MT TARANAKI - WAITANGI WEEKEND

WELCOME EVERYONE
Join us for another weekend up Mt Taranaki. Park at the North Egmont Visitor Centre, then walk 90 minutes to Maketawa Hut. We'll stay two nights there. Summit on Saturday, or Sunday, or both. Regular hikers only.

FRIDAY 6TH FEBRUARY
9:00am Begin 5 hours drive to Mt Egmont Visitor Centre, 2679 Egmont Road.
2:00pm Arrive at Mt Egmont Visitor Centre.
2:30pm Begin 90 minute walk to Maketawa Hut.
A nice early arrival so we can relax a lot and get a good sleep.

SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
Get ready quietly.
5:15am be outside Maketawa Hut, headlights on, laces done up, ready to go, begin walking.
6:41am Sunrise.
11:00am reach summit, enjoy lunch, then start going down the mountain.
Return to Maketawa Hut to sleep.
8:34pm Sunset.

SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY
Three options:
Option 1: Summit again, then return to Mt Egmont Visitor Centre.
Option 2: Walk a loop: Up to Tahurangi Lodge, Humphries Castle Link Route, down Holly Hut Track, returning to Mt Egmont Visitor Centre.
Option 3: Walk the Maketawa Track for 90 minutes back to Mt Egmont Visitor Centre.
Drive 5 hours back to Auckland.

MAKETAWA HUT
Two options for paying:

Option 1:
Before you go,
buy 2 serviced (green) DOC hut tickets for $25 each,
from Bivouac, Kathmandu, Living Simply, Macpac or a DOC visitor centre. Deposit the hut ticket in the honesty box inside Maketawa Hut.

Option 2:
Buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for $160 (allows 12 months of unlimited use at backcountry huts).

Hut Facilities:
No electricity.
Not bookable.
Non-flush toilet.
No rubbish bins.
Far from carpark.
Has 16 mattresses.
Water from rain water tank.
Has mobile phone reception.
The mattresses are "first come first served" which means you can claim a mattress if another hasn't.
You may like to bring an air sleeping mat, in case others have claimed the mattresses.

More Information about Maketawa Hut:
doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/taranaki/places/te-papa-kura-o-taranaki/things-to-do/huts/maketawa-hut

Hut Etiquette:
Respect sleepers.
Tidy before you leave.
Take your rubbish with you.

GEAR - GENERAL
Backpack which can easily hold everything.
Pack liner or rubbish sack (to waterproof gear).
Emergency shelter.
Food.
Water (some suggest 3 litres, I take less).
Headlight.

GEAR - CLOTHING
Hiking shoes.
Thermal socks (e.g. wool).
Warm-when-wet breathable layers (e.g. merino long johns, merino shirt, merino jumper, puffy synthetic-filled jacket).
Rain jacket.
No cotton.
No jeans.
Warm gloves (it's very cold up there).

GEAR - PROTECTION
Sunscreen.
Lip balm.
Sunglasses.

GEAR - FOR ACCOMMODATION
Sleeping bag.
Ear plugs (for snorers).
Rubbish bag.

GEAR - RECOMMENDED
Buff.
Long johns.
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Helmet (mountaineering helmet, or bike helmet).

GEAR - OPTIONAL
Gaiters (prevents stones entering shoes on the scree section).
Rain pants.
Hiking poles (helps on the scree section).

DRIVING THERE
You're welcome to ask for a lift or offer a lift in the comments section.
If 1 passenger, suggest give $75 to driver.
2 passengers $65 each.
3 passengers $55 each.

BY ATTENDING YOU AGREE
Your safety is your responsibility.
Attendees must RSVP to event.
The slowest sets the pace.
Tell someone your plans.
We help each other.
We stick together.
No loudspeakers.
Led by organiser.
No smoking.
No littering.
No guests.

TO ATTEND
Click on "Join waitlist with a low priority".
There is no need to pay for Meetup+
Organiser will contact you by Whatsapp.
You'll need to read all of the description,
watch the Mountain Safety Council video at youtube.com/watch?v=UVqQE9p0i5E
and send $5 to organiser for meetup fees and organising and group safety gear.