Mt Pirongia (959m)

Mt Pirongia

Climb no 3...this I think has been the trickest climb to date.  The climb to Ruapene trig was fairly simple but the track from here changed dramatcially!  Initiailly there are chains to help you negotiate the steep rock faces that lie inbvetween sections of the track and once they were conquered the track got incredibly muddy!  The trek to the summit was very up and down, muddy as hell and felt like it would never end.  But, eventually I hit a large section of boardwalk which lets you know that the summit is not far away.  Finally the summit and the large viewing tower on top of it came into sight and within a few minutes I was standing on it.
Views over the waikato were a little hazy but there were impressive views of Kawhia harbour.  Mount Taranaki could not been seen on this occasion but ever mind...another peak successfully bagged...