Egmont Escapade

Machine-read text (unproofread)

Read from the scans by software, so it contains mistakes. Typing it up properly would help blind readers: use Suggest an edit.

Egmont Escapade Neil Woodrow Crater, Mt Egmont Jack McConchie Around four on a Friday afternoon Eventually after almost missing in May, I left work early to the turnoff, we arrived at North go home for a quick dinner, and Egmont. Here the troops, having to pack. I chipped the rust arranged to stay in the Park off my ice-axe and crampons while Board Bunkhouse, welcomed the listening to the horror story shelter from the incessant rain, that was the weather forecast. and after a quick brew we kipped down for the rest of the night. Shortly after six, the bus arrived at Johnsonville - before me. The Miles too early some clown gets Ngauranga flyover cuts several up and says he is the leader minutes off its time now. and it's time to get moving. An hour or so later at first light we head off up the track, A short stop at Bulls, and a in light drizzle, leaving the longer one at Inglewood where easy and mediums in their pits. we were entertained by the driving Cloud covered the top half of antics of local youths, while the mountain when we reached driver Pete tried to find which the turnoff: Left South via hotel he was booked into. Dawson Falls, right north to

Holly Hut or straight ahead people belayed and soon we were up. Sage hands suggested left, all down. Out of the snow, which meant we could stay low through the scoria and onto alpine if the weather became worse, meadows and another steep step or head up at any time if it in the ridge. Here we sidled cleared. into the stream, which provided easy travel, meeting the track After the toss of a coin, the two minutes from Holly Hut. leader decreed it was 'up'. It Contrary to rumours, the Chief started sleeting we put our Guide was first into the hut parkas on. It started snowing - to secure one of the bunks. we got our mittens out. All of a sudden it cleared we got our Sunday dawned fine, but with cameras out. The first snow cloud over the mountain and high was fresh and slippery on the cloud seemingly building up. short alpine grasses. Soon After packing our gear, we took we were onto older snow which off with cameras and parkas up was rather icy, and after several onto the Pouakai Range. The of the party had battered their cloud over Egmont broke, giving feet kicking steps, we stopped plenty of opportunity for some and donned crampons. As you reasonable photos. Then we climb up it gets steeper, and went back to Holly Hut, and down we sidled around into a long the track out, making an excursion gully that led straight to the to Bells Falls, where shutterbugs crater. From here you could played in the middle of the river, see Sugar Loaf, Auntie Huia's trying to capture the cascading Power Station and lots of lush waters. Further down the track Taranaki pasture. we stopped for lunch by the side of the river. By then the cloud We spent a couple of hours wanderwas obscuring the sun and it ing around the summit and crater was quite cold. It was only area, and having lunch. The a stone's throw out to Puniho mist came and the sun went, and Road end. the wind came and the mist went, but it stayed clear most of the Having visited Egmont in lousy time except when we tried to weather on many occasions in take photos. Of course we took the past, it was a treat to actualphotos of Ruapehu to hang next ly get to see the views from to those we took of Egmont from the top and surrounding slopes. Ruapehu, when it was fine there. Leader - Ian Hadfield To descend we headed towards Holly Hut, down a wide gully to get around some bluffs, and Troops - Eric Evans, Miles Davison, ended up with a small vertical Peter Thorn, Andrew Denley, gully to get onto the gentler Richard Smith, Jack McConchie, slopes around the snowline. Neil Woodrow. Rope was out, packs lowered, Crater rim, Mt Egmont Jack McConchie