A few weekends ago our bumbling fellowship set off to the alluring Mt. Taranaki, AKA the Lonely Mountain of Middle Earth. Sarah and I were partnered with doppelgänger Yanky Chris and Dutch Chef-extraordinaire Bloeme.
One month previous to this trip, when flying back from Auckland, we first saw this mighty volcano rising on its own out of the flats of the west of the north island. It was made even more striking as the volcano is completely surrounded by a spherical national park. Once I'd seen it, of course I had the usual reaction and immediately wanted to climb it. Luckily we only had to wait a month for the opportunity to do so.
So after a four-hour drive one sunny Friday we found ourselves at the foot of the Lonely Mountain. Our route took in the Pouakai Track for the most part. This route started at Mt Egmont visitors centre, where we initially climbed up the aptly named 'Razorback'. From there the two Chrises split off from the girls to climb the summit, while the girls continued along the north/eastern flank of the volcano to our first Hut. We met up that night at Holly Hut - a basic but very homely DOC Hut with bunks and a wood burning stove. The next morning we set off shortly after sunrise to cross the misty marshes to Pouakai Hut for second - or - third breakfast. The last leg took in the climb of Henry Peak and some awesome gorge crossings on the way back to North Egmont.
Our Route. map from topomap.co.nz - (an awesome resource for free 1:50,000 OS Maps of NZ)
Mt Taranaki - Dormant...apparently
The Fellowship setting off around the north flank of the volcano. RAZORBACK
Chris F battling up the pumice scree slopes. major slippery stuff.
Chris getting to grips with the lower climb
It really is the 'lonely mountain' - there is nothing on the horizon
The summit of Mt Taranaki
Holly Hut - DOC run - $15 per night
Look familiar? The view on the front of the 2012 New Zealand Lonely Planet, but with more clouds
One month previous to this trip, when flying back from Auckland, we first saw this mighty volcano rising on its own out of the flats of the west of the north island. It was made even more striking as the volcano is completely surrounded by a spherical national park. Once I'd seen it, of course I had the usual reaction and immediately wanted to climb it. Luckily we only had to wait a month for the opportunity to do so.
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