Umukarikari Peak (1,591m)

Umukarikari is the highest accessible peak in the Kaimanawa ranges.  These form part of the central high country along with the Central Plateau volcanoes.  The start of this track is 4km off of State Highway 1 at the start of the desert road, 15 Km south of Turangi.

The track begins in dense bush and makes its way upward at a fairly steep and constant incline until you reach the bushline.  Almost instantly you lose the bush at this point and begin  walking across alpine herb fields that lead into tussock as you gain altitude.  Marker posts are posted regularly along the route which guide you along the rolling tops of the Umukarikari range, up over a peak simply known as Sharp Cone (1,480m) and then onward a little further to reach the summit of Umukarikari (1,591m).  It took three hours to reach the summit but well worth the slog. A decent stop here for lunch and to take some photos of course.

Mt Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe from Urukarikari range tops

Views are to be had most of the way above the bushline, including stunning views of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro. Lake Taupo, Mt Tuhara were also visible through the haze aswell as the rest of the Kaimanawa ranges to boot.

The trek back down was somewhat faster (2 hours) and after five hours of wallking and climbing I was happy to reach the carpark and head back home. A great days tramp and another peak successfully bagged.

Not many to go now...

Mitre Peak (1571m)

Well, this peak is the highest point in the Tararua range and was a lesson in humility to say the least.  It certainly ranks as the hardest climb I have done,despite the fact it isn't the highest.  The track begins at a carpark area known as "The Pines" inland from Masterton.  Initially the track is a 4WD track that meanders slowly uphill to meet the bush.  This track follows the Waingawa river virtually all the way to the hut.  However the first three hours of this tramp are very up and down with several stream crossings to boot.  At some points you are very high above the river and realise how much altitude you have gained.  Unfortunately, to reach the hut the track drops back down to the river level where you cross a nice new foot bridge and beyond the hut the climb to Mitre begins all over again!

Mitre Flats Hut, at the base of Mitre peak, Tararua range

After a brief stop at the hut to eat and refill my water bottle I headed off.  The track initally heads up a very steep incline that has you gaining altitide at a rapid rate.  It then becomes a steady plod uphill with occasional steep sections.  The higher I got there was snow on the ground around  from the previous couple of days. After more climbing the views get better despite the mist and snow but at this point, approximately 3/4 up this one, (1200m approx)  a stones throw from the true summit, I made the call to turn back and head down as I was going to run out of visibility any higher and light on the trip down.  The trip down was somewhat faster but still required some agile foot placement and care.  After making my way back out from the hut I reached the carpark at the start of the track just on dusk, very timely!!

Looking back to Mitre peak, shame its clouded in!!

On the whole this cimb took everything I had but despite not quite reaching the absolute top, it was a hard slog climb that took 9 hours and certainly worthy of being called bagged.

The next one...watch this space...

Mt Ngongataha (756m)

Another relative smallish peak just to get back into the swing of things...

Rotorua city and the lake from Mt Ngongataha

Mt Ngongataha is situated on the outskirts of Rotorua.  The track to the summit begins at the carpark on Paradise Valley Road and climbs steadily through the bush to meet the access road near the top.  At the summit there unfortunately are no views to be had due to major shrubery growth , but views can be obtrained from a few hundred metres down the access road. From here the lake, Mt Tarawera and all of Rotorua city can be seen.

A good climb done within a couple of hours, good practise for the next one...

Mt Karori (756m)

Well winter is pretty much over and now it is time to get back into gear and complete my peak bagging mission...

Mt Karori near Raglan

So, Mt Karori is a small mountain situated on the west coast near Raglan in the Waikato.  It is a nice short summit challenge to kick off the next phase of climbs.  The trip begins with a trek through farmland to reach the bushline.  From here the track narrows and meanders up the mountain owards the simmit.  It was a good track, well maintained and well marked with lovely orange tree markers.  After an hour I reached a couple of smaller ladders which tell you that the actual summit is very close and sure enough 3-4 minutes later there is the summit platform, a large slab of concrete as it happens.

Raglan harbor and town from Karoroi summit

After a snack it was time to get some photos.  The views from here were great in every direction.  All the local peaks were visible; Maungatautari, Pirongia, and even Mt Te Aroha and Mt Taranaki were just visble.   Views of both Kawhia and Raglan harbours were also good and Hamilton city glistened in the distance.

A nice climb worth the effort...heres to the next one...watch this space...

Mt Edgecumbe (821m)

Mt Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty

This relatively small peak lies just inland from Whakatane, near Kawerau in the Bay of Plenty.  The track up to the summit is a well maintained 4WD track that winds its way up the mountain to a turn around area.  A series of steps carries on up to the sunnit trig from here. It took an hour to reach the summit. It was a good steady climb with great views at the top of the entire Bay of Plenty coast from Ohiwa harbour all the way to Mt Maunganui.  Inland, Mts Tauhara and Tarawera were prominent with the Urewera ranges in the distance. Also at the top is a small craer lake which was not accessible on this trip. Well worth the effort.

Bay of Plenty coastline with Whale Island in the distance

Another one down just before winter sets in...

Rainbow Mountain (743m)

Rainbow Mountain

After the mammoth climb up Mt Taranaki last time this peak was a nice mental and physical break.  Situated just south of Rotorua on SH5 and within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, this one starts with a nice, gentle and well formed track that meandered  at a steady pace around the flank of the mountain and got slightly steeper towards the summit.  Early in the track are nice views of a small thermal lake (Green lake), fantastically coloured cliffs (hence the montain's name) and further up several steaming fumeroles just off the main track make for a nice photo opportunity.  Upon reaching the trig at the summit the views here were great.  In the hazy distance was Mt Tauhara near Taupo, with great vistas over Mt Tarawera and Lake Rotomahana. On the whole a great climb not too far from home.

View of Mt Tarawera and Lake Rotomahana from Rainbow mountain summit

Maybe time for a couple more before winter gets here...

Mt Taranaki [Egmont] (2,518m) / Fanthams Peak (1,966m)

Mt Taranaki

This is the highest and hardest climb to date, done with my best friend and well worth the effort.  We started at the Stratford Plateau and made our way around the mountain, up to the skifield and then continued over on the around the mountain track to Tahurangi Lodge.  This then joins up with the northern route up to the summit.  After a well earned break we heading up the stepped route toward the north ridge.  Here it got progressively harder. The steps eventually give out and we started the long climb up the scoria slopes.  There were heaps of people heading down from the summit so we knew we were heading in the right direction. There were also poles to follow along the way.  Views of the top periodically came into view and then would promptly disappear into cloud again.  After a lot of heavy slogging we reach a more rocky surface known as "the lizard"  which was much easier to climb than the sliding scoria.  At this point it seems like you are almost there, but it only "seems" that way.  There are more rocks to climb but eventually we made our way through the narrow gap in the rocks and over the crater lip. 

Rock spire known as "Shark's Tooth from the crater floor

Dropping into the crater we traversed the crater floor (covered in ice and snow all year round) and headed for the summit rocks and another rocky spire known as "the sharks tooth".  Just below the summit rocks is the south crater wall, our exit point. After taking more photos and getting our bearings we Climbed over the crater wall and headed down towards Fanthams Peak, our overnight destination (Syme Hut) and of course my next peak to bag. Unfortunately views from up here were completely obscured by cloud but the climb up was still well the effort and satisfaction of bagging NZ's North Island's second highest mountain.

Fanthams Peak (on left) from summit track

The descent down to Fanthams Peak was both exihirating and scary as daylight hours were getting scarce and the rocks on the  south side of the crater wall as we headed over it were already starting to ice up.  Once on the scoria slope we heading down at a relatively steady pace with some interesting points where the scoria was very thin with next to no traction.  But eventually we reached the area known as the Rangitoto Flats and looked on at the brief but steep ascent ahead of us to reach the hut on the top of Fanthams Peak.  Upon reaching the hut we dumped the packs we had dragged up the mountain with us and could finally relax and appreciate the beauty and majesty of where we were.  Needless to say as the sun went down and we crashed for the night we slept very soundly indeed.

Sunrise looking east to Mt Ruapehu

We woke in the morning just in time to watch and photograph the sunrise silhouetting Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro in the Eastern skyline, a sight well worth getting up early for.  After breakfast and getting some great photos (no clouds this morning) of the coastline and surrounding farmland, we started the descent down to Dawson Falls where our ride awaited us.

View from Fanthams Peak towards the coast

This trip was my biggest so far in my peak bagging year and combined two peaks in the one trip, a bonus well worth the effort.  Now we head home to get some well earned rest before the next one...watch this space...