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I hadn't done a sunrise climb for a few years so decided it was about time to experience the dawn from the summit of Taranaki Maugna again. I prefer to climb under a full moon when I'm doing a sunrise climb. For about a week after the full moon the moonlight is strong enough to climb by the moonlight without needing a torch.  Saturday morning was 5 days after the full moon and a perfectly clear night so I set off from home around 1:40am and arrived at the North Egmont visitors center around …

When I was a teenager tramping with my father, one of our favourite routes on the Pouakais was the track from the stony river at the end of Puniho rd that follows the ridge line above the stony river on to the southern end of the main Pouakai massive.  You can then make it a circuit by descending via the Ahukawakawa track to Holly hut and returning to Puniho rd on the Bells falls track. It s a long day tramp - 9 to 10 hrs but a very rewarding tramp with great views and crossing through diff …

When I was growing up and tramping with my dad, the Kiri track was one of our favourite tramping tracks. It's a great route up onto the Pouakais with stunning views of Taranaki once you emerge from the bush and follow the ridge lines up to Kiri peak and then cross the saddle over to Pouakai peak. You can then make it a loop walk by taking the track around the top of the ranges back to Pouakai hut and then descend down the old Plymouth track.These tracks have been officially close for years but I …

After having to abandon a summit attempt on Taranaki due to winter conditions (new snow down to 1300m), my daughter Sarah and her boyfriend were keen to do an evening tramp on the Pouakais to see Pouakai tarn at dusk.When we left home just before 6:00pm there was still cloud over the mountain but it looked like there would be a good chance of it clearing up for the evening so off we went.  We set off into the bush at around 6:10 and made good time getting up to the hut at 7:40pm and then st …

On Friday I set out on another climb of Taranaki keen to get in another snow climb before the snow is all gone. I decided to take the Khyber pass route with the intent of getting into the bottom of crater valley and then having a snow climb directly up into the crater.  This route takes the old summit track up razor back ridge then traverses across to pass just above Humphries Castle. There was a large bank of cloud to the north west of the mountain that was closing in behind me as I climbe …