Location: Kaimanawa Ranges
Author: Martin Lambrechtse-Reid
Participants:
Guides: Lucy Douglas, Janelle Evans
Group: Ben Dodson, Bella Tam, Emi Lipoth, Sam Shea, Tommy Wells, Martin Lambrechtse-Reid
Date: 4th-5th May 2024
Following a swift drive to the campsite in the Kaimanawa ranges, we set up our campsite in the dark as it approached midnight. A frosty night ensued before making a final gear check before we set off on our adventure.

Our path took us from the trailhead up to the peak of Mt Urchin through a well-maintained forest track. It was steep at times, and there were ample times for snack breaks. While it was a chilly morning, we quickly warmed as we ascended. At this point, our resident zip-off pants enthusiast provided their sales pitch, which become a recurring theme. P.S. zipped vent pants are way better, fight me.
As we crossed the bush line, we were presented with a wonderful view of the national park mountains; Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and we took the opportunity to enjoy the sights while we ate lunch.

With our snacks exhausted and taking advantage of the perfect visibility, we took the opportunity to practise navigation with a map and compass. Though confusing at first, we got the hang of it and were able to reliably pinpoint ourselves on the map. Thank you to our group leaders for their patience! Now following the map with our newfound skills, we headed for the valley where we would make camp.

Approaching early afternoon, we were greeted by two older gentlemen as we descended into the bush line. “There’s still frost in the valley! It’ll be a cold night down there.” Nervous glances amongst the group set in.
As we descended, a shallow river presented itself. A short lesson from guides was enough for us to find a buddy, jump in and make the crossing. It was lots of fun navigating the slippery river rocks with a friend to help us stay upright. Thankfully, everyone made it across the rivers without any slips. A few more km of river crossings and we safely made it to our new campsite, wet boots and all.

A fire was quickly set up in a vain attempt to dry our boots. Despite the lack of dry sock success, huddling around the fire provided a great opportunity for cooking food and spreading embellished yarns. Not to mention the toasted marshmallows. As the night set in and the temperatures dropped, one by one we were all off to bed for another big day.

Not much to say here. Cold was a criminal understatement. Our boots froze. Our tents froze. Socks? Frozen.

We set off to try get some warmth through movement. However, this time our leaders left navigation up to us. It was our responsibility to make our way up the river and back to the ridge using our map, compass, and intuition. I was impressed with how our group worked together as a team, supporting everyone’s suggestions for a navigable route. Before long, we made it to a bush section that would lead us to the ridgeline.

Approaching the bush, we split into two smaller groups. We would bush bash our way to the top, doing our best to find a good route. We each took turns leading, clearing underbrush and finding paths around the steepest section. My favourite part was a section of hill that reminded me of skiing moguls.

After a challenging 400m ascent, we made it to the ridgeline for a much-needed lunch and opportunity for dry socks. This spot provided a good final opportunity for rest and photos before making the final trek back along the ridgeline, and to the warmth of an air-conditioned car…

Upon reaching the car, we reflected on our journey over the last two days. Through our teamwork we were able to push through the hard sections with a smile, which really elevated the whole experience. We had learnt a lot in terms of pure technical skills, and what we could push through, particularly regarding the cold. I’d like to thank our guides again, for providing such a positive experience for us. Until next time!
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