‘Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei’
‘Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain’
Māori proverb
Day 31 – 32
- Day 31 – Kaniwhaniwha Reserve to Pahautea Hut ; 11 km
- Day 32 – Pahautea Hut to Te Raumona ; 18 km
Total hiked: 841 km
Pirongia Mountain… what a maunga or would it be more accurate to say what a lot of mud and bog!
I decided to walk up and down Pirongia in two days so I could stay in the first DOC hut on the Te Araroa Trail and for the view (but more on that later).
The trail involves ascending via the Nikau Walkway then Tahuanui Track and descending on the Hihikiwi Track.
Starting the Nikau Walkway on a clear sunny day I enjoyed the flat terrain, bush track and multiple Nikau Palms that provided shelter as I quickly trotted through making it to Kaniwhaniwha Campsite and onto the Tahuanui Track. Estimated to take 4-5 hours I was stoked that after only 90 minutes I had completed 5 kilometres and had a glimpse of Pirongia Summit. Little did I know the scale of mud awaiting me in the upper 3 kilometres
Pirongia Summit at 959 metres is the highest peak in the Waikato Region. Renowned for being a very wet forest and frequently in cloud cover, the upper portion of the trail to the summit did not disappoint with what can only be described as mud, mud, mud and more mud. Initially I enjoyed using the tree branches to swing from trail edge to rock, tip-toeing along the ridge line and balancing over tree roots and shrub as I skipped over the mud.
All until I misjudged a bent tree branch, committing all my body and pack weight to swing from the edge of a mud puddle (more like river), just as the branch unfurled and I ended up butt first in the puddle with my arms and legs sprawled in the air. Not ideal. From there on I became very hesitant with every step and took 3 hours to complete the last 3 kilometres to the summit.
When I finally made it to the summit of Pirongia the spectacular views made it all worth while 🙂
The views from Pahautea Hut during the evening were masked in cloud cover but an early morning wake up for sunrise with clear skies, a coffee in hand and snug in my fleece couldn’t be beat!
If I thought there was mud on the ascent of Pirongia then the descent down the Hihikiwi track was something else entirely.
Initially starting on the Noel Sanford boardwalk (I wish there was more boardwalk) on the hike to the Hihikiwi Summit at 900 metres was a breeze, everything afterwards was not.
Continuously climbing up and down tree roots, avoiding bog, slipping down rocky outcrops all while precariously balancing on my hiking poles was timely and took its toll physically and mentally.
The hiking poles supported me throughout the entire descend; as stability when balancing on branches while avoiding the sometimes 120 centimetres (yes I managed to place the entirety of my hiking pole in a mud puddle) deep bog and emotionally when I felt exhausted and isolated in a forest I no longer wanted to be in. I realise they’re carbon fibre hiking poles not real people but during those hours of trotting the Hihikiwi Track I was reminded of the importance of having support in you life. Whether that’s a partner, parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, anyone; knowing you have people to turn to, chat to, ask advice from when you’re feeling down is really something to not take for granted. I told myself that my current mood and negativity was a passing feeling and when I made it to the end of the track I would be proud of myself – and I was!
As I walked the final 12 kilometres of gravel road feeling accomplished, not just that I had conquered a big maunga but that I had conquered my self-doubt and negativity I soaked in the splendid views of Kawhia Harbour, rolling hills of the Waikato and sun as it sizzled down (sunblock and zinc were in full use).
I ended the evening with the help of the lovely trail angels Casey and John who let me pitch my tent on their lawn, provided a hot shower and Christmas chocolates. Thank-you 🙂
GC Chronicles 
Realize the mud was a “bit” of a pain, the story and views as usual are amazing, great achievement, well done
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