PENINSULA TRAMPING CLUB (Inc)
PO Box 10 167 Phillipstown, Christchurch 8145
www.ptc.nz
NEW MEMBER GUIDE
Where Do We Tramp?
Despite our name, we tramp inland more often than on the Peninsula. On both day and weekend trips we may travel to areas up to 150km from Christchurch. For long weekend trips we mostly travel further afield.
Trips
We run roughly an equal number of overnight trips and day trips. Trips are year-round and scheduled to suit the seasons. There are also longer three/four day trips over holiday weekends, and on other weekends when participants would need to arrange time off work. Mountain biking day trips are also organised.
The club frequently (especially at long weekends) runs base camps in various parts of the South Island. On base camps, we usually stay somewhere ‘civilized’ such as a lodge or camping ground, and make day trips.
We cater for all levels of fitness. Grading of trips is listed in the table at the end.
Monthly Club Nights
Club Nights are held on the second Tuesday of each month, at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church Hall, corner of Madras Street and Oxford Terrace. We usually have a guest speaker, frequently accompanied by a photo presentation. The evenings conclude with supper.
Other Events
We have monthly social events such as dinners, plays and evening walks.
Newsletter
Members receive a monthly (except January) newsletter “Footnotes” by email. This gives details of upcoming trips, club nights and social events, as well as general notices and trip reports.
Members may place advertisements (e.g., to buy or sell gear) in the newsletter.
Membership
In order to apply to join the club, you will first need to complete two day's tramping with the club, A weekend overnight trip counts as two days. You then make an application via the website or email an application form, with subscription, to the club - or alternatively, hand it to a trip leader or Executive member.
Your annual subscription covers basic running costs for the newsletter, PTC website, hall hire, upkeep of club equipment and membership of Federated Mountain Clubs. This entitles you to a discount on the Dept. of Conservation’s Annual Hut Pass, and other travel and gear discounts. Club members can hire club equipment (tents, billies, stoves, ice-axes) for private use. There is no charge to borrow locator beacons for private trips.
How Do We Run Our Day Trips?
Day trips usually meet at Church Corner (Upper Riccarton), Princess Margaret Hospital or Cranford Street depending on the trip’s location. The meeting place and time for each trip is listed in our Footnotes newsletter. On your first few day-trips please contact the trip leader in advance to say that you intend to go and check your suitability for the trip. Nowadays we ask all trip participants to advise leader of their intention to go on a trip so people can be advised of any cancellation or change of plans. On longer winter day-trips with their short day-length it’s wise to take a torch in case we run out of daylight.
We usually rely on cars to get to and from our destination. Drivers who use their own car are reimbursed at a rate based on IRD or Automobile Assoc $ per km running costs and current fuel prices, that are regularly updated. These costs are collected from each of the passengers and division of costs per car may or may not include driver.
Adverse weather may mean a trip is cancelled, or is to an alternative destination. Ring the trip leader if the weather is doubtful.
How Do We Run Our Overnight Trips?
You need to book with the leader in advance for overnight trips. Closing date is as specified in the newsletter. We ask that you don’t pull out of a trip after closing date unless you have good reason. Trip leaders often spend a lot of time organising and late withdrawals can upset the plans greatly.
On overnight trips we either stay in huts or, especially on harder trips, camp out. The club provides emergency locator beacons, tents, cookers and billies. Usually the trip leader takes the evening meal, and participants provide their own breakfasts, lunches and snacks. On base camps, an evening meal may be a pot-luck. When packing, leave room in your pack for ‘group gear’ such as tents, billies and dinner ingredients.
As for day-trips, we car-pool with all party members covering the vehicle running costs for the trip. Additional costs include dinner ingredients, hut fees (if huts are used) and a small club gear-hire charge for each night out.
If there is an adverse weather forecast, the trip leader will contact you beforehand to let you know of a cancellation or change of plans.
What Gear Do I Need To Take?
The following are our suggestions for what to take on trips. What you actually take varies of course, from season to season and trip destination. If you are new to tramping, see also our NEW MEMBER GEAR GUIDE