Open Climb Information
Have you ever wanted to climb a real mountain?
Mt Egmont/Taranaki, at 2518 metres high, is the second highest mountain in the North Island, with million-dollar views from the summit of all Taranaki and far beyond.
An annual guided climb with the Mt Egmont Alpine Club will get you up-close-and-personal with this unique mountain, surely the most attractive of the North Island volcanoes.
OPEN CLIMB REGISTRATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
DETAILS OF THE CLIMB:
The total vertical climb is around 1400 metres.
At the Plateau carpark participants will be briefed about weather conditions expected on the climb and asked to group themselves into four groups from Fast to Slow. Each group will be guided by a leader and several club members around the "round the mountain" track to Tahurangi, a steady but gentle gradient uphill. Here there will be an opportunity for participants to change groups if the pace so far has not been comfortable. From Tahurangi, groups will begin their ascent of the Northern Summit Route.
The first third of the climb is a series of wooden steps. The second third is up tracked scoria slopes. The last third is up a rocky ridge known as the "Lizard" to the crater Summer Entrance, a ledge leading into the crater area. The final short climb to the summit is on loose scoria with boulders, or may be partly snow covered.
Participants are advised that a summit climb is a strenuous undertaking. Very active sports people should not be too challenged but less active people should undertake some serious training for several weeks before the climb. Walking up steep hills is ideal, but any similar exercise will help. Scoria is not easy to walk on, as it slides under the feet, and going downhill can be just as challenging as going uphill for some people. The "Lizard" rocks are firmer underfoot but gradually become steeper. Once again, going downhill can also be difficult for some.
Some snow is usually present in the crater.
Time up to the summit will be 4 hours or just over for the "fast" group and up to 6 hours for the slowest people. The total time for the round trip will be between 7 and 11 hours.
If, during the climb it becomes unlikely that a person will not reach the summit within this time limit, the person will be asked to descend, and will be guided down the mountain. Participants need to be aware that the descent can be just as hard as the ascent, when the body is tired, so for safety reasons we attempt to limit the duration of the return trip.
Mount Egmont/Taranaki experiences dramatic and at times unpredictable weather changes. Participants must take responsibility for carrying clothing, food and drink as specified below and must follow advice and instructions given by Mt Egmont Alpine Club members.
EQUIPMENT: Each participant MUST carry
DONATION GUIDELINES:
$40 Donation to Mt Egmont Alpine Club, to be paid on the day of the climb. The club will supply a certificate and bulletin on completion of the climb.
ON THE DAY, REMEMBER:
Register and pay at the registration desk on arrival at the carpark.
Show the registration number on your hand to the Crater Marshals both on arrival and as you leave the crater.
Check Out on return to the carpark, at the registration desk and collect your ascent certificate.
CANCELLATION:
A recorded message will be available from the night before the climb. If the climb is not made on this day it will be cancelled.
REGISTRATION:
Numbers are limited to the first 80 people.
Registration forms will be available from: Hawera, New Plymouth, and Stratford Information Centres and Dawson Falls and North Egmont Visitor Centres.
Registration forms must be returned by the advertised deadline to:
Have you ever wanted to climb a real mountain?
Mt Egmont/Taranaki, at 2518 metres high, is the second highest mountain in the North Island, with million-dollar views from the summit of all Taranaki and far beyond.
An annual guided climb with the Mt Egmont Alpine Club will get you up-close-and-personal with this unique mountain, surely the most attractive of the North Island volcanoes.
DETAILS OF THE CLIMB:
The total vertical climb is around 1400 metres.
At the Plateau carpark participants will be briefed about weather conditions expected on the climb and asked to group themselves into four groups from Fast to Slow. Each group will be guided by a leader and several club members around the "round the mountain" track to Tahurangi, a steady but gentle gradient uphill. Here there will be an opportunity for participants to change groups if the pace so far has not been comfortable. From Tahurangi, groups will begin their ascent of the Northern Summit Route.
The first third of the climb is a series of wooden steps. The second third is up tracked scoria slopes. The last third is up a rocky ridge known as the "Lizard" to the crater Summer Entrance, a ledge leading into the crater area. The final short climb to the summit is on loose scoria with boulders, or may be partly snow covered.
Participants are advised that a summit climb is a strenuous undertaking. Very active sports people should not be too challenged but less active people should undertake some serious training for several weeks before the climb. Walking up steep hills is ideal, but any similar exercise will help. Scoria is not easy to walk on, as it slides under the feet, and going downhill can be just as challenging as going uphill for some people. The "Lizard" rocks are firmer underfoot but gradually become steeper. Once again, going downhill can also be difficult for some.
Some snow is usually present in the crater.
Time up to the summit will be 4 hours or just over for the "fast" group and up to 6 hours for the slowest people. The total time for the round trip will be between 7 and 11 hours.
If, during the climb it becomes unlikely that a person will not reach the summit within this time limit, the person will be asked to descend, and will be guided down the mountain. Participants need to be aware that the descent can be just as hard as the ascent, when the body is tired, so for safety reasons we attempt to limit the duration of the return trip.
Mount Egmont/Taranaki experiences dramatic and at times unpredictable weather changes. Participants must take responsibility for carrying clothing, food and drink as specified below and must follow advice and instructions given by Mt Egmont Alpine Club members.
EQUIPMENT: Each participant MUST carry
- Trekking or tramping boots (Boots should fit properly to prevent blistering. Low cut footwear eg sandshoes is unsuitable)
- Day pack
- Rain coat
- Jersey or jacket of insulating material (wool or polar fleece)
- Spare woollen or polypropylene shirt
- Longjohns or fleece track pants
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gloves, Woolly hat
- Sunhat, Sun block
- Food for the day
- Water 1.5 litres minimum (rich or very sweet drinks are not recommended)
- Personal First Aid Kit (Minimum of a few sticking plasters)
- Gaiters and walking poles are desirable but not essential
- Ideally, wear a layer of polypropylene (or similar) next to the skin, with shorts and shirt.
DONATION GUIDELINES:
$40 Donation to Mt Egmont Alpine Club, to be paid on the day of the climb. The club will supply a certificate and bulletin on completion of the climb.
ON THE DAY, REMEMBER:
Register and pay at the registration desk on arrival at the carpark.
Show the registration number on your hand to the Crater Marshals both on arrival and as you leave the crater.
Check Out on return to the carpark, at the registration desk and collect your ascent certificate.
CANCELLATION:
A recorded message will be available from the night before the climb. If the climb is not made on this day it will be cancelled.
REGISTRATION:
Numbers are limited to the first 80 people.
Registration forms will be available from: Hawera, New Plymouth, and Stratford Information Centres and Dawson Falls and North Egmont Visitor Centres.
Registration forms must be returned by the advertised deadline to:
Information Centre,
55 High Street
HAWERA
Disclaimer:
MOUNT EGMONT ALPINE CLUB REMINDS YOU THAT MOUNTAINEERING CAN BE HAZARDOUS. INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK AND NEITHER THE MOUNT EGMONT ALPINE CLUB NOR ITS MEMBERS ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT ON THIS CLIMB. THE CLUB WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT RISKS ARE MINIMISED.
MOUNT EGMONT ALPINE CLUB REMINDS YOU THAT MOUNTAINEERING CAN BE HAZARDOUS. INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK AND NEITHER THE MOUNT EGMONT ALPINE CLUB NOR ITS MEMBERS ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT ON THIS CLIMB. THE CLUB WILL ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT RISKS ARE MINIMISED.