The Tararua mountain experience ⛰️

The original plan for this trip was to get up into the snow, but this winter says otherwise!
At this rate it looks like we won't get a significant snowfall this winter for the Tararuas, so this trip will instead be a classic weekend of tramping, no snowcraft expereince required! 

Reguardless, lets take this opportunity to spend some time in out local mountain range! So I propose a weekend event where we visit all of the peaks actually known as "mountains" in the whole Tararua range.

It's way less than you think, this actually only includes:

• Mt Holdsworth
• Mt Crawford
• Mt Hector
• Mt Dundas
• Mitre peak (bonus, not actually a "Mt", but it's the tallest peak in the park and great trip)

And all of these can be accessed within a typical weekend (including Friday evening).

Some of these trips are much easier than others. We will run 4 separate trips all on the same weekend, and when you sign up you will be able to choose which mountain suits your skill level best.

The 5 different "mountains" on offer are:

Mt Holdsworlth (easy/medium) Saturday-Sunday

This is the easiest option, with only 1-2 hours spent out in the exposed tops. This is great option if you want a shorter overnighter.
You'll need to stay at Powell hut on Saturday night which requires bookings, so numbers on this trip might be a bit limmited.

Mt Hector (medium) Friday afternoon/Saturday/Sunday

This is the second easiest option, but it requires more time spent out in the open and spending a night at Kime hut, which is entirely above the bushline and in an alpine environment.
On friday evening you will walk in to Field hut, then on Saturday walking up to Mt Hector and returning back to Kime, then walking out to the roadend again from Kime on Sunday. 
Depending on time availability on Friday, this group will either walk to Field hut in the dark, or head in earlier. 

Mt Crawford (medium-hard) All-day firday/Saturday/Sunday

This requires a longer walk in to get to Waetewaewae hut on Friday night, but the actual summit of Mt Crawford isn't too hard. It does require a few steeper sections though and feels much more exposed than the other options on offer! As a bonus this trip might also include a night at the lovely and remote Anderson Memorial hut. If people in this group are also available on Monday then this opens up the option for doing a 4 day loop including some more exciting stuff! 

Mt Dundas (hard) Friday afternoon/Saturday/Sunday

This is the hardest option, and requires a good amount of tops travel and challenging terrain. Lots of ups and downs during a day crossing an entire ridgeline!

Bonus: Mitre peak (Medium) Friday?/Saturday/Sunday

If we get enough leaders, then there's also an option to visit Mitre peak (tallest peak in the Tararuas). This one isn't a "mountain" but i'm sure someone's called it "Mt Mitre" in some old maps and books so that counts! This may run as an alternative to Mt Holdsworth if bookings at the hut are full.
This trip is best done in 3 days (walk to Mitre flats, go up the mountain, walk home the last day) but it can also be done as just 2, by walking to Mitre flats, then doing the return trip to Mitre peak and walking out in the same day, this would depend on group fitness.