Upcoming meetings

Wanaka. b.social Tuesday 8th June, 7pm
Queenstown: Cargo Brewery Thursday 10 June 7pm

Note: the change of date and venue for the Queenstown meeting

I’ll be at each of the venues for 6pm so come early for a chat.

Winter bookings
Bookings have been coming in fast for the winter season (1 August – 18th September). Just to recap, during winter we’ve made 2 departures available per week for groups to move through the traverse – this is to allow some flexibility for weather. The Crown Basin turk is still available nightly during this period. We may release another departure per week depending on how things go.

Here’s a summary of where things are at as of today – still a few spots left, so get in quick if you want to be part of the action!

• 1st August – Fully booked (opening event with Antarctic Heritage Trust)
• 7th August – One departure fully booked, two spaces left on the other
• 14th August – One departure remaining (4-6 people)
• 21st August – Fully booked
• 28th August – Fully booked
• 4th September – One departure remaining (4-6 people)
• 11th September – two departures remaining

For all the people that have booked already, we’ll be in touch to confirm membership details and share contact details with the other party travelling in the same week. The expectation is that you’ll coordinate on timing in a sensible, grown-up way.

It was also exciting to see that on the south face of Vanguard there was almost enough snow to ski the top 100m – and after the dumping yesterday it will be down to a lower level.

I’m planning a heli-assisted visit to the turks before July to do some minor maintenance tasks and drop some additional supplies so they’re well-stocked for winter. We have spent $100 per Turk on gas cannisters with the idea to reduce the amount people need to carry. This is an experiment for this winter.

We’re also planning to have some info in the turks about how to report kea sightings – it will be important data for the Kea Conservation Trust. At least 3 Kea have been seen around the Mt Hyde turk so it would be good to keep an eye on them and see if they bring any mates around.

Look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming meetings, bring on the snow!

Erik Bradshaw
027 241 8571