Taranaki From The South Side

I was determined to get in one last snow climb of Taranaki before the snow was all melted as summer set in so I set off to Dawson Falls on new years day. When climbing in summer I was always set off early for a couple of reasons.

1. So I complete much of the climb in the cool of dawn

2. So I can watch the sunrise from high up on the mountain.

So for this climb I left home soon after 3:00am and set of on my climb from Dawson Falls by torch light at around 4:15am. I climbed steadily in the dark beneath a clear night sky and was part way up Fanthems peak when the sun rose over the centre of the North island through the low cloud and thick smoke haze from the Australian bush fires.

Dawn - from part way up Fanthems peak.

The first sunrise of 2020. The colouring is all due tot he smoke haze from the Australian bush fires.

Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe standing out above the sunlit cloud.

The top half of Fanthems peak is quite unstable and its hard work climbing up through the scree but eventually I got to the top Fanthems peak and had a short break before heading across Rangitoto flat and getting my crampons on to head on up the southern snow slopes.

A panoramic view of the mountain and inland Taranaki from Fanthems peak.

The south side of Taranaki.

Snow river flowing out into the cloud.

Looking up at the summit from Rangitoto flat. Just enough snow to make it a snow climb from here to the summit.

It was a wonderful climb up the southern side wit the snow just nicely firm for cramponing, a light cool breeze and the whole southern side of the mountain to myself. Great views out to Ruapehu and out over Fanthems peak.

Fanthems peak from part way up the south side with Syme hut showing up clearly.

Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro standing out clearly above the low cloud from near the crater.

Looking down on Fanthems Peak from the top of the southern slope.

It took me a long time to get up to the crater as I wasn't quite fit enought and was carrying a bit more camera gear than was sensible. I took a brief break on the crater rim then headed off across the crater and onto the sumit.

View from the summit. Sharks tooth in the foreground and Ruapehu on the horizon.

Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro viewed above the crater rim taken from part way down the summit peak.

The last couple of times I've climbed from the south side, Fanthems peak has been wreathed in cloud but today it stayed clear so on my way down I took a detour on to the top of the peak up to Syme hut.