Trip Reports

Pinnacles   —   17 March 1998

Written by Robyn

Christine phoned me the night before to verify the early start that she didn’t remember on my last trip ( the Hunua’s ), so I knew she would be coming, at least. And I’d talked Denise into the challenge despite her oncoming cold. So that would be another one. Who else would show to take up the challenge and show up at such a zzzzsh hour I wondered.

By 7.35 am, no male representatives of the club had turned up and we sat there pondering on this for a few seconds before we sussed it out - lots of footy on telly that weekend and they were just plum tuckered out!

Ah well, no time to waste, “Let’s get on with it!” came the cry. So, in the weekend the Gal Blacks hammered in the US, it was left to seven women to top off a magnificent weekend of sporting challenges. With no mucking about, the Magnificent Seven roared off in two mountain mobiles, heading into the fiery sun rising from the East in search of mountains to conquer and rivers to traverse followed by a well earned cappuchino at the end ( oops sorry beer that is, well earned too of course ).

We needed mountain mobiles for the last 5 or 6 kms - it was a pretty rutted gravel road over three concrete fords before we reached the carpark.

We started walking at about 10am, and immediately negotiated a treacherous stream via a fragile swingbridge suspended over the raging torrents. We had the regulation morning tea stop beside another raging stream about thirty minutes into the walk. The walk up to the hut was relatively easy, albeit initially steep. The steps cut out for the packhorses in the logging era made for a great yellow brick road effect. If only we had four feet.

We reached the Hydro Camp intersection and then got to the hut ( if such a palatial building can be called that ) about noon for lunch. After a quick bite, we braced ourselves for the difficult ascent of the pinnacle itself that lay ahead and taunted us from on high.

The track from the hut up to the pinnacles itself was much more challenging, but an unflinching performance, as we laid or bodies on the line, saw us reach the pinnacle in record time! The view was grand. Sublime rock descents handled with precision and determination saw us descend back down to the hut again. Christine epitomised the all - round skill of the team with her determination and superior organisation on boulder and rock hopping.

We set off down the yellow brick road back to the Hydro Camp intersection, where we had the option of getting back to the cars via a different, albeit longer route. We took the alternative Billy Goat route after fluctuating discussions along the following scenarios - you choose.

Version 1. With absolutely no hesitation whatsoever, we lept to our feet, eager and determined to conquer the rugged Billy Goat Track even though it meant an extra hour’s walk. We were tough.

Version 2. I brought out my secret weapon - Chuppa Chups! Whilst everyone sucked away contentedly at their lollypop, I spoke calmly and gently about an alternative route back that had many scenic attractions and that took only slightly longer. They bought it!

We stopped to admire an engineering feat of the logging era now called the Long Trestle. It was the remains of a tramline built across a gorge/ ravine to transport logs out of the forest. The tramlines were dismantled long ago, but the kauri logs used as the trestle for the tramline were left behind. Viewed from the top of the gorge / ravine, the sight of a long line of kauri trestles was impressive.

There followed a couple of waterfalls to admire and then at last the all- conquering women coasted to glory with one final river crossing which saw us out of the bush, safe and triumphant. Bloody awesome.

Warning: This trip report was written with the help of extracts from various sports pages. Any hyperboles not used were put into my CV. Offer me a job at your own risk!