In 1986, a Milton Rotary Club group took a party of people over the Milford Track. That trip led to the formation of a charitable trust which has taken over 16,000 people on adventures in the South and given over $1 million to good causes, as Helena de Reus reports.
Even though he is 84, Peter Vollweiler still participates in the tramps he has helped organise for the past 27 years.
The Waihola man is the founder and secretary-treasurer of the Otago Youth Adventure Trust-Rotary Club of Milton Tramping Club Inc, which organises between 25 and 30 tramps each year.
For Mr Vollweiler, tramping is not only a great way to take in breathtaking vistas but a means of forging lasting friendships.
''They are wonderful trips. The people you meet are good spirits ... and by the end of the trip we're all good friends.''
He began tramping while a student and ''caught the bug''.
''I've done the Milford Track 59 times now ... and the Routeburn at least 29. I prefer the Routeburn. You're way above the bush-line and the scenery is amazing.''
Each year, the popularity of the trips increases and regulars are always keen to try a new track.
Mr Vollweiler said the tramping club had humble beginnings and has flourished with the enthusiasm of volunteers.
In 1986, the Milton Rotary Club took a small group on an independent tramp on the Milford Track. It was so successful two trips were run the following season.
Four years later, the Otago Youth Adventure Trust came on board to help out and the group with the long title was born.
Since then, the tramps offered by the group have grown in popularity and up to 30 trips each year are offered. More than 16,000 people have taken a trip over the past 27 seasons.
It is a non-profit tramping club. Surplus funds are split equally between parent organisations the trust and the Rotary club and go towards a range of youth and family-oriented activities and community projects.
The club is an incorporated society, registered with the Charities Commission and its books are individually scrutinised each year to ensure all is ''above board''.
''We've handed out well over a million dollars. All the money is from club membership, donations, and non-trip revenue, as we are only allowed to run the tramps at cost.''
Each year, about 70 volunteers give a total of more than 4000 hours to lead trips and co-ordinate the logistics involved with running so many tramps.
The club has 66 tramping leaders from Dunedin, Milton, and Waihola and further afield on its books. Mr Vollweiler said the club offered a low cost alternative to the ''excellent'' commercial trips available, and gave less experienced trampers the confidence to tackle a trips with a range of difficulties.
''We do get a lot of regulars, who come back all the time, but we do attract a lot of new people, too. More and more Australians are taking part.''
With more than 16,000 people on the group's tramps over its 27 years, trips had experienced ''a few'' injuries.
''We've even had a few choppered out - including me. I once tripped on the Milford Track and cut my head.''
Trips for the 2013-14 season were filling up fast. Three trips on the new Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail were already booked out.
''The new trips always fill up fast.''
A combined Milford-Routeburn tramp is also offered for the first time. So far, more than 230 people have booked trips for the next season.
The Otago Youth Adventure Trust provides low-cost outdoor education facilities for the region's schools, ''at-risk'' families and children. It owns camps at Tautuku in the Catlins, Berwick, and Sutton.
The Rotary Club of Milton helps provide funding for local community projects, special needs and grants for students, bursaries, and the many projects the club runs itself.
Last year, the group organised a camp at Berwick for 48 Christchurch residents affected by earthquakes.
Mr Vollweiler said the tramping club approached social services in Christchurch, who identified migrants who were struggling to cope in the aftermath of the Canterbury quakes, and would benefit from the camp.
Volunteers of the tramping club wanted to offer a ''helping hand'' to some of those who might need it.
With support from the Christchurch Migrants Centre, the group spent a week abseiling, boating on Lake Waihola, travelling on the Taieri Gorge train to Pukerangi, day walking and kayaking.
The camp was run by about 13 volunteers and, with all food, transport and activities provided free, it cost about $10,000.
''It went wonderfully.''
Although Mr Vollweiler is remains an avid tramper and a huge part of the club, he hopes to slowly hand over some of his more demanding roles to the ''young blood''.
''We have a great team of volunteers, and it's great to see some of my own family members involved in the club.
''It's amazing how successful it has been.''
