By Kiera Sharp

Four girls and a boy made up our group for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Qualifying Journey. We planned to complete the ‘Round the Mountain’ walk around Mount Ruapehu in four nights and five days. Before embarking on our daring adventure, each group member had to finish Gold training, which covered risk management, outdoor first aid, river safety, and a comprehensive first aid course.

Additionally, our group finished a practice trip to the Pinnacles. We encountered numerous difficulties as a team during the trip – from a group member experiencing significant breathing difficulties to almost being blown over in extreme winds and having to make several route changes on the final day because of bad weather. Everybody was forced beyond their comfort zone during this trip, and our leadership abilities were continually put to the test and developed.

Day One: We left Whakapapa Village on 22nd April and headed for Waihohonu Hut. Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe were perfectly clear and the weather was beautiful. Day Two proved to be difficult for our group, as one of us had breathing difficulties brought on by the challenging terrain and frequent inclines. Our leader made the decision for us to walk up hills at a much slower pace and to stop regularly at each pole. We offered to relieve her of some of the weight in her pack. She found it difficult to walk five minutes without stopping, therefore it was a challenge to navigate the large lahar zone as you are not allowed to stop.

In order to give her a head start, we decided that she would go first. Getting out of the lahar zone was a tremendous physical and mental task for her. We took turns pushing her up the slope while the rest of the group offered encouragement. We arrived at Rangipo Hut after hiking for eight-and-a-half hours, feeling exhausted and fatigued.

For our group, this day was undoubtedly a test of leadership and cooperation. We were put to the test mentally, emotionally and physically, but still managed to maintain our optimism in spite of our weariness. Following that day’s effort, we all asked ourselves the question: Would we be able to finish? 

Day Three was much the same as Day Two. There were lots of stops and rests, and everyone was just focusing on getting through the eight-hour hike and reaching the next hut.

We left for Mangaturuturu Hut on the fourth day. This was to be the group’s longest hike so far and one member’s breathing difficulties were still an issue. By this point our group was quite tired and experiencing muscle soreness. It was my duty as the group leader to ensure that everyone had motivation for the arduous day of walking ahead and felt encouraged.

Our physical endurance was tested by the steep slopes through the bush, and by the time we reached Ohakune Mountain Road, our loads felt like they were getting heavier. This was the part that our group had been dreading for the whole tramp, as we had to walk up the steep road for 3km, this being one of our hardest challenges yet. As leader, I decided that we would have a quick ten-minute break and then we would start walking.

After having a snack and feeling re-energized, we realized we couldn’t procrastinate any longer. We put our packs on and began to trudge up the hill. As we got higher up the road, it began to get very windy with wind gusts up to 85 km/h and there was very low visibility. We decided to swap the person at the front every ten minutes, so they wouldn’t get exhausted as they were the one that was breaking the high winds for the rest of the group.

We all maintained our positive attitude and persevered despite the physical and mental challenges of the climb, including tiredness from earlier days and being blown off our feet by the wind. That night, our excitement at the hut was short-lived as it began to rain and we realized that the several river crossings along the way might prevent us from taking the previously planned path for the next day.

Day Five: On waking, we discovered that it had rained too much overnight and so couldn’t travel our scheduled route. Our optimistic attitude was completely depleted. Looking at the map, we found an alternative route. However after calling the Visitor’s Center, we discovered that it was closed, leaving us to make a decision. Should we make the treacherous ascent back up the side of the waterfall, or should we spend another night in the hut and hope the rain stops?

Following a group deliberation, our team leader determined that we would first assess the river’s flow down the waterfall to determine how slippery it was before making a choice. A decision was made to tackle the waterfall and we headed out with great spirits because we knew we were nearly at the end of our trek. The waterfall was navigated safely and our hike completed. There was some disappointment that we hadn’t been able to complete our intended route around the mountain.

Together, we overcame the majority of our emotional, mental and physical obstacles by persevering and working as a team. We had to be forced out of our comfort zones in order to develop as leaders, and that is exactly what happened on our journey. Because we encountered new problems every day during the trip, our leadership abilities developed. The satisfaction we felt upon finishing the walk and the incredible experiences we shared made the trip and all of our planning worthwhile.

We’re delighted to share another trip report from recent recipients of FMC’s Youth Award Grant. These grants are awarded four times a year, so if you’re inspired to get some financial support, head over to FMC’s website to apply.