Mt Egmont, Taranaki,
New Zealand. February 1994
Taranaki: steeped in
Maori myth and legend and up which they wouldn't venture because of the tapu
surrounding it. I can see why — those scree slopes are evil: two steps up
and one back and, coming down, your backside is in contact with the scree as
often as your feet.
Taranaki: with a
climate described as 'maritime' — in other words, constantly changing.
You can say that again: we had all four seasons in five days including snow on
the summit (2,518m)!
In spite of all, our
small party met each challenge with great courage and humour: getting caught up
in the Hash House Harriers' little social at base camp. I've never had to down
a beer before and had to resort to pouring it over my head instead; the next
challenge was crossing the three-wire bridge on the way to Pouakai (we didn't
know about the footbridge 10 minutes downstream); the various ladders,
including the one of tree roots, up and down the various ravines; the enormous
challenge of trying to stand up in the gale and hail on Henry Peak (also
locally known as Bastard Inc); getting our sleeping bags dry before bedtime at
Pouakai Hut; traversing Boomerang Slip without setting off another landslide,
preventing Muesli from using the kitchen knife on Mike when he locked the keys
in the car on the morning of departure (thank goodness for my AA membership and
their call-out service).
One of the outstanding
memories: Muesli very cunningly keeping her boots dry in a river crossing, only
to fall off the walkboards into Ahukawakawa Swamp on Pouakai Crater and getting
everything muddy and wet!
By the last morning,
the only sounds to be heard were groans and mutters at the sore legs and feet,
but I think we all coped really well. Very grateful thanks to Mike and Verena
for making the effort to turn up. Jean Peters
©
WDYFO, 1994