This tramp was to have been to Piranui Stream in the Kauaeranga Valley, but track and stream conditions forced the leaders to re-consider their plans when preparing a few weeks beforehand, and they changed the trip to Mt Kaitarakihi, on the main divide of Coromandel Range south of the Kauaeranga. We still had plenty of green (bush, scrub, grass) to be amongst as a way of observing St Patrick’s Day. It dawned a nice fine day as 17 trampers met at The Bracken at 8am, and none of us would know that as we got out of our cars at the summit of the Kopu-Hikuai road that it would be cold and wet. Alex drove up from Tauranga to meet us there.

We set off into the bush, climbing rather steadily along the main dividing ridge of the Coromandel range, although it was not steep. After about 45 minutes we stopped at the junction of the Devcich Kauri to group up - we did not go to the kauri trees as it would have involved a steep drop followed by a steep climb back to the main track, and we wanted to try and get to the top of Kaitarakihi, at least another two hours away. After the junction the track became a bit rougher, and in places a bit steeper with a few slightly tricky pieces. There were two or three glimpses of the view towards the Firth of Thames below us - the rain had stopped, but it was still very cloudy. Just after 1pm, about one-and-a-half hours from the junction, some of us stopped for lunch while the others pushed on another five minutes to the start of the very steep and difficult climb up the rock face to the summit and gave it a go. Nelson was the only one who managed to reach the summit, which was mostly in cloud and therefore there was not much of a view.

The first ones were back out to our cars about 3pm, but it was after 4pm when we were all out and ready to go. About half the group chose to stop at the Miranda Hot Springs for a well-deserved swim, followed by fish and chips at the famous munchie shop at Kaiaua. Back in 1992 Gordon Jones, the immediate Past-President of the Club at the time, led a tramp, which was to be his last tramping trip, up Kaitarakihi.  Once up the mountain, he carried on up to heaven as a victim of heart attack. Those who knew him, including Nelson who was on that trip, spared a moment or two to remember him. We were all pleased that Alex was fit to tramp again, and amazed at how well everyone, especially those who were with us for the first time, did on what turned out to be a harder tramp given the state of the track. COST: travel $14; hot pools $7.