Syme Hut and Taranaki Maunga

Friday 14 January – evening drive up and stay at Konini Lodge

A weekend forecast for sunny clear skies and a cooling breeze got eight keen WTMC trampers very excited to scope out Syme Hut, high on the slopes of Mount Taranaki. A long five hour drive got the crew to Konini Lodge, a nice DOC facility complete with fridges, heat pump, and a zip (very lush!) at the base of the climb up the south side of Mount Taranaki. 

Saturday 15 January – climb to Syme Hut and optional summit of Mount Taranaki

8.00am, Konini Lodge. A restful sleep and the convenience of the lodge made for a decent early ish start up Mount Taranaki. Regular breaks were taken and Syme Hut was arrived at by around midday, after a decent 3.5-4hrs walk. The approach to Syme Hut, situated at 1940m on Fanthams Peak, gets steep enough and loose enough to give an idea of what the rest of the way to the summit looks like. It is a tough, steep climb to the crater rim at about 2500m. 

Six of the group head for the summit, expecting about a 3-4hr return time scrambling up and then skating down the loose and rough scree, scattered with large boulders. This ends up being more toward the four hour end, though with plenty of breaks to enjoy expansive views. It is technically more difficult and with a longer approach than the northern route, but also quieter and awards awesome views back to Syme Hut and Fanthams Peak. Closer to the crater edge, Ruapehu is seen towering above the clouds in the distance. The true summit offers even more reward with 360° views around Egmont National Park and Taranaki. It is worth the additional hour round trip from the crater edge and there are a few well-traveled routes, mainly toward the northern side. 

It looks very different without snow on it! – Ed.

The two sticking behind prepare dinner as the others descend from the summit, their journey down clearly visible from the kitchen window. Sunset rays dance about the clouds and bathes Mount Taranaki and the hut in vivid colours. Every few minutes shoes are back on, cameras out for some vista seen in a beautiful new light as the sun continued to set. By twilight, the hut was more than doubly packed out, but 19 people found either a bed or space for a sleeping pad inside the toasty hut. Two brave souls, or ‘blokes’ as they would come to be known, camped in the sheltered lee of the hut. 

Sunday 16 January

A crisp, clear morning greeted trampers cooped up in Syme Hut. A few trampers, inspired by the photos and tales from others the day prior, set out early for the summit and caught sunrise part of the way up the mountain. The rest made their way down, preferring the deeper scree down the poled route to slide their way down. A leisurely three hours found the carpark and faithful WTMC van waiting.

All in all, an awesome trip spent on the mountain with a great crew of trampers. The optional side trip to summit Taranaki makes more for a medium tramp and a reasonable challenge. There is some navigation up the route to the summit, which is not poled. The first day, climbing up to Syme, up to the summit and returning, chocked up to 1800m of climbing. A decent jaunt and well worth struggling up the scree if the views and conditions are good.

For the entertaining story of a Taranaki, Syme Hut saga go to Syme Hut and Mt Taranaki – a Sherpa assisted ascent

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