No summit - but we made it home
Christina Persico joined more than 150 people on the Taranaki Alpine Club’s open climb up the region’s best-known landmark. It didn’t go to plan.
The wind is the first thing I notice when I get out of the car at 1172 metres above sea level, and it is the wind that ultimately defeats my quest to conquer the North Island’s second-highest mountain.
Since my arrival in Taranaki in April 2017, the mighty mounga has been a constant backdrop, a call to the wild. So I signed up to join the Taranaki Alpine Club’s open climb on Saturday.
I leave the Stratford Plateau carpark about 5.10am, headlamp on, and walk towards the skifield, the day’s target dimly outlined against the stars above.
Alpine Club guides were dotted along our route and orange was just tinting the sky as we made our way to the Taranaki Alpine Club’s Tahurangi Lodge, a landmark that stands at the beginning of the hard part of the ascent. ‘‘At least we have 5 minutes to recover so we don’t die,’’ someone says behind me.
It’s a comradely vibe as we wait at the lodge.
Deanna is from Warea but now living in Oregon and keen to make her first summit. Terry grew up down the road in Pungarehu, and he and mate Greg first met on this mountain 19 years ago.
Our groups of 20 have three Alpine Club members each. Our leader, Phil Andrews, has reached the summit five times since before Christmas, so we’re in good hands.
The wind is gusty but manageable as we head toward Hongi’s Valley and the monster staircase.
Two-thirds of the way up, the two groups ahead of us are turn- ing around. We hit the scoria, that long stretch of rock and stones, and gusts of wind are knocking people off balance.
We get to Drinking Rock, about
1900m up, and pause. The scree is turning into a sandstorm. It’s like a facial peel, jokes Deanna. (As I write this, I am still getting sand out of my ears.) They estimate the winds are 60kmh, which will mean
70kmh-plus at the summit.
We turn back. It is gutting and there is a grumble or two, but the risk just isn’t worth it. Eighty-four people have died on this mountain since 1891 – second only to Mt Cook.
We pass several people on the downward trek, which isn’t easy in itself. As Deanna remarks, if you saw the alpine club turning back, why are you still going?
Back at the carpark, the cloud has closed in. It will clear later. But it was still a great day, and I’m determined not to be an ‘‘attempted’’ summiter for long.
If you’re planning to do it, dress warm, take your time, and please, don’t take risks. If in doubt, turn back. I don’t want my next story to be about you. Deanna, attempted summiter
‘If you saw the alpine club turning back, why are you still going?’