Nigel Barret, back up Mt Manukau!

One just can’t have an unsuccessful attempt on a summit and leave it like that. Something inside gnaws at you until the peak is climbed. So naturally another attempt on Mt Manukau had to happen soon.

We learned our lessons from the last trip very quickly. Firstly, I kitted Jonas in some Páramo gear. I just didn’t have the heart to watch him suffer through another trip (or the ears to listen to him complain). Secondly, Jonas’s tent was banished to summertime camping ground use only and replaced with a bigger and actually waterproof one.

This time the weather forecast was superb, so spirits and optimism were again high as we set off at 4:30am Friday morning.

Without cloud and drizzle we finally could enjoy some scenery. Below is the slip from the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. The river has gouged its way through now, but what a massive landslide. About 150m high in the middle is guess.

I previously mentioned the cracks left by the earthquake that are all along the ridge top. So here is a photo of one.

 

 

And this is what the track up from Stace saddle to our camp at 2000m looks like

 

 

 

Our campsite, with Manukau behind. Don’t mind Jonas trying to figure out how to use a rope, but notice the luxury of a flat tent site, and warm spacious tent (that I’d like to say Jonas carried…but alas).

 

 

Saturday was summit day. Alarm set for 3am, and departure by 4am to make the most of icey conditions for as long as possible.

Climbing in the dark is quite a sensory limiting experience only seeing what is immediately in front of you and keeps your mind and thoughts focussed. Sunrises in high mountains are quite special too.

 

As you can see the summit ridge is a mix of snow and rock sections. I’m not normally a fan of crampons on rock, but on this jagged and broken rock, they were quite reassuring.

 

 

We made the summit by 11am, 7 hours of climbing. There might have been a man hug shared with Jonas. What a great feeling to have bagged a summit after so many years. Notice the Kaikoura peninsula & township to the left of the ice axe handle, please do not notice how big my nose looks with those glasses on.

 

 

 

 

And here is Jonas, rocking the Velez Evo, with views looking north to the highest peak in the Inland Kaikouras.

 

 

 

After 15mins on the summit, it was time for the 6 hour return journey to camp. Nice to be able to use your old footsteps on the way back, big time and energy saver.

 

 

Sunday morning saw the cloud rolling in, bringing an end to our run of perfect weather. So it was pack up early while still dry and head out with a great feeling of achievement and discussing plans for the next mountain to climb…

 

 

In closing off, the Páramo gear continued to perform so incredibly well. With no rain until the last few hours, there was a lot more sweating on this trip. The directionality performed superbly. Even drying out my sweaty wet merino base layer when the rain started. The confidence and assurance this gives when selling and talking Páramo is invaluable. Páramo is incredible gear and an incredible company.