Three Men on a Trip (Mt Egmont, February 1956)

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THREE ACN ON A - We, (Rod, Dudley and Don) left Wellington on the 19th,Februery and proceeded by car to Mt.Egmont. The next morning we had breakfast at the North Egmont Hostel and climbing operations commenced at about 8 a.m. The mountain was not as we usually see it, covered with snow and ice, but was very bare and climbing: was easy. Climbing above the cloud we reached the summit at 1 p.m. A pleasant interlude was spent in the sun and way in the cistance we could see our next objective - Mt.Ruapehu. We made a rapid descent to find a welcome in the form of a hot shower and tea and scones at theHostel. We set off for New Plymouth and after liquid refreshment :!! continued on our way for a couple. of hours and made camp for the night. We departed for laumaranui early next morning after breakfast and passed throuph the tovn speedily it being a dry area. At 5 p.m. we reeched the Chateau without any hopes of accommodation or food but an hour later. had acquired climbing rations and Milnehad arranged(?) accommadation and a meal and we had an invitation to a hangi in the camp grounds tearing apart .ith gusto whole pig, trout and beef, done in true Maori style in the ground, covered earth, sacks etc. Much to-our disgust we had to retire early owing to the strenuous day ahead of us???? After breakfast ( that is what they call it)at the Chateau, we roped up and got into my car. (Ed.Note - I have checked on this statement and the author assures me it is correct.) The car proved itself fitter than we were by reaching the end of the road in relatively short time. From the end of the road the Alpine Hut was reached in one hour. Whilst having a short break there a roaring sound attracted our attention on the upper slopes of the mountain, This was followed by the sudden appearance of quite a large waterfall from a rocky face at the bottom of the glacier. Leaving the hut we wended our way on to a snow slope and followed Rod's kicked steps on to the glacier. The trudge up the glacier was uneventful until a thick mist surrounded us. We pushed on in the hope that we would climb above it, but the mist merely thickened and near the top the weather deteriorated to such an extent that after an uncomfortable break we decided to descend. Halfway down the glacier we left the mist -and continued down to the road. Upon reaching the Chateau we hurriedly packed and set out for Mat ungatepopo Hut. The road from the hut to the turnoff is recognised as being impas assable to vtl hicular traffic and a notice at the beginning of the road states this in the terms of "Wal lking Track Only - after reaching the Hut in the car we had a fine glimpse of Ngauruhoe and worked out our route for the climb next morning. After a good meal we "climbed?" into our bags early and rose at 5.30 a.m. We made our way to the larvae flow on the Western side of Ngau uruhoe the tedious climb up the larvae flow to the steepening slopes of the mountain accounting for an hour. From then on the zoing was slower owinc to the insecurity of the shingle slide which we were ascending.

Upon our arrival at the crater we saw a most awe inspiring sight. The crater is about the size of the Basin Reserve, the bottom being obscured by clouds of sulphur fumes. A feature was the loud reports we could hear from the crater anu which we took to be boulders cracking under the excessive heat. Needless to say we did not linger longer than was necessary and.descended a short distance from the rim to a large outcrop of rocks from where we admired the view and consumed lunch. Refreshed we made a ouick Cescent to the saddle and then on to Tongariro. An hour later and we had reached the top of Tongariro, we followed the west ridge back to the hut and actual climbing time from the hut and back was eight hours ( 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The return journey to Wellington was enhanced by many stops which started at Taihape and ended at Levin. After a most enjoyable week we arrived back in Wellington to settle dovn to routine. Don - Dud and Rod.