Mount Taranaki
- Mike Morelli
- May 31, 2015
- 3 min read
Date: Winter 2015
Location: Egmont National Park, Taranaki, New Zealand
Total Trip Distance: 7.2 mi / 11.6 km
Total Elevation Gain: 5,390 ft / 1,643 m
Trip Duration: 2 days
Team: Sam Gallup, Alex Catalfamo
Field Notes: Taranaki has to be one of the most beautiful mountains in New Zealand and it is even better when covered in snow. Although the climb can be easily completed in a day, Syme Hut is legendary, and an overnight stay should be considered. From Syme Hut, climb the straightforward South Face to the summit. This is a genuine climb in winter.
Grade: I, 1
Alex, Sam, and I were on the road trip of our dreams. We were twenty-two years old, single, and pumped to the brim with testosterone and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The road trip started in the Autumn of 2015. We had just spent five months working in New Zealand on working holiday visas. We were following the classic backpacker route: live in Queenstown for summer, party, buy a van, quit our jobs, and go on a road trip.
We wound up buying a 1988 Toyota Hiace. Realistically, it could only sleep two people on the mattress. We slept three — head-to-toe style.
We started in the South Island, cruised up to the North Island, swung around to the West Coast, and laid eyes on Taranaki. It was already covered in a fresh coat of snow and is one of the most beautiful peaks in New Zealand.
We had to climb it.
As we hiked up to Syme Hut, I remember trudging uphill in shorts in a complete whiteout — ice everywhere, wind howling. I can understand why so many inexperienced people get in trouble here.
We arrived at the hut, which was frozen and unoccupied. It was a memorable night. We were in this tiny metal bunker, wind screaming outside, and we were three idiots having the time of our lives.
The next morning, the sky was bluebird. We were above the clouds. We felt like real mountaineers.
We started at sunrise and cramponed up the south face. It was Alex’s first time wearing crampons, and he moved up the mountain like someone who had never worn crampons before.
I still vividly remember topping out. Not a breath of wind. Completely above a sea of clouds. All alone. Three great friends on the adventure of a lifetime. It was especially meaningful because it was Alex’s first big, snow-capped summit.
Walking off the summit, I dropped my GoPro and watched it tumble down the mountain.
Sam reminded me what an idiot I was. This wasn’t the first time I had dropped the GoPro. But somehow, every time, I found it.
At the bottom of the crater — I found it. I remember yelling like a lunatic. Alex laughed his ass off while Sam gave me the look of a disappointed father. He knew I hadn’t learned a single lesson.
It’s funny reflecting on this trip twelve years later. It’s still one of those perfect life memories. So much has changed since then — and so many things haven’t.
One thing is for sure: the mountains still hold just as much allure for me as ever.
Happy days...
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