Easter in the TerryKneeCow in brilliant weather. The troops were given practical demonstrations of as many aspects of bush life as possible including packfloating down the gorge for the hardy,and frisbee throwing in the various interludes (although the firelighting was a little easy in the very dry conditions). Many thanks to all instructors who helped out in keeping everyone occupied for the weekend.

Rockcraft was quite impromptu. A very pleasant day spent at Baring Head by about 20 or 30 people - no one is sure just how many! culminating in a BarBQ in the evening.

The Alpine Instruction was held at the AC hut at Whakapapa and once again was fraught with over subscription and finally culled back to 30 keen bods. Basic use of iceaxe,crampons and belaying was shown in good conditions on the Saturday and somewhat epic conditions on the Sun. Still a good time was had by all.

In recent years the club has seen a trend in introducing novices to the tramping world;thus we can play a very valuable part by providing basic instruction courses which although are in no way a substitute for experience do point you in the right direction.

Many thanks to all those who have helped in the task of running these courses this year,and a special word of thanks to Matt for guiding instruction at the AIC and for advice during the year.

Wonder where I can go at Christmas hmmmmm,ponder,ponder....