This was a very successful trip to beautiful Mt Taranaki, particularly enjoyed by several who were first
timers on the mountain. Late season snow added spice to the experience and the generally fine weather
allowed us frequent views the mountain at its finest.
We travelled down by hired van on the Friday
night and stayed at New Plymouth Central Baptist Church, to whom we are very grateful for again accommodating
us.
Saturday
The main group were driven to the Mangorei Road end for a 9am start to
Holly Hut via Pouakai.
Colin and Natasja drove around to the Stratford plateau to deposit the
van and walk back to meet the group at Holly Hut. This was a generous 5 hour walk for both groups. At
the skifield just above the plateau, Colin and Natasja encountered a climber who had lost his companion
near the summit. He had called for help by cell phone and was awaiting the arrival of the Search and
Rescue team. The climber, we later found had fallen 150 metres and was lucky to be found and promptly
rescued, badly injured, by helicopter during a brief break in the then swirling misty conditions.
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Shortly after, near Tahurangi Lodge, Natasja was startled by a skier who, descending from the
summit, emerged from near whiteout conditions whistling past her in a hiss of snow that she, totally
unaware of his presence, initially feared was an avalanche. Less than 100 metres later three young people
emerged from the mist and snow, the young lady of the group wearing only flimsy canvas sandshoes, the
briefest of shorts and a thin open neck sleeveless t-shirt, the young men dressed little better. This
group kindly advised us of a dangerous 45 degree slope of loose snow which they had been terrified crossing!
Some time later, Colin went for an unplanned slide down the snow, trying to pass a skylarking group
of younger folk enjoying the snowy conditions.
We had some interesting tales to tell the main
group when we arrived at Holly Hut around 3pm!
The main group of 9 tramped from Mangorei
Road, over the Pouakai range. Although the mountain view had been clear from New Plymouth, clouds drifted
in to obscure the view
We set off climbing gently upwards in the bush, on a stepped but quite muddy
track. Just a little light rain was encountered on the ascent. We trialled the radios carried by Phillip
and Andre. We reached open views about an hour before reaching Pouakai hut, where we stopped for lunch
and Peter shared a devotions on Choices.
We climbed onto the ridge and walked a short distance
on the Pouakai track to see a broader view below and the terrain of the Pouakai circuit. Then we took
the track to Holly Hut which descended to cross the Ahukawakawa swamp, before the gentle climb up to
Holly Hut.
After settling into the hut, a group took a late afternoon walk to view the Bells
Falls.
Sunday
It was a fine morning which gave us lovely mountain views. We rose early
to start the 6-7 hour walk to Konini Lodge at Dawson falls, repeating in reverse much of Colin's and
Nastasja's walk the previous day. No dramas this time but several tricky snow slopes had to be traversed
as we climbed to 1600 metres before descending a little down to the Manganui Skifield and Stratford Plateau
and then more steeply to Dawson Falls. Konini Lodge was a well appointed accommodation which we shared
with a large Korean tramping group who intrigued us with a large multi course banquet style dinner, which
they then virtually repeated at breakfast next morning. Ali shared her devotions on Mysteries, after
our Sunday evening meal.
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Monday
Labour day gave superb morning views from the south of Fantham's Peak and Taranaki,
and by climbing a small lookout tower we could see Ruapehu which, in the clear conditions was larger
and appeared much closer than some expected. We did some of the many walks around Dawson Falls and visitor
centre before commencing the drive back to Auckland, stopping for morning tea at Inglewood and lunch
at Te Kuiti.
A very enjoyable tramp, some experiencing Taranaki for the first time.
Grateful
thanks are due to Val for attending to the food provisioning so expertly, even though not participating
in the tramp. Thanks also to Barbara, trip co-leader and also Paul and Peter [who assisted with the driving]
and Nastasja whose reflection on 'rivers' was a good metaphor for life and appropriate to the environment
we had so enjoyed.
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