Start and end of the Kauaeranga Kauri trail, walked to and climbed the Pinnacles - time was a shade under 5 hours. Beautiful sunny day, hot and sticky but well worth it.

Shot of Billy Goat falls, part of Webb creek

Tauranikau - extinct volcanic plug. Softer rock/ash worn away over time. So humid the lens was beginning to mist up.

Stairway to heaven? Once the Pinnacles hut had been reached the path then led to these steps. These were the first flight so to speak, once over the crest there were probably about the same again, then two sets of near vertical ladders - then iron rungs set in the rock - then a scramble to the top. My legs still ache today (17th)

A most welcome sight - the first and last bridge to cross. Mostly I crossed the river bed but the water/rocks on this crossing were to deep/slippery so used the bridge.It was great fun to cross this.

16th June 2010

What a walk, about 6 klicks to the pinnacles hut then a further 1 klick to the top. Most of the walk was uphill following an old Kauri packhorse track, they delivering stores and goods to the loggers and to settlements the other side of the mountain (mid 1800's I think). How the horses did it I do not know as it was rough going on foot over the rocks and boulders. Coming down, due to the slippery conditions and the degree of slope I lost my balance four times - so rather dirty when I got back to the car. They also had what was the remains of a skidding track, where bullocks would drag the tree logs to where they could take them down the valley to the settlement below. All very had to picture as the whole area has been replanted. Did come across some Kauri trees that had been felled. One was at least 15 feet across, hollow now but as it is a hard wood, will still be many years before totally rotted away.

The hostel in Thames had photos showing some of the logging operations, no chain saws in those days. The bullock team looked to be at least 8 animals hauling this huge log across the boggy ground. At least the NZ government is trying to save the remaining trees, it must have been an awe inspiring sight seeing these giants before man become involved.

Brilliant scenery all round especially once you were on the pinnacles themselves, had a sunny and clear day with just a small amount of haze to mar any photo's.

Had steak to celebrate my walk, cooking in the hostel a pleasure.