Horse treks for Crater Lake-beauty with challenge young people

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 418, 24 December 1991, Page 8

Horse treks for Crater Lake-beauty with challenge

young people

Horse trekking in the Ruapehu area continues to be very popular, especially in summer. A local operator, Ruapehu Outback Adventures, is offering a full day programme for young people aged 8 years to 16 years which they describe as a 'a great way to introduce children to the joys of ridjng'. Overnight trekking is also offered in the warmer summer weather.

A new trek this summer is a three-hour ride taking in an eight kilometre loop through rivers and bush, forest and tussock countryside. Experienced guides take the responsibility of controlling the horses, which are well trained. Safety is very important with riders expected to wear helmets, VHS radios are carried and guides go with every trek.

A simmering acid lake surrounded by cliffs of ice and covered in thin wisps of steam is enough to interest most people but in this location it becomes irresistible. Situated at 2500m, high on the permanent snowfields of Mt Ruapehu, the battleship grey coloured Crater Lake when combined with the mountain's summit peak offers visitors an unforgettable view. The Crater Lake climb which is part of the Ohakune Ranger Station's Summer Nature Programme,

offers the chance for family groups to visit the top of the North Island with Park staff. Conservation Officer at Ohakune, Rob McCallum says "The Lake walk is popular for both visitors and staff. We have some great times on this trip and its easily our most memorable walk. The looks on people's faces as cross the Mangaturuturu Saddle make it really worthwhile", Park staff run 3 to 4 trips a year during the Summer Nature Programme which runs from

27 December through till mid-January. DoC provide a varied programme to cater for all ages/groups but the climb is one of the more challenging trips. Says Mc Callum "Its a challenge for most but is definitely acliievable. Most of our participants are family Kiwis on holiday. Sure you can't have very young children but almost everyone else is OK. We used to have an upper age limit but that went into the Lake - it was put there by an 87 year old who dragged our staff up there one year". Now we look at fitness - you've got to be able to plod slowly uphill for about 3-4 hours. Out of say, 50 people, at least 45 make it. One or two turn back straight away and two or three stay at High Level Shelter (lunchstop) whilst the rest of the party traverse the Mangaturuturu Glacier to the Lake and back. Advertising for the trip outlines the equipment required for the event. "People need to carry a certain amount of gear to meet our safety standards " says McCallum. Equipment required is listed as a waterproof coat and leggings, woolly hat, mittens/gloves and a spare

jersey. Sun protection includes sunglasses, sun hat and a sun lotion (factor 15 and above). People also require good footwear with leather boots given as a minimum - no gumboots allowed, lunch and a

drink are also required. Rob McCallum comments, "Yes it does seem like a lot of gear but any person with mountain experience will tell you these are minimums. You'd be Turnpage 19

Beauty and challenge

From page 8 mad to go up there v/ithout it. Our safety record bears up the gear list and so it is a case of - if you haven't got it, we won't take you! People have to remember that we are above the snowline for 10 hours and New Zealand mountain weather can do anything in that time. that is what we are equipping ours elves for, anything." The Crater climb starts at the Ohakune Ranger Station at 9am. After a pep talk and gear check, participants assemble at the Turoa skifield carpark. A gentle one hour traverse through ash and scoria beds and across gentle streams brings the group to Eagles Beak, a sheltered spot above the Mangaturuturu Valley. After a short break, a long steady climb of about 1 1/2 hours finds the group at the Mangaturuturu High Level shelter where a stop is made for lunch. Fantastic views of the western and southern

parts of the North Island and commonly the peaks of the South Island are visible. Participants who are tired can rest there whilst the rest of the group continues for another hour and a half up the Mangaturuturu Glacier before reaching the Mangaturuturu Saddle and seeing the Crater Lake. "We spend about an hour up there" says McCallum. I'm sure its not long enough for many but its getting cold after that time

and its a long way home". The highlight of the trip for many is the slide down the Mangaturuturu Glacier. "Its all over in about 10 minutes - a bit disappointin* when you consider hcw long it took on the way up, but its a l")t of fun". The group ti\en traverses directly aoioss to Turoa Skifields and then down back to the Top-of- theRoad carpark. One of the special things about this walk is ihe length of time we

spend with the people. We have a ratio of one guide to ten walkers for safety rcas^ns aini wncn you walk with a group like that for 10 hours you get to know each other pretty well. We have some pretty good discussions along the way - you meet some real characters. Its fascinating how many ages, groups, occupations can all be united so strongly with a common goal - to walk up to the lake and back" says McCallum.

Catch one!