CLUB REPORTS Monday Walkers
The Monday Walkers this week seemed to have misunderstood the words of the song and instead of taking the long way home we took the long way there. After a few plaintive calls of “where are you?” on the radios we all ended up at the base of Mt Pureora, packs at the ready. As many keen walkers will tell you it's not the kilometres travelled but the terrain that dictates the energy expended on a track, and so it was this week. The 6km return trip ascends up a well-defined path with long stretches of boardwalks and stairs. Lots of stairs, in fact 1086 of them and yes, one member of our group painstakingly counted them all! Erosion at the base of some staircases meant taking a giant stride or a haul up to reach the first rung and one walker christened their brand-new boots in a mud bath at one particularly deep base. The forest feels like goblin country. The trees, even the kauri, are covered in thick layers of moss that hangs across the pathway. The beautiful Prince of
Wales feathers, ngutukakariki, was thriving in the cool wet conditions as were the hen and chicken ferns, manamana, with their tiny gemmae or plantlets developing on the upper surface of their fronds. A kaka screeched its disapproval at our intrusion into its territory. Once at the summit, the view from the 1165m peak was well worth the climb. We had panoramic views of Lake Taupo¯, Lake Maraetai, the distinctive peak of Mt Titiraupenga, across farmland and the boundaries of the forest park.
We huddled behind bushes and rocks out of the wind for lunch before making the easy trip down.
If you intend walking this most enjoyable track take warm clothing as the summit is very exposed. We are going on a flatter bush walk next week. If you would like information or to come please phone 027 592 2994 or email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com You can follow us on Facebook on Taupo¯ Monday Walkers.