Winter Taster Weekend – Ruapehu - 5/6 July 2008
Word’s getting round about our Winter Taster and this year we had over 30 enquiries for the trip. The lucky 16 participants faced a mighty awful weather forecast on Thursday and I gave everyone the option of cancelling. But did anyone bail? Oh no! And on Saturday, in thick cloud and increasingly heavy wind and snow 16 novices found out that it’s not all about blue skies and crispy white snow. But this hardy bunch travelled up the ridge to the Alpine Club hut mastering the rudiments of cramponing and self arrest along the way. Saturday night was the South Africa All Backs game and we emerged from the pub to a foot of snow in National Park. All roads in, out and up the mountain were closed on Sunday and there was to be no mountaineering – but with the sun out on snow-laden trees, we had the best of walks.
Thanks to everyone who came and made the weekend such fun, thanks especially to John Boon and John Salisbury for being esteemed leaders and great company.