This trip required strength and experience. What some members of the group lacked in experience, they made up for in strength and will. We were met with weather challenges, difficult terrain and chilling cold that could have ripped your pants right off your legs, but the group persevered through it all on route to the … Read more
WTMC member Peter Jones will talk about a WTMC trip to Mount Taranaki, including a sunset and sunrise from Syme hut, and respecting the tikanga of not standing on the highest summit. *WTMC social nights are open to WTMC Club members and the general public. You don’t need to book or RSVP, just turn up! … Read more
As is the tradition, we met at Wellington train station at 5pm, for a 5.15pm departure to Egmont National Park. We arrived at the Camphouse, our accommodation for the night, which is situated close to the Egmont National Park Visitor Centre (North Egmont)/ DOC office, at around 10.30pm. The Camphouse is located right beside the … Read more
I was so happy when I saw there was a surf trip on the WTMC’s online schedule. I love tramping, but how cool is it to get to do other activities with your tramping friends!As there was no leader yet, Werner and I signed up to lead the trip. The sheet already had Opunake as base … Read more
We’ve regrouped at the top of a 300m long stretch of steep scoria on the way down the north ridge of Mount Taranaki. The sun blazes from a cloudless sky, there’s no wind and it’s hot – a heat haze shimmers off the dusty slope. Having climbed over 1500m today our legs are tired and … Read more
Taranaki Maunga (Mt Taranaki) East Ridge Climbing the East Ridge of Mt Taranaki on good solid lava flows directly from the East Egmont Road to the Sharks Tooth and then the summit What do WTMC trampers do after they have declared they are ‘all tramped-out’ after many trips over the previous six weeks of fine … Read more
We left Wellington on the Friday evening with a small medium-fit group and had the Konini Lodge at Dawson Falls, Egmont National Park to ourselves. With our expected walking time of 3-4 hours to Lake Dive on Saturday, we had ample time to explore the Dawson Falls and Wilkies Pools loop tracks (30-60 minutes each). … Read more
This was my second time on the Pouakai Circuit. The last time I went, just over a year ago, the track was underwater and there was no mountain to be seen – the pictures in that trip report say it all. While I absolutely enjoyed that trip, I was hoping for much better weather. This … Read more
Another WTMC trip to Mt Taranaki and the East Ridge A fun day climbing the solid rock (an old lava flow) from Straford Road up the East Ridge to the Sharks Tooth then the summit of Mt Taranaki. Taranaki always seems a lonely mountain separated from all his mates on the Central Plateau. The Maori … Read more
When does a tramp become a wade? 6 of us set out on Friday evening from the train station with some trepidation given the forecast for howling gales and torrential downpours to attempt the Pouakai Circuit on Mount Taranaki, leaving from and returning to the North Egmont visitors centre. Frances, our intrepid leader, was (tactically?) … Read more