Summit Climb
Summit Climb   Going Up   From Plateau to Tahurangi Lodge                                    1 hour 30 mins Tahurangi to top of steps                                                40 mins from scoria to rocks                                                         1 hour 20 mins from rocks to crater edge                                                1 hour crater edge to summit                                                      30 mins  Total time Up                                                                5 hours                                                             Return Home   Crater to scoria                                                               1 hour scoria to top of steps                                                       30 mins steps to Tahurangi Lodge                                                20 mins   Tahurangi Lodge to Plateau                                             1 hour 10 mins      Total time Down                                                          3 hours      Total time for trip Up and Back                                8 hours  These times are average and it will vary up or down with each individual  according to theire fitness and endurance.   Mountain Guides: Ian McAlpine                    0...                                          02...                                         alpineguidesmac@xtra.co.nz Top Guides - Ross Eden  0800 448 433                                          www.topguides.co.nz Don Paterson                    0... John Jordan                       0...      You will enjoy your climb to the summit of our unique mountain, but please take great care. Ensure weather conditions are stable, as weather can change rapidly especially the higher up the mountain you are. The best way to climb to the summit is from the Plateau which is the highest road end in the National Park over the Round the Mountain track to Tahurangi Lodge and up on the north side of the mountain. This is only recommendet for the summer (mid December to mid April). Use an experienced guide for the winter, but also use a guide for a more enhanced experience at any time. North Route: Drive to the Plateau (end of road) go through the gate at the top of the carpark and walk up the access road to the ski field.The round the Mountain track leaves on the mountain side of the ski patrol building (first tower of T-bar) heading north to Tahurangi Lodge. Above the Tahurangi Lodge proceed up the steps and you're on the way to the summit. The walk from the skifield to Tahurangi is mainly through tussick country with spectacular views. The rest is in three sections. From Tahurangi the first section is the "steps" - more than a thousand of them!! Next comes the "scoria" section and finally the "rock" section which leads to the crater entrance and then on to the summit.   Have an enjoyable climb, don't take risks, watch for weather change and a safe trip home. It will be a hard but unforgetable day!
At Drinking Rock in the scoria	Going up the over 1000 steps	In the Crater