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...

Mt Tauhara (1,088m)

Central mountains and Lake Taupo from Tauhara summit

This mountain stands proud on the outskirts of Taupo township .  The track begins as a trek over farmland before entering the bushline.  The ascent is a steady climb on a well defined track that meanders though the bush. A seat is nicely positioned at  half way point and a stream that runs alongside the track lets you know there isn't far to go.  Finally you reach a short sharp scramble that breaks into an open clearing with a trig...the summit .  The views I found here were breathtaking with all the central mountains and lake taupo clearly visible.  Kangiora pine forest sprawls out on the other side and even Mt Tarawera and Mt Edgecombe visible in the distance.  It was a nice sunny day although the wind was blowing a gale so had to watch my footing in places.  On the whole a great climb with views well worth the slog to the top.

Mt Tauhara from Taupo

Here's to the next one...

Pouakai range [Mt Egmont] (1,400m)

Pouakai range (right) with Mt  Egmont in background

Nestled behind the mountain lies the Pouakai range, the eroded remnants of another extinct volcano that used to be the size of Mt Egmont itself.  This climb started at Mangorei Road end just out of New Plymouth.  The tract is 90% boardwalk and actually climbs in altitude relatively gradually.  The down side to this tramp was the higher I got the thicker the cloud got and upon reaching the hut just below the summit it was blowing a gale and nothing to see.  Nevertheless a good challenge ( 4 hours in total) and worth doing again when the mountain is completely clear of cloud. 

A good practise climb before doing Mt Egmont summit itself...watch this space...

Mt Pureora (1,165m)

Central mountains from summit of Mt Pureora

Desite being the highest peak I have climbed to date, this was by far the easiest.  It was a nice well maintained track that gradually climbed in height.  Views at the summit were slightly hazy but still great, could see all the central mountains and lake taupo. GREAT DAY!!

Bring on the next one...