Mountain Guiding

Mount Taranaki/Egmont - Winter

The effect of winter on Mount Taranaki is stunning. The stand-alone mountain, which rises from the sea to an altitude of 2,518m (8261ft), gets the full blast of the moist airflows off the Tasman Sea. The result is an extravagant covering of ice and snow and scenery that is truly breathtaking..

Quality guided trips take you safely through this landscape to the summit or however far the mountain will let us go. No experience is required, however you will need the right gear and a moderate level of fitness. Ropes, crampons, helmet and ice axe are standard necessities and can be provided. The round trip may take from 8 to 10 hours.

For the extreme adventurer, there is plenty of steep snow and ice that will
require more technical expertise and guidance.

Numbers in the winter are normally restricted to no more than two clients per guide.

Mount Taranaki/Egmont - Summer

In the summer, the mountain is mostly free of snow. This is your opportunity to make the best of the summer weather and enjoy the fantastic sights from the top with views of Ruapehu and even the Kaikoura Range in the South Island. (Did you know that Taranaki had the highest sunshine hours in the country over the 2001/2 summer?)

The expedition will take the average person about 5 hours to summit and another 3 to descend for the 1500m climb. We normally punctuate the trip, however, with a stop at the Taranaki Alpine Club Lodge for a top-up of water/coffee and chocolate biscuits.

The guide to client ratio in summer is up to 1:6

Routes depend entirely on the experience of the client and the weather. Most people without alpine experience can achieve the easiest route, while for those with desire to go harder, the mountain has plenty of steep, technical, rocky routes.
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Minimum Equipment List for the Summer 

 

Weather on Taranaki is very changeable and 4 seasons can be experienced on one day.  Below is a minimal list of equipment which will enhance your experience with Adventure Dynamics.  Not everything may be required on the day, but this can be discussed at the beginning of the adventure.

 

Warm clothes – (for cold weather): consider thermal underwear and fleece – temperature is usually much colder at 2500m or can change from hot to cold in a few minutes
Cool clothes – (for hot weather): T-shirt may be worn but gets cold if sweating.  A shirt with collar and long sleeves protects neck and arms from the sun
Waterproof jacket with hood – weather changes very fast. You may need wind or rain protection	*
Warm hat – wool/fleece beanie or balaclava	*
Gloves – also needed to protect hands when descending loose scree	*
Sun hat – protect the nose and neck
Sun screen – UV at the top of the mountain is about 50% more than at sea level, even on a cloudy day
Sun glasses	*
Light boots or hiking shoes – terrain very uneven and loose.  There could be some snow at this time of year.
Long trousers and possibly shorts – shorts are good but you might want long protection from the sun, or extra warmth
Walking pole – telescopic poles, 2 better than 1.  Helps the balance and the knees (optional but strongly recommended)	*
Drink – there is no water for at least 5 hours of walking. Carry 1.5 litres minimum (that’s 2 normal water bottles)
Food – lots of light snacks better than a big lunch
Small pack to carry extras – 20 to 30  litre size	*

*              Items can be hired for a small fee.

Rock Adventures 

Mount Taranaki boasts some of the best rock climbing in the North Island. It just happens to all be above 1600m. This makes it a real alpine adventure where access and the weather differentiate it from most other crags. The mountain has larva flows terminating in steep cliffs, and weird structures that have been given the name of 'Castles'. Getting to the summit can be achieved by climbing through steep crags, or we can take you to a selection of cliffs just for the climbing and abseiling. click here to make an enquiry

Ski Guiding

Ever had the thought that there are just too many skiers and boarders using the same facilities?

This is your chance to experience real alpine boarding or skiing under the supervision of a guide who knows the mountain and the conditions. The mountain is so accessible and yet there are no queues, no crowds, no little kids skiing through your legs, no groomed trails or moguls. On Taranaki you may not see anyone else all day. The snow is yours to make the first tracks.

You need to be an intermediate to advanced skier with the fitness to get you up there. The choice of runs is endless, from easy intermediate bowls to extreme and steep.

The best time of year to ski is spring to early summer when the sun has softened up the top layer, however, perfect conditions could possibly exist at any time during the winter.

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Mt. Ruapehu

photo: Chris Prudden

Adventure Dynamics, although based in Taranaki, has a concession to operate in the Tongariro National Park.

Don lived at the base of Mt Ruapehu for six years, working general outdoor education courses, mountaineering instruction and mountain leadership training. He knows the mountain well.

Mt. Ruapehu (2797m, 9175 feet) is the highest mountain in the North Island and has a number of permanent glaciers on three sides of the mountain. This creates perfect ski/board touring opportunities. While the snow on Taranaki can be solid ice, only 80km away you can be carving turns on untracked snow. Day trips are possible but ski lodges and alpine huts make multi-day trips comfortable.

The slopes on the mountain range from an easy angle for the first mountain experience to vertical waterfall ice. The Girdlestone and Pinnacle Ridge traverses are classics.

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