Location: Mt Taranaki
Author: Ella Kramer
Participants: Ella, Nick, Lara, Rosie, Andrew, Justin, Louise, Sammie, Ashwin, Joshua, Simon, Belinda, Jake, Isa
Date: 4th-6th October 2024
Day 1:
We all met at the clocktower to depart for our lovely 5 hour drive down to Mt. Taranaki. After a pit-stop at Macca’s, we rolled into our campsite just after dark. While we couldn’t SEE the mountain, the mountain shaped gap in the blanket of stars left our imagination running wild!
We set up camp in a field/glorified parking lot (we think it was our campsite…?), made dinner, and huddled into our tents for a chilly night.
Day 2: (13km)
Woken up by the rooster’s screech at 6am, we rolled out of our sleeping bags. The beautiful mountain sunrise promised in the trip proposal email was noticeably missing. “We don’t talk about it” - Ashwyn. We did however get to say hello to the various dogs, goats, sheep, and baby cows whose home we shared for the night.
We drove ~15 minutes to the Egmont National Park Visitor Centre. It started raining the SECOND we hopped out of the cars. It started pouring rain just as Justin clapped and said “let's get going!” After walking to the trailhead we got started on a muddy, slippery, and steep trek up to our destination of Holly Hut.
After trekking up hundreds of stairs, we finally reached the ridgeline and the summit of Henry Peak (1224m). We were greeted with stunning views… if we closed our eyes and pretended. The rain and wind was whipping around us and our tired raincoats were beginning to fail. Our clothes were soaked through which washed off the mud, since only Simon was prepared enough to bring gaiters.
We passed the Poukai Mirror Reflection pool, which was a spitting image of the thick layer of clouds fully surrounding us. Only Ashwyn ventured on the short loop path around the lake. With wind speeds rising and dampened spirits (and gear), we made a final push to the Poukai Hut where we would stop for lunch. This hut was marked online as unbookable and closed for repairs so we were just hoping it would be unlocked at this point. Arriving @ 1pm, luck was on our side! Entering the hut, we all immediately stripped off our sodden layers and hung them to “dry”.
Out of the ripping wind and rain, I assessed our group. Of worrying note, Joshua was quite pale, legs shaking, shivering like crazy, and having trouble walking or speaking. Nick and Ashwyn had been helping him out in the back for the past kilometre or so. Hypothermia had struck! Moving fast, we switched out his wet layers for a collection of our dry ones. Propped him in the bunks in his sleeping bag with a hot water bottle and I did regular medical assessments.
As Joshua slowly began to unfreeze, I reassessed whether we would be able to continue and make it to Holly Hut. We were all freezing. With 2-3 hours of hiking between us and our planned waypoint, I announced that “the decision will be made at 3”. A phrase that was tirelessly mocked the whole weekend.
Reality hit us around 2pm. We were forced to shelter at the Pouakai Hut. Luckily, we had it completely to ourselves (because it was closed lol). With plenty of bunks for everyone, no one had to pitch a tent (definitely not happening after we saw lightning), or sleep on the floor. Jake seemingly did not get this message as he set up his sleeping bag square on the floor in a potentially mildly hypothermic daze.
Andrew and Nick worked tirelessly to try and start a fire. With Andrew whittling wet sticks into potential kindling, Nick attempting to set his gas canister on fire, Rosie asking “hand sanitizer is flammable right…?” Unfortunately, despite their valiant efforts, the lack of any dry wood (other than the tempting broom handle…) was an unfixable problem.
Most of us packed into sleeping bags and eventually emerged to make dinner. Meals ranged from my pasta in a ziplock bag (no dishes!) to Ashwyn’s homemade dehydrated backpacking dinner, which looked much more appetising. Following dinner, the cards were brought out. Rounds of President and Algae (a-hole or scum were too mean Lara said), and B.S ensued. After an evening of laughter and shivering, we checked the weather forecast and decided to leave bright and early at 7am to delay the rain as much as possible. As Justin, Louise, and Belinda rightly noted, saying we would leave at 7 really meant leaving at 7:30.
Day 3: (12km)
As predicted, we left around 7:30am and the first 2 hours of our hike were surprisingly rain free! Sammie and I split up Joshua’s backpack, so we could get back to the cars as fast as possible! We stopped at a river near Holly Hut for a rest and water, taking turns with my LifeStraw.
We continued along the circuit, passing through perilous rock fall zones, slippery river crossings, and never ending staircases. It started raining again, but with the mirage of the parking lot strong in our minds, we powered through.
Some of our group much preferred the downhill style of the last portion of our trek. Those of us with bum knees felt differently.
FINALLY, after pushing a relentless pace, we stumbled into the visitor centre just after noon. At last! We peeled off our soaking layers of clothing and changed into our dry ones. There also seemed to be some multi-level marketing scheme going on, cuz at least 4 people bought trekking poles?? At the end of our hike?? After like an hour processing in the visitor centre lobby, we packed into our warm, dry cars, and headed back towards Auckland. “I had a time with Ella this weekend” - Sammie. All of the cool people got kebabs on the way back.
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