W.T.&M.C. Ascent of Ngauruhoe

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W.T.&M.C. ASCENT OF NGAURAHOE 4th March, 1961 As is usual our truck left Welling- monstrous evil rock struck Reg (or was ton at 7.30 p.m. and we stopped at it his brother) on the head. After re- Levin for Coke. Some lucky people ceiving amateur medical attention and slept? until Taihape where "The Quiet being forced into a too small balaclava Man" and a No Parking sign had a he elected to continue onwards and upslight disagreement with the Chief wards with the rest of us. The sky Guide. The truck rumbled on to the started. to cloud over and it wasn't long Chateau and lurched up the Bruce before blankets of mist (cot size) were Road to deposit the Ruapehu Traverse floating around obscuring the view. Party. (Can't understand bods visit- When we reached the crater lip, our ing the ski grounds without skis.) WE objective achieved, visibility, which had went down through National Park and been spasmodically improving, was after chasing a rabbit along the Manga- suddenly reduced and fluctuated between tepopo track the truck came to rest five and fifteen feet. With typical two miles in from the main road and T.&M. optimism our keen photographers we were able to sleep. captured some excellent shots of heavy mist. Due to the poor visibility we Saturday, 4th March, 1961 left the summit almost immediately and headed for one of the shingle slides Hearing remarks like "You wouldn't leading down to the saddle. As we read about it!" "Home was never like glissaded joyously down the slide, the this!" I grudgingly emerged from my mist cleared, and the sun shone on sack to see an early morning mist scattered pieces of coloured rock which covering the flats. Fortunately it we collected and intended to bring back began to clear as we had breakfast and home. before we reached Mangatepopo Hut we could see the slippery sided giant, Half a minute before we reached the hut "Hughie" became extra malicious Ngaurahoe, towering above us. We left and split the sky open, it poured, and our unwanted gear in the hut, and tak- I don't mean maybe. ing only our lunch and some warm We unpacked the rocks which looked clothing set off up the track to the very ordinary out of their drab sursaddle. The path follows the Manga- roundings, and prepared the stew which tepopo stream at an easy grade. We was one of the worst ever. passed several old lava flows and some An early night was much appreciated interesting rock formations. The 1954 and as the rain had not abated by mornlava flow was on our right but not near ing we sack bashed, abandoning our salubrious couches to partake of enough for close examination. After "brunch" at 10.30 a.m. We then rushed about an hour the path rises fairly two miles out to the truck while the steeply to the saddle. The route, well rain came down and the floods came up marked by poles is mainly scoria which all around. Although the weather was poor, the trip was very enjoyable and is rather uncomfortable but not difficult we will return. to walk on. Those involved were: Trip leader, Lunch was eaten on the saddle in the company of a great horde of fat Brian Hunt, Dave and Reg. Jones, buzzing flies. From the Plateau our Allan Higgins, Dick Simmons, Florian route led straight up to the outcrop Sturder, and myself, Shirley McGreagor. of red rock and across some very slippery grey material to the crater edge. Footnote: The Norski Laboratories An hour after lunch we stopped to address is: Box 341 Blenheim. And the rest and calamity in the shape of a cost of re-soling your skis is 43/-.