Working Bee - Upper Caples Hut
This is a great chance for members to come along and help out on this hut's next working bee. This will be a busy Working bee as we are to replenish firewood supplies, Paint the exterior, clean gutters, install additional solar panels and batteries and power bank, clean the Soak-pit and grease trap, complete the underfloor insulation, check smoke and monoxide alarm battery conditions, some track maintenance, upgrade the water intake, undertake general Maintenace of the hut and track.
As a working bee - work comes first - with an expectation of a minimum of 5 hours a day of assistance on the tasks. We will be working, but we will also be playing as well. This is a great chance to get to know fellow club members over a whisky/beer/wine or juice round the table at night and explore the area.
These working bees are always a popular and fun event and give back to the community.
The Club has applied for a special hunting permit for deer in the area as it is normally no hunting at this period. We are awaiting DOC approval so will let you know if it is approved.
No firearms licence?
You are more than welcome to come along too - these are perfect opportunities to learn more in a safe and professional environment in a relaxed learning setting.
Work planned
We plan to achieve the following during this working bee
- Paint the outside of the hut.
- Splitting firewood and restocking the two firewood sheds
- Complete the underfloor insulation installation.
- add additional solar panels and batteries and charging ports.
- Minor clearing the tracks either side of the hut
- Clean out the soakpit and grease trap
- Clean the toilets.
- Clean the gutters.
- upgrade the water supply intake in creek.
- Check smoke alarm and monoxide battery conditions.
- general hut clean up and maintenance
- Eat, drink and be merry.....and hopefully some hunting!
It is pretty casual and we aim to make it social and its a great place to de-stress by working hard in the backcountry :-).
Hunting opportunities
We have applied for a special deer hunting permit for this period as it is not normally open at this time. So if approved we can have morning and evening hunts while in there.
Accommodation:
We will stay at the Upper Caples hut (16 beds), But plenty of tent room.
Get on our website and look up our hut so you can see what is already there and the sleeping set ups etc.
Getting there
Ideally walking in is preferred however we can arrange to fly gear in and out for you if it coincides with the heli load schedule.
The heli load schedule will also allow a few to be able to fly in for $150 per adult each way; $50 per child each way (must have an accompanying adult) and $30 each way for gear only, we can also co-ordinate passenger flights if there is a minimum of 4 pax per flight and the full cost of the Heli is spilt amongst those that do separate passenger trips to the load schedule. (typically $1900 each way $3,200 return for the Heli but TBC) This will be refined closer to the time.
Heli flights would leave from the Glenorchy aerodrome just before you get into Glenorchy.
Walking requires you to drive (additional 45 minutes) around or carpool and park at the Greenstone/Caples track carpark.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP
You must be a paid up current member of the club prior to attending the event.
New members/guests are welcome however they will need to join up as member of the club to get this pricing. If not then the cost of Heli flights is at full non discounted rate and a daily hut accommodation fee $30/day will apply and they will need to arrange and supply the certificates of their own general liability insurances prior to attending the event.
Normally flights will be determined based on when people are available as best possible so please let us know your flexibility for this in the registration form.
Suggestions of Helicopters heading in/out:- NOTE these are not confirmed and will be based on those attending and what works best.
- Friday afternoon 21st March OR early Sat 22nd March based on numbers
- Late Monday 24th (Otago Anniversary Day) or Tuesday 25th March,
- other dates on demand if ample numbers - state your intentions in the registration form so we can see what can be arranged. and note flight costs will be fully charged for those on those flights
What time does the Heli fly?
Once we get closer to the time and have confirmed numbers, we will email the times of the helicopters and further details but it will be based on best situation for all so you will need to be flexible.
What do I bring?
Your boots, hut shoe/slippers, food for you, clothes, towel, toiletries, sleeping bag/under sheet, working gloves, overalls, tools (will be advised closer to the time). A willingness to have fun, get dirty and enjoy being in the bush with like-minded people.
And if we get approval your hunting gear, gun security bits etc..
If someone wants to come in and be camp mother/father who sorts the dinners/ lunches/breakfasts for the team so they can not worry about it them, that would be fabulous, and we would coordinate a communal food menu.
So please book your leave with work now and register asap to secure your place on what will be another very fun and rewarding trip.
There will be a zoom briefing session on Tuesday 18th March at 8pm, if you can't make it please let Dave Rider know before hand.
We will also have a whats app chat group set up so you can ask any questions/ coordinate carpooling etc etc.
REGISTER NOW
_.png)
