The Golden Bay Alpine and Tramping Club celebrates 51 years
The Golden Bay Alpine and Tramping Club has been established for 51 years. We consider its birthplace to be Boulder Lake because it was there, in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s that a group of people who enjoyed tramping and botanising in the mountains formed a tramping club.
The word ‘Alpine’ was added in recognition of their interest in the mountain flora of the area. Keith Marshall and Frank Soper were the co-founders of the club, and Berna Soper was the club’s first secretary. By the end of 1960, the club had permission to build a small hut at Boulder Lake, and immediately set about getting building materials on site. Some were airdropped and more were carried in by enthusiastic club members, who also re-cut and marked the overgrown Brown Cow Track, previously little used since the mining days. This original hut is still standing intact near the newer DOC hut which was built in 1994.
GBATC club members wanted protection for this unique area, which was being grazed and burnt, and had no protection status at that time. They pressed for park status, and drew boundaries on a map. Their proposal was formally lodged in 1962. The New Zealand Forest Service approved the idea in 1963, and in 1965 formed Northwest Nelson State Forest Park. This became the basis for Kahurangi National Park.
The Tramping Club will be running a three-day jubilee trip to Boulder Lake on 19th - 21st November. The club is active, offers regular trips and currently has more than 90 members. We are keen to recruit more trampers so we are offering a year’s free membership to the 100th applicant.
Submitted by the GBATC
