A Wonderful Morning On Taranaki

I've been itching to climb Taranaki again for a while but the weather has not been suitable when I've had the time. However this weekend the stars finally aligned delivering perfect conditions for a great snow climb. A recent snow fall and then a fine clear morning with virtually no wind or at least not until I got to the summit. 

I set out just after 4:00am by torchlight with the milky way standing out boldly stretched across the night sky. It was a beautiful morning with the dawn glow growing slowly in the east before the sun finaly rose as I was climbing up the staircase on the old summit route lighting up the snow clad peak of Taranaki above me.

The snow conditions were perfect as I headed up snow valley with fantastic views across to Ruapehu in the center of the island.

There was enough snow to traverse across into crater valley without taking off my crampons and head on up to the summit, though crater valley was much icier and harder going.

Then finally, I was in the crater with just the last steep pitch up onto the summit mostly through soft deep new snow though it turned hard and crunchy towards the top of the summit peak. With the combination of new snow and the prevailing southerly wind, all the rocks on the summit were covered with sastrugi ice.

A rock covered in sastrugi ice on the summit.

Three of the seven sisters - a rocky ridge on the southern end of the summit.

Summit rock covered in snow with the seven sisters ridge in the background.

A panoramic view form the summit, with the rocky peak of sharkstooth and Ruapehu on the horizon.

Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe looking across the saddle of the crater rim from the summit.

Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe from Hongis valley.