Mt Matthews: Hail and a Trekking Pole

I had originally planned to tackle Mt Matthews in two days. The tallest peak in the Remutaka range, it stands nearly a kilometer above the cook straight that separates the two main islands of New Zealand. It would be a tough climb but very manageable, so I packed my bag and set out one evening. I rode two buses and after an hour found myself walking into the New Zealand bush for the first time. I didn’t get to the forest until about 9:30pm. So with my headlamp on, I found a camping spot and settled in for the night. The idea was to start early and summit the mountain the next afternoon. That did not happen.

I owe this tarp a lot, it hasn't failed me yet

It rained all night and got colder every minute. My gear kept me warm and dry, but I could feel the chill nip at my face and toes. There’s nothing between New Zealand and Antarctica, and the wind was now blowing from the south. I woke up in the morning to a persistent downfall of cold water sluicing off the canopy above. I was not eager to come out from under my shelter. I made breakfast and waited, hoping it would subside. It started to hail. Feeling as if nature was giving me a very clear message, I packed up my stuff and caught a bus back to town.

The trail looked straight out of a fairy-tale at times

Now feeling somewhat defeated, I planned to try again the following week. Unfortunately when my work schedule came out I didn’t have two days off in a row. Probably more determined than was reasonable, I decided to do it in one day. Around 30 kilometers of distance and over 2000 meters of elevation gain, It would be one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever attempted. In spite of this I packed my light bag, got a ride from my very kind flatmate, and started my hike at 6am on a beautiful morning.

Looking north out over the rest of the range

I brought with me something that I had never considered before: a trekking pole. A lightweight, collapsible pole for added balance and stability. Before this I had considered them unnecessary, no more than an expensive walking stick. The only reason I had one was that the previous occupant of my room left one behind. Wanting to try it out, I strapped it to my bag and pulled it out when the terrain got rough.

Crystal clear waters of the Orongorongo River

And once I brought it out, I never put it back. It made descending slippery terrain feel much more controlled, and took weight off my knees. It made a river crossing feel much more stable, allowing me to always have two points of contact with the riverbed. I was an instant convert. I’ll be taking a trekking pole with me now on any hikes with significant climbs, descents, or river crossings.

Trees frame beautiful views at many points in the hike

The hike was hard but beautiful. It took me just over 11 hours to finish but I saw beautiful forested mountains, rushing rivers, and interesting wildlife the whole time. Most unexpectedly I found a new piece of gear and was reminded not to "knock it till you try it". I also developed some ideas for future blog posts, and a bit of a side project that I’ll finish soon. But for now, I think the photos speak for themselves.

The view from the top of Mt Matthews, overlooking the Cook Straight