The Day I Climbed A Mountain

So after my VIP trip to Taupo I settled into the YHA for the next three days. I quite like the YHA in Taupo and one of the best features is the lack of bunk beds. I absolutely love that there are no bunk beds, it means no puke showers, no one on top rolling around shaking the bed, it is just so nice. They also have a great kitchen, a wonderful atmosphere and cheapest in Taupo. I would recommend that particular YHA to anyone travelling to Taupo.

My first afternoon I didn't do much but went to the i-site and got a map because I was planning on doing two walks in my days there. I was also looking forward to catching up with my first bus driver, Kate, who would be passing through the next day. I watched some TV on my computer and called it an early night. The next day my plan was to do the Mt. Tuahara walk. This walk isn't very touristy and they don't promote it like they do for a lot of the other ones. I knew about it because the boat skipper, Dave, had said that there was a good walk up to the top the last time I was here. On the map I got there was a marker saying the start of the walk. It didn't look too awful far on the map so I figured I could just walk up there and then start the walk. Even if it took me an hour to walk to the trail head, it says that the trail itself is 2.5 hours return, so that would make it a pretty good days walking. So I got up in the morning, packed up a lunch and started off on my walk to the trail head. I walked through the suburbs of Taupo and up to the highway roundabout. I stopped briefly to talk to Mom, Dad and the boys on the phone. Jackson asked what I was doing and I told him I was going to climb a mountain. He said, “ That's dangerous.” I assured him I was going to be safe and that it would be fine. Then he asked, “Then are you going to jump off it?” The poor kid. He had just watched the video of the end of the bungy and now he thinks I jump off of everything. So I had told Mom that I was almost to the road that leads to the trail head. After I let them go I crossed the highway and started walking up to where the map said the road was to. So I walked and I walked. I came to a dirt road and it had a mail box at the end so I assumed it was just a driveway to the house that was up there, and I kept going. I walked up highway 5 a fair amount and didn't see any road what so ever. All I could see was farmland and pastures. So I turned around. I turned around and walked back to the dirt road. I walked up a little but it really did just look like the driveway to the house so I left. I walked back towards Taupo and stopped into a truck stop to ask for directions. The girl there didn't have any better clue then I did. I really hate when you ask someone for directions and they say things like, “Well if you continue up this road it should be right there on the left.” I also can read a map, thanks for nothing asshole!

I decided to give it one more go and this time go up the dirt road and worse comes to worse it would be their drive way and I would give up on wanting to do the Tauhara that day. By this time I had been walking around for about an hour looking for this damn road. I walked up to the dirt road and started to walk up. I walked up and sure enough it was the driveway to that house. Those of you that know me know that obviously I wouldn't be writing a blog entry if I had of said, oh never mind, and turned around and went back home. Oh no, you know better. You also know that my luck is good, but twisted a bit so something funny, strange, scarey, etc followed me reaching the top of the driveway. Sure enough I got to the top and there was a Maori fella and white fella sitting at a table in yard, 2 kids running around and a woman sitting half inside the house and half outside. The fellas looked at me, I mean why wouldn't you look at me I am walking up to YOUR house. I took out my map and asked if they could help me to find this road. The Maori guy, Darryl, said that the road was a ways up the highway. He asked if I was walking and I said yes, he said it was quite far and he would give me lift. Sweet! Then he asked where in Canada I was from. He said that he lived in Calgary and used to compete in the Calgary Stampede. The first Maori cowboy I have ever met! Then he pointed at his friend and said that he won the stampede once. To which I replied, “No you didn't!” He said he had, in 1985............So yea, maybe? Darryl asked if I wanted a drink or anything, and I said thanks but no thanks. The stampede winner and the kids were shocked that I was gearing up to hike to the top of Mt. Tuahara, so obviously they hadn't done the walk themselves before.

So I hopped into Darryl’s truck and away we went up highway 5 towards where the road was. It was obvious the map was certainly NOT to scale because it was a fair chunk up the road. Thank goodness for the Maori cowboy. He gave me his phone number and said to txt him when I got back down to the bottom and he would come get me and give me a lift back into town. Then we pulled up to the end of the road where the trail head was supposed to be and all I could see was some old jalopy fences, some cow pastures and a dumpy old farm house. No sign or anything indicating that it was the start of the trail. I looked at Darryl and said, are you sure? He said it was so I hopped out of the truck, thanked him very much, and he drove away. Just as he drove away I heard the gun shots. Sounded like a shotgun and lots of shots fired. I looked around but didn't see anyone shooting, but they were definitely very close. Then I noticed a little white sign that said, “Mt. Tuahara walkers. Follow the white posts to the water tanks in the trees.” It was obviously painted by whoevers property I was on. There was also a sign saying that it was Maori property and to stay on the trail only. Then I fence post with some flaking white paint on it and a step to hop the fence. I thought to myself, are you for reals!? So I figured I had nothing to loose, and hopped the fence into the cow pasture. Then I noticed a man and a woman coming down from where I was headed. I stopped and asked if they had come from the top and they said yes, so I knew I was on the right way. He said it was a bit of a climb but great at the top.

I walked up the hill, following the poorly marked white posts, through the cows and up to the top where I hopped the fence again over to the water tanks they talked about. The other trails around New Zeland that I have been on have been groomed, government monitored tracks. This one certainly was not. The only grooming it got was the foot traffic from whoever is brave enough to go up there. As I walked up the steep cattle paddock the shots kept ringing out. I didn't know what the hell they were shooting at but I was sure they must not have been a very good shot. The higher I got the further away the shots sounded so I figured I was safe. I thought for half a minute if I was going the right way or not, but there was no other trail at the top by the water tanks. Turns out that Jackson was right, it was kind of dangerous. The track itself was only about a foot wide and some places skinnier. Also in some spots the narrow path was bordered by sudden death. There were long dangerous drops to one side so you really had to watch your step. That being said, it was actually one of the best trails I have ever hiked. I really loved it. They say the summit walk is 2.5hours return and I am sure that 2 of that is on the way up. It is all up hill, no flat parts at all until you get to the top.

When you get to the top it is AMAZING!!!! It was such a clear nice day and you could see for days! The views up there were just stunning and unbelievable. It also looked very much like the top of a mountain. It was gorgeous! I sat and ate my lunch and tried to take it all in before beginning my decent. The way down was super fast and I am sure it only took a half hour or so to get down because it was all down hill, and once I got down there was no more shooting. Also luckily I got to talking to 3 Alaskans on the trail and they gave me a lift into town so I didn't have to get Darryl to drive me in. He seemed nice enough but I may have been whats for dinner if I had of gone back with him if you know what I mean.

I returned to the hostel, grabbed a shower and made something to eat. Then Kate the bus driver came in. They were all going to the pub so I would go out for a few with them. We went out had some drinks shared some laughs and had a great time. I also ran into Dave, the fella that sails the boat I went on last time I was in Taupo. We have kept in contact and he was supposed to be back a day later so I was surprised to see him. He hung out with us and offered to take me out on the boat the next day. I was tickled and thought it would be a great way to spend the evening. He also wanted me to stay for the Mulligans trivia night but that was on Tuesday night and I was slated to leave on Tuesday morning. He said I should stay and take the magic bus out on Friday, but I couldn't because of accommodation. Then he said I could stay with him, so that deal was done! I am super grateful for Daves kindness and generosity he really is good people.