📌Mt Tahurangi - Camp at Crater lake (3 nights)

This trip spans three nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) at Mt Ruapehu. We will ascend to the summit Plateau of Mt Ruapehu, visit the crater lake, and reach the highest peak in the North Island, Mt Tahurangi (2797m). Our accommodations will include Delta Ridge Hut, along with two nights of camping near the alpine crater lake at approximately 2600m.

Participants are required to have crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, appropriate boots, and a tent. In addition to our ascent from the crater lake to Summit Col and Mt Tahurangi, we will also focus on practicing rope skills. In early 2027, some members of Hiking Aotearoa will take part in a three-day event at the Upper Tasman Glacier, and these individuals will receive priority for this trip. Therefore, you will also need a harness, a prussik loop, and an HMS carabiner. If you lack this equipment, you can rent crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, a climbing harness, a belay device, etc., from me. If your experience in alpine environments is limited, you are still welcome to join and learn fundamental mountaineering skills during this trip.

A general level of good fitness and the correct gear are essential. Regular participants and those who have completed more than three hikes with 'Hiking Aotearoa' will be given priority for this trip. If you tend to be impatient and prefer to run ahead of the group, please refrain from RSVPing, as it is crucial to remain together.

🚩 Summary of details:
📌 Duration: Whole trip is 4 days and 3 nights
📌 Thursday : Take Gondola to Knoll ridge, then walk 15 minutes to hut
📌 Friday: From the hut climb up to the crater lake
📌 Saturday : From the camp site climb up to Tahurangi
📌 Sunday : 2.5 hour descent (about 4km)
📌 Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 4.0 - 5.0 (overall)
📌 Max attendees: 10 people
📌 Map of route: https://tinyurl.com/5brn874y
📌 Map of route on Saturday: https://tinyurl.com/msmmb3ce
📌 Payment due 1st August

📌Thursday :
After arriving at 'Top of the Bruce' car park we take the Gondola to Knoll Ridge terminal. From there, it is a 15 minute walk to NZAC Delta ridge hut. Conditions could be icy, so you may need your crampons to go the short distance.

📌Friday :
We leave Delta Ridge hut early, and climb up the Whakapapa glacier, and head towards the crater lake. Somewhere near the crater lake we will set up camp.

📌Saturday:
From our camp we will climb up to the summit Col, and Tahurangi summit, as a side trip. From crater lake up to the summit col, we will most likely use 2 x 60 metre long fixed ropes, in 2 pitches, anchored with 4-6 snow stakes. This will be the steepest section of the climb, but not extreme. Everyone will have an Ascender in their right hand, and an ice axe in the left hand. It will also likely require front pointing with crampons. This option will be the quickest, and most effective way to the Col, rather than belaying. We can use the same rope already in place to abseil down, with your belay device and prussik loop.
When at the Summit Col, we traverse across to Skyline ridge, and to the summit (2797m). Descending we return the same way, back to where our gear was left, and set up camp for the night.

📌Sunday:
We pack up and return more or less in a straight line back to Delta Ridge hut (for any gear that we may have left in storage) and then back to the Gondola. 4.0km – 2 hr 15 min.

🚩 These are the 2 important stopping points to note.:

👉 1) Jasmine Thai cafe, 43 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui
(Where we have Thursday & Sunday lunch)
https://tinyurl.com/yyf2j37u

👉 2) Car Park, 'Top of the Bruce' Whakapapa
(Where we park our cars)
https://tinyurl.com/u5m9bxta

📌 Other information:
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9

🚩Time line (Guide only)

📌Thursday :
08:30 Suggested time to leave Auckland*
12:15 Arrive at Jasmine Thai cafe in Tauramanui & have lunch
13:00 Continue on to Whakapapa
14:00 Arrive at Top of the Bruce Car park
14:30 Take Gondola to Knoll Ridge terminal
15:00 Arrive at Delta Ridge Hut
17:44 Sunset
* Drivers will need to determine what time to leave Auckland so that they arrive in Tauramanui at
12:15, by using Google maps and allowing for passenger picks ups, stops etc.

📌 Friday :
06:30 Leave Delta Ridge hut
06:37 Sunrise
09:30 Arrive at Crater lake outlet
09:45 Pitch tents and set up camp
10:30 Visit crater lake
12:30 Back at camp
13:30 Practice climbing with rope
14:00 Back at camp
17:58 Sunset

📌 Saturday:
06:37 Sunrise
08:00 Start climb up to Summit col
10:30 Approx arrive at Summit
11:00 Rope skills practice
15:00 Approx back at camp
17:57 Sunset

📌 Sunday:
06:57 Sunrise
08:30 Pack up camp site
10:45 Arrive back at Delta Ridge hut
11:10 Take Gondola back to Car park
11:30 Back at car park
12:30 Arrive at Jasmine Thai cafe in Tauramanui & have lunch
13:30 Leave back to Auckland
17:15 Arrive back in Auckland

🚩Costs:
$40 for one night at hut (NZAC members $20)
$100 if a car passenger (based on 15 cents/km)*
$49 Gondola ride
$189 Total
*Drivers please do not take more than 2 passengers, as it makes it unfair on other drivers.

🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/3eaexp5e

🚩 Climbing gear rental: https://tinyurl.com/4xn4e66k

🚩 100 Tips for Alpine camps/climbs: https://tinyurl.com/yjdh7zhj

🚩 Accommodation: https://tinyurl.com/4mcmkux

🚩 To do list summary: https://tinyurl.com/2uphh2ey

🚩 Payment: You will need make payment by 1st August. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank Hiking Aotearoa A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write "Tahurangi" and your reference name that is the same as your Meetup name, so I can identify you.

❌❗ A postponement will happen, if the weather is poor, high avalanche risk, or volcanic activity, and a new date will be set to TBA . Be prepared for a possible change of date.

🚩 RSVP questions: https://tinyurl.com/4arsjw42