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12 Peaks, 12 Hours
A big day trip
Mixed
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March to the Ruapehu Hut
Setting off from Iwikau Village with packs loaded we tackled the not so insignificant hike to Ruapehu Hut.
We noticed footprints growing on the ridge. Turns out the hut was chocker, as was the toilet tank 🤮. Jono and I snagged the last bunk at this highest, darkest corner.
We ended up top and tailing over what was a restless night.
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Ruapehu Hut to Tahurangi
Leaving the hut at 4:23.
No moon, a dark gradual climb to the summit plateau.
06:06 Dome 2672M
Reaching the plateau we caught a stunning sunrise, reaching Dome as the first peak.
Crossing to Paretetaitonga brought with it a bitter wind. Some of the coldest temperatures we've encountered up there.
06:42 Paretetaitonga 2751M
Climbing Pare ridge was my first proper climbing trip after doing a snowcraft course. It was great to get back to the summit, Paretetaitonga, but this time it was only the beginning, not the end!
We dropped down and then started following the crater rim toward the true summit.
07:35 Te Ataahua 2757M
Along the way we summited Te Ataahua which made for some dramatic photos on the edge.
Looking down towards Turoa we saw iced up and cut up terrain from an avalanche that had come down. We moved through the glassy terrain quickly.
8:26 Tahurangi 2797M
Boom the summit, Tahurangi
Just like that we were four down, eight to go!
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Tahurangi to Ringatoto... via Girdlestone
With our next destination in sight we headed down to Girdlestone.
The slope was softening up quickly as it got the day's solar.
10:01 Girdlestone 2658M
The sketchiest summit of the day was definitely Girdlestone.
Photos go pretty quiet through here as we slogged across the Wahianoa Glacier to Ringatoto Peak. The brightness and heat was ruthless with deep wet snow and the ominous sounds of avalanches in the distance.
11:41 Ringatoto 2591M
After a pretty harrowing stomp we got to Ringatoto, allowing us to see right down the east side of the mountain to Tukino.
We took a moment to soak in the blue bird.
The trickiest bit was up next.
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Ringatoto to Ruapehu Hut via Te Huehue
From here we ascended to the crater rim and front pointed down. Crossing the crater lake outlet. Coming down the rim, in the full heat of the day was a bit unnerving in places. It was late in the season.
Crater Lake had gone nuts while we were on the other side.
13:26 L-Peak 2580M
Technically a peak, but really more of a bump, we didn't stick around on L-Peak.
Front pointing was pretty weird here, the steam from the lake was frozen on the outside and soft on the inside, that, coupled with the solar made for the last front pointing of the day.
13:59 Peretini (Pyramid) 2645M
This was really the end of the sketchy terrain, we'd beaten the solar and made it to the iconic Pyramid Peak.
We crossed to Cathedral Rocks feeling a bit blasted and scurried up for a quick summit.
14:54PM MATIHAO (CATHEDRAL ROCKS) 2663M
Pretty different from summit camping a couple of years before Cathedral Rocks was straightforward to get up.
15:28PM Glacier Knob 2642M
Crossing the plateau was a bit of a death march, with it slushy, each step was tough going. Glacier Knob is really just a little knob.
16:06PM Tukino 2721M
With high wind this one was a bit iffy to get up. Good to give Tukino Peak the tick!
Off we went to the final summit
16:20PM Te Heuheu 2732M
The final point of our journey was Te Heuheu closing us in at roughly 12 hours since we left the hut. From here we gallivanted down to the hut.
