Had fantastic weather for a climb of Mt Ruapehu with Brian and Michelle. We took the chairlift up and then followed the Knoll Ridge T-bar up and then followed the valley up from there. This is described in my DoC pamphlet as “the most common summer route”, but if I did it again I’d take the other route up along Restful Ridge. The Knoll Ridge way was OK, but I did lead Michelle up onto a steep slope of very loose rock which was a bit tricky. We came back via Restful Ridge and found it much simpler.

Had good views of the Ngauruhoe, and the Desert Road from the Dome, but the view towards Mt Taranaki was blocked by the higher point of of Tahurangi. The Dome Shelter has been repaired since the September 2007 eruption.

When we stopped for lunch I discovered my bag of chips had expanded like a balloon with the lower air pressure. Made our way down in time to catch the chairlift back to the carpark.

We canceled our climb of Ruapehu this weekend. The weather was not good. Snow, rain, gales and a freezing level about 2500 metres. Hopefully it will be OK for my Rees-Dart tramp in the South Island next week.

I’ve been looking at these purtty track books, my sister left at my flat, which are inspiring.

I now have a new long term goal: to tramp the Dusky. I’ve thought about this before, but was disinclined by the stories of the clouds of sandflies, mud, and rain, plus having planes flying across the track everyday will destroy the feeling of remoteness. But having looked at the pictures I’m hooked again.

It’s a hard 8 day track (though I heard some whole families do it) which I’ll have to work up to, but maybe next year. I’d also like to return to Stewart Island and include the side trip up Mt Anglem/Hananui this time. The most difficult thing with these plans is finding someone to look after my cat.